The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-03-26


Lucy, wearied and exhausted by her various
| emotions, fell languidly to the bottom OF the
litter, overcome by drowenees; and her kind
companion left her to short repose.
As to Don Abbondio, the descent from the
| castle did not cause him so much fright as the
| ascent thither but it was nevertheless not
agreeable. When his alarm had frst ceased,
he felt relieved from an intolerable burthen !;
bat he now began to torment himself in vari-
Que ways, and found materials fer such an op-
GRAFTON in the present az we'll as in the future
His manner OF travelling, to wbioh he was not
accustomed, be found to be exceedingly un-
pleasant, especially in the descent from the
castle to the valley. The driver, o6edieut to
. sign from the Unknown, made his beasts set
with the litter and thus poor Don Abbopdio,
subjected to the unusual bounding and re-
bounding, which was more perilous from the
steepness of the deollvity they were descend
order to keep his seat, not daring to ask bis
com panions to abate some what of their speed
Moreover, if the road lay on height, along
these animals, would obstnately keep on tho
outside, and place his feet literally on the very
edge of the preoipice. "Thou ALSO" said ne 9 in
bis heart to the beast. "thou also hath this
cursed desire to seek danger, when there are 30
many other paths p He tightened the rein on
the other side, but in ysis that. although
dying of vexstiou and fear, he suffered him.
self, as was his custom, to be led by the will OF
another. The bravoes no longer caused him
much uneasness now that he felt confidence
in their master. "But," thonght he neverthe-
less, off the news of this great conversion
how these people may take it? Who knows
what might be the result Perhaps they
might take it into their heads to think had
come q missionary! and then (heaven pre-
serve me y they would make me suffer martyr.
dom p Bot we have said enough of the ter
rors of Don Abbondio.
The company at last arrived at the extremi'
ty of the valley; the countenance of the I'm
y, nd
dio recovered in some degree his usual COM
posure !; bat still his mind occupied with
more distant evils What will this fool Don
Roderick say 7 To be exposed thus to SCOTS
and jests-how sorely will he feel it he'll
certainly play the devil outright! Perhaps he
will seek another quarrel with me because !
have been engaged in this cursed business!
Having had the heart to send those two de-
mons to attack me in the road, what he will do
now, heaven knows He cannot molest my
lord the cardinal, because he is obviously be.
yond his reach: he will be obliged to champ
the bit. However, the poison will be in his
veins, and he will need to discharge it some
where. 1t is well known how these affairs end;
the blows always fall on the weakest The
cardinal will busy himself with placing Lucy
in safety this other poor devil is beyond his
reach, but what is to become OF me And
what will the cardinal do to defend me- after
having engaged me in the businessf Can he
worse turn than before 7 And then he has 80
many things to think off he cannot pay atten.
tion to everybody! They who do good do it
in the gross, and erjoy their satisfaction with.
out regarding minute consequences but your
evil door is more diligent; he fingers behind
till he sees the last result because of the fear
that torments him. Shall 1 say have acted
by my lord archbishop's command, and against
my own Wilt But it will seem that favor
villainy! I-for the pleasure it gives mel
Heaven forbid but enough-Pll tell Perpetua
the whole story, and leave her to circulate it
-ifindeed, his reverend lordship should not
fab he fancy make the " whOla
public and thrust me forward as chief
actor. However, j am determined on one
thing will take leave of my lord the cardi-
nal as soon as arrive at the village, and go
to my home. Lucy has no moro need of me ;
she il under good protection and, after SO
many fatigues, l will claim the right to take
some repose,-But, should my lord be seized
with the desire TO know all her story, and be
compelled TO relate the affair of the marriage !
there would then be nothing wanting to COM
plete my misery. Aud if he shonld visit my
parish oh let come what will, l will not
torment myself beforehand l have cares
enough. For the present shall shut myself up
| at home But foresee too we'll that my last
| days must be paesed in trouble and vexation."
The little troop arrived before the services
of the church were over; aud passing, as they
| had previously done. through the crowd, they
| proceeded to tho house of Lucy's companion.
| Hardly had Don Abbondio alighted from his
mule, when, making the most profuse compli-
mentS to the Unknown, he begged him to
apologize for him to the cardinal, as he vas
obliged to return directly to his parish on some
urgent basiness. He then went in search Of a
staff that he had left in the hall. aud which
he was accustomed to call his horse and pro-
ceeded hsuewsrds The Unknown remained
ct the cardinals house, awaiting his returr
from the ch nrcb.
The good dame FASTENED to procure Lucy
some refrsshment to recruit her exhausted
powers; she put some dry branches under
kettle which she replaced over the fire, and il
| which EVAN good fowl; after having su EereG
it to boil moment, she filed plate with thu
coup, and offered it to Lucy, copgratulatini
herself that the sffair had happened on a daI
when, a- she said, "the cat was not on tn
hearth" " cit is a day of fessting for all tn
world" added she, except for those unfortu
nate creatures who can hardly obtain bread O
vetches and polenta of millet; they hope
} however, to receive something from our ch ar
table cardinal. AS for us, thank heaven, W
are not in that situation, between the trad
of mR~husbaud and a small piece of land, W
: manage to live comfortably. Eat, then, poo
5 child, with a good appetite the 70 vi win b
! done presently, and you shall have sometbin
better" She then set about making prepare
} tious for dinner for the family.
CHAPTER XIII.
Suddenly footsteps and joyous exclamatiou
r | ri fhau daH tka -; l,o