The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-09
NUMBER 10.
THE BETROTHED:
BY MANZoNI.
[Continued.I
CHAPTER XIV.
BY MANZONI.


Don Abbondio uttered not word.,e 1t must
| be confessed that we ourselves, who have moth
| ing to fear but the criticisms Of our readers.
feel degree of repugnanee in thus urging the
| unbelievable precepts of charity, courage In
defatigable solicitude for others, and unlimited
sacrifice of self. But the reflection that these
| things were said by q mon who praoticed what
he preached, encourages us to proceed In our
relation.
You do not answer" resumed the cardinal
All! If You had followed the dictates Of
charity and duty, W hatever had been the re-
suit, you would now have been at no loas for a
reply. Behold, then, what you have done:
you have obeyed iniquity, regardless OF the
requirements of duty; you have obeyed her
promptly she had only to chow herself to you,
and signify her desire, and she found you ready
| at her call. But sue would have had recourse
| to artifce with one who was on his guard
against her. she would have avoided exciting
| his suspicion, she would have employed con-
ceaiment, that she might m ature ct leisure her
projects OF treachery aud violence she has, ON
the contrary boldly ordered you to infringe
you have infringed it, and you have kent
silence. ask you now If you have done moth
ing more Tell me if it is true, that you have
not to reveal the true motive"
They have told this also, the tattlersr7
thought Don Abbondio, bat as he gave no in-
of 11 ssss
these young people falsehoods to keep them in
Ignorance and darknessi am compelled, then,
70 OeleVe IL IL only remains for me to blush
for you, and to hope that you will weep with
me; Behold where it has led You, (mercifGi
God and you advanced 1t rs q justification y
Behold to what it has conducted you, this
(rePel freely the assertion IL it appear to you
unjust take 1t as salutary humiliation II ft l.
noD 10 has led you to deceive the feeble and
the unfortunate, to lie to your children"
" This is the way of the worldP thought
Don Abbondio again "to this devil inoar.
nate" (referring to the Unknown) "his arms
around his neck and to me, for half lie, re-
Proaches without end But you are our supe-
rlors OF course you are right. 1t 10 my star !,
that all the world is against me- not excepting
the saints" He continued alond: az have
rRssing a situation ~
Do you still ask 2 Have not told Won't
And must repeat it You should have loved.
ny SOD, you should have loved and PRAYED:
you wonld then have felt that iniquity might
threaten bot not enforce obedience; you would
rave united according to the laws of God,
hose whom man desired to separate; Won
would have exerciaed the ministry these child.
EN- had right TO expect from you. God would
rave been answerable for the consequence AZ
Iou were o6eyipg HE orders; now, since you
AVE obeyed mau, the responsibility falls ON
'ourself. And what consequences, Just HeOvenI
Ind why did you not remember that you had
uperiorf How would he now dare 10 repri-
nand you for having failed in your duty, II be
i'd not at all times feel himself obliged to aid
on in its performance Why did you not in
orm your bishop Of the obstacles which in
( your ministry -
"Just the advice of Perpetua," thought Don
-bbondio vexed, to whose mind, even in the
lidst of these touching appeals, the images
yhich most frequently presented themselves,
,ere those of the bravoes and Don RodericIr.
live and well, and returning ct some future
me, triumphant and ipfamed with rage.
Though the presence, the aspect, and che
'nRuage OF the cardinal embarrassed b i'm, aud
nPressed him with degree Of apprehension,
was, however, an EN- barrasBmeDt and an Rp.
" mt n
loughts, nor prevent him from rejecting that
tier all, the cardinal employed neither armi
Or bravoes.
"Why did you not think" pursued Freds.
ck, that il no other Asylum was open to
leSe innocent Victims, l could myself receive
lem, and place them in safety, If you had sent
lem to me ; sent them afflicted and deSolate to
eir bishop; as therefore belonging to him, as
10 most precious part, say not Of bis charge,
1t Of his WEALTH. And as for you, should
I'VE been anxious for you; ! would not have
opt until certain that not hair Of your head
paid be touched; and do you not suppose that
il man, however audsoiouS he may be, would
we lost something OF his SudRcity, when con-
need that his designs were known by mo,
at watched over them, and that was de-
1ed to employ for your defence all the means
thin my power! Know you not, that IL man
Omises too often more than he DarfoFpas he
now you not that iniqnity does not depend
lely on its own strength, but on the crednlity
d oOWsrdioe of Others 2"
" just the reasoning Of Perpetus,V thought
IN AbbOndio, without o0naideTiBg that this
lgulaF coincidence in Judgment Of Fredeeiok
rrOmeo and his servant, was an additional
yument against him.
Bat you,P PARSED the oaFdiRal, eycH Fave
y contemplated your own danger. Eow e