The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-03-19

A40eS068ANO0SAS - - SSA~ - -
banquet OF thy grace,-that thou shouldss
have Thought me worthy of being thy instru-
ment to the accomplishment. Of such mira
Gle (" SO saving he extended his hand to take
that of the Unknown.
"No p Dried he no! Approach me not
Pollute not that innocent and benehoent
hand You know not what deeds have been
committed by the hand you would place with-
asuffer,' said Frederick, taking it with
gentle violenoe,-"suffer me to clasp this hand,
which is about to repair SO many wrongs, to
scatter so many blessings which will comfort
80 many who are in afliction, which Will oner
itself peaceably and humbly, to SO many enc
miles,"
aloud .Ieave me, my lord good Frederick!
leave me! Crowds eagerly await your pres.
ence, among whom are pure and 1nnocenI
you, and you will remain here to converse-
1--WE will leave the ninety and nine sheep"
replied the cardinal; they are in safe safety on the the
which was lost. These people are perhaps
now more satisfied than Il they had the poor
bishop with them perhaps God: who has
grace, may even now be filling their hearts
With Joy, of which they divine not the conse;
perhaps they are united to as without Know
% hsdE the Holy o ss sBz sna sssr
lence; inspires them with spirit Of prayer;
with, on your acconnt, spirit of thanksgiving
of which you are the unknown object"
So saying, he passed his arm around the
neck of the unknown. who, after resisting
mement yielded, quite van9uished by TINS
impulse of Kindness and fell on the neck OF
the cardinal in an agony OF repentance. ms
burning tears dropped on the stainless purple
of Frederick, and the pure hands of the bishop
we're clasped affectionately around him, who
had hitherto been only habituated to deeds OF
violence and treachery.
ha TTnEnnwO after long embrace, cover
ing his face with his hands, raised his head
exolaiming, "Oh! God! Thou who art truly
great and good! I know myself now; COM
prehend what 1 am; my iniquities are all be-
fore me; abhor myself; but still-still ex
perience a consolation, a joy-yes, JOY which
have never before known in all my horrible
| life!'
"God accords to you this grace" said Fred
erick, "to attract you to his service, to
siren CITIZEN you to enter resolutely the new
way he has opened to you, where yon have 80
: " Miserable that am" cried he, "there Is 80
much-so much-that 1 can only weep over.
But at least, there are some things but just
undertaken, that I can arrest-yes, there is at
least one evil that can repair"
He then briefly related, in the most energetic
| terms of self execration, the story of Lucy,
with the sufferings and terrors OF the unfortu.
nate girl; her entreaties, and the species OF
| frenzy that her supplications had excited in
his soul; adding, that she was still in the
castle.
L
moved with pity and solicitude. What hap
piness for you! You may behold in this the
pledge of pardon! God makes you the instru
ment of safety to her, to whom you % were te 1
indeed blessed you DO you know the native
place of the unhappy girlP
The Unknown named the village.
cit is not far from this," said the cardinal
"God be praised! and probably-' SO say &
he approached q table, and rang little bell
The chaplain entered, with an nnquiet look
nance of the Unknown, on which the traces o
tears were still visible; and glancing at that o
} the cardinal, he perceived, through its wonte'
, calmness, an expression of great satisfaction
) mingled with extraordinary solicitude. He wa
reused from the astonishment which the con
temptation excited, by a question of the cardi
nal, if, among the .y Sprates in the hail. "ther
"There is, most illustrious lord" replied th
bring him hither Immediately" sail
Frederick, "and with him the curate of thi
parish"
The chaplain obeyed. and went to the hal
where the priests were assembled. All eye
were turned towards him. He cried aloud
3 His most gracious and reverend lordshi
asks for the curate of this parish and the cu
3 rate of -"
l The former advanced Immediately, and q
the same time was heard, amidst the crowd,
+ Hef uttered in . tone of surprise.
care you not the curate of -" said tn
t "Certainly; but"
: "His most illustrious and reverend lordshi
!, asks for You.
8 "MeT replied he, and Don Abbondio ad
l vsnced from the crowd with an air of amaze
9 ment and anxiety. The chaplain led the way
: and introduced them both to the presence
8 the cardinal.
The cardinal let go the hand Of the Unknow
J, IS they entered, and taking the curate of th
Q parish aside, related in few words the facts {
q the story, asking him if he knew some kin
female, who would be willing to go to tn
J. castle in litter, to remove Lucy thence;
y devoted, charitable woman, capable of actin
h with Judgment in 80 novel an expedition, an
aer
n anguish and alarm, might produce new an
q overwhelming apprehensions. After havin
d reflected moment, the curate took upon hin
;: self the affair, and departed. The cardin;
d then ordered the chaplain to have litter pr
It pared and two mules ready saddled. tt
y chaplain quilted the room to obey his order
Z, and the cardinal was left alone with Do
J. Abbondio and the Unknown. The forme