The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-09-24

man.
about to ascend the staircase leading to the
room. Her amt retained her, saying:
'Silly child! Isabel is his sisters name he
often calls her in his feverish rawlings"
Dear aunt, do let me see If he needs any
thing 1will step softly on tiptoe, and just
take one glance"
She walked gently towards the room and
stopped ON the threshold of the dooI. She stood
for moment, and then returned, saying joy
fully:
81 will leave you now,' said Aunt Clara,
but will return soon. May God be with
you"
The old woman left the house aud took the
sandy path which traversed the down.
CHAPTER ~.
Tarious Surmises- Edmund De Milral.
A sharp north wind was blowing the sky
was covered with gray clouds, which made the
weather gloomy and the morning air frosty.
At the foot of high sand hill, situated near
the waters edge, three women were crouched,
pressing close to each other rs if to seek some
protection against the piercing wind. Beside
them were placed several baskets the leatbern
straps of which were loosened, showing that
the women contemplated transporting some
kind of burden. Silent, and rs immovabe as
statues, they fixed their gaze upon the horizon,
sorutin'zing with anxious eyes the impenetra
BILE black cloud, which, in the distance, bound
ed the ocean like wall of stone
Nothing disturbed the solemn silence of the
place save the low murmur OF the waves and
the joyous sports of n little boy and girl " no
ran mp and down the sand-hilis, and rolled in
transports of delight from the top OF the hill
locks TO the plain beneath.
The women paid no attention to the chill
dren, and they did not move until TIE little
boy exclaimed, joytully, from the top of hi!-
lock
Mamma, mamma, there is pupa!'
The two women looked toward the spot indi-
Gated by the child.
eyes, they coming said the youngest
of the three "Look, Kat, that gray speck
against the black cloud is the boat the wind
is in their favor, and IN half hour they will
reach the shore"
They resumed their former immobility and
were again silent; then, as if pursuing train
of thought the youngest asked
" Is 1t true, Kat, that your Hubert is
about to marry girl from Coxydaf He goes
far for a WIFE"
what could he do, Wanna when there
are no suitable matches in the neighborhood 7"
"And Bella Stock 7" said the third woman.
Yes Bella Stock! For long time my son
paid her attention without our knowledge. The
poor boy worked like slave to collect some
little means. lie had already procured net
for catching behring's, and two wers, before
we suspected that the lad was thinking of mar
riaGe AT last he begged his father to build
him q small cabin, and then we discovered his
secret. We asked Bella in marriage for our
son, but our suit was unsuccessful. Father
Stock thought Bella was too young by four or
five years TO marry, and Bella herself was not
disposed to consider any proposal of the kind.
My Hubert could not wait 80 long and now he
has found a nice girl at Coxyda aud he is to
take his fathers place as sailor on Joseph
Stroom's bark"
81 think, Kat, that Father Stock is proud
because he is better OFT than the other fisher
men of the downs"
"What has he more than weW
Does not half the boat belong to himf
Whom the haul is good, he derives fine pro
MT the bark alone receives one-fifth of the
form is Father Stocks share. They have an
ass and cow. Perhaps it is pride which pre-
vente Bella from marrying"
mo, no, Wanna, that ia not true. The Stocks
are good people, Smiable and kind to every
body. The reason you give is not the cause.
You know how unfortunate Father Stock was
with his children, and how much he has suffer
cd. OF his large family, Bella only remains
and be loves her with intense affection. AS for
her, she is so passio ately devoted to her blind
father, that there is no place in her heart for
any other love. You should see them together,
Wanna; they are like two children il would
bring the tears to your eyes"
81 Poor Stock he has indeed had heavy tr-
ais" said the young woman; land with all
that, to lose his sight! 1t is much to Bellas
credit to be so devoted to her father. i sup
pose she will hardly marry while he lives"
Probably not (; at least Bella says she will
not. Wanna, look in the distance down the
beach 4; there is something black creeping along
the edge of the water. 1t seems to be large
dog t.,,,..
ven of the Shore"
"What! no Sneii 1t would indeed be sur
prl9lnR were ne not at hand when the bark
rives. Always wandering up and down the
strand doing nothingl Take up Your baskets,
Wanna, it is lime to CO."
The three women arose and walked slowly
toward the sea. On the way, the children skip
ped, sang. and gambolled through the large
paddles of water which the tide in ebbing had
left behind it. The wind was piercing, and
the Women cautioned the thcughtlees little
creatures to avoid these pools but the boy
continued to plunge in them and splash the
water with such force that it spOuted above
his head and the little girl, with equal pleas.
ure, although more timidly, bounded lightly
after him. Thus these innocent children forti-
fed their bodies from their eariest childhood
to meet the struggle with wind and wave which
was to be their destiny through life.
The bark approached rapidly Driven by
the favorable north wind, the light sk'ti leaned
instinct with life, dashing before it clouds of
foam. Soon it touched the sand and rocked
upon the breakers about sixty PAGES from the
shore.
The meeting between the fishermen and theic
wives was singulArly calm and devoid of any
demonstration. The latter prepared their bas-
kots; the former furled the sails and lowered