The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-07
NUMBER III
THE BETROTHED:
tContinued.I
BY MANZONI.

IContinued.I
Renzo, afflicted snd disappointed, reelected
whore he should seek another asylum. In the
catalogue Of deaths given to him by Don
Abbondio, there WAS q family which had all
been carried off by the pestilence, with che
exception Of young man nearly OF his own
| age, who had been his companion from infancy,
| The house was o short distance of, q little be-
| yond the village; he bent his steps thther, ia
seek the hospitality which it might afford him.
On his way he passed his own vineyard. The
vines were Ont, the wood carried off. Weeds OF
various kinds and most luxuriant growth.
principally of the parasitical order, covered the
| place, displayed the most brilliant howera
| above the loftiest branches of the viaes, and
obetructing the progress of the miserable
| owner. The garden beyond presented aimiiar
| scene OF varied and lnxuriant wildness. The
house, that had not escaped the visitation of
the lansQnenets, was deformed with filth and
oobwebs. Poor Renzo turned away with eu-
Uttered feelings. and moved slowly wards
to his friends. 1t was evening. He found him
seated before the door, on o small bench his
arms crossed on his breast, with the air Of @
man stupefed by distress, and suffering from
solitude At the sound of steps he turned, and
the twilight and the foil sge OF permi ttine him
to distinguish objects distinctly, he said, Are
there not others besides met Did / not do
be an act of charity"
Renzo. not knowing what this meant, called
RenEo =" replied he.
1t is indeed" said Renzo and they ran to-
wards each other.
ale it you indeed 2" said his friend ooh.
how happy am to see you who would have
thought i'll took you for one of those perDona
Who torment me daily to help to bury the
alone as . hermitW
Il know II but too WE'LL" said Repzo. They
entered the cottage together, esoh making
numerous Inquiries of the other. His friend
began to prepare the table for supper no went
out, and returned in o few moments with =
pitcher Of milk, little Salt meat, and some
fruit. They seated themselves at tsble, at
which the polenta was not forgotten, mutually
congrstulating each other on their interview
An o bsence OF two years, and the cirOup stances
VIgor to their former friendship.
No ore, however, could supply the place Of
agnes to Renzo. not only on account Of the
particular affection she bore bin, but she alone
possessed the key to the solution of all his
d. Mculties. He hesitated awhile whether he
hal not best go in search of her, - abe wasnoE
nothing Of the fate of Lucy, he adhered to his
first Intention of gaining all the inform alton ne
could &c n concerning her, and carrying the result
ever, many things of which he was IRnorane.
others were explained which be only knew By
haiVes, with regard to the adventures OF Lucy,
was also Informed that Don Rodorick had Ioft
the village, and had not reformed. Renso
learnt, moreover. to pronounce the name of
Don Eerrante properly Agnes 1t 10 true, had
caused it to be written to him, but Heaven
knows how 1t was written and the BerRomas.
san Interpreter had given IL so strange . sound,
obstruction
rom his friend, probably one in Milan
would have guessed whom he meant, although
his was the only clue he had to guide him TO
Lacy. As far as the law wac In question hfs
mind was set at rest. The siRuor Podesta was
lead, and most of the officers; the others were
or had other matters too pressing to
occupy their attention. He related, in his
urn, his own cd vent ures to his friend receiving
n exchange an account of the passage of the
army, the Pestilence, the PRISONERS, and the
'rodtRieS. Dreadful as our SHietions,D asid
le, he led him for the piRht to n little
chamber which the epidemic had deprived Of
to In habitants, there 10 Q mournful cousolA-
ion in speaking of them to our friends."
At the break Of day they both arose, Snd
fepEo prepared to depart "If all goes well,H
aid he, elf End her liviDG-if-I will return.
will go to Pasture and carry the joyful news
o poor Agnes, and theE-bnt IT, by . misfor-
une, which may God 0vert-then, know NOS
What shall do, nor where shall 20 ; but you
will never sec me here again"
AZ he stood on the threshold Of the door,
bout to resume his journey, he contemplated
or o moment, with q mixture Of Tenderness
md anguish, his village, which he had not be-
cid for 90 long time. His friend accompanied
i'm short distancO on his road, and bado him
areWell, proRnOstiOating happy return, 0nd
19ny dayS OF prosperity and enjoyment.
RenSo travelled leisurely, because there was
mplo time for him to arrive within q short
istanOe Of Milan, 90 40 to enter it on the NOR
oW. His journey was without accident sx-
ept . repetition Of the wFetehed scenes that
be roads ct that time presented, AZ be had
one before, he stopped In . grove to make :
iRht rePast, which che SsnsrSSity 81 his sriepd
ad bestowed on him. PssSlng thrOngh
aopGs, he saw l0avea Of bread dlsplsyed ia the
1ind0w Of shop; be bought two Of them, has
be shOPkpoper called - him not 70 0neoRS
lroschiDg Gus Shovel, On which was 3 email
owl q Vlnefer en& water, 10 lel1 Hin 60