The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-01-02


| Having, amidst the tumuits of these thought,
reached the entrance of his honse, which stoo
at the end of the little glebe, he unlocked th
door, entered, and carefully secured it within
Anxious to ind himself in society that be coul
| trnst, he called aloud, " Perpetua, Perpetua,
! advancing towards the little parlor where sh
was. doubtless. employed in preparing tn
| table for his supper. Ferpetua was, as th
! reader must be aware, the housekeeper of Do
Abbondio; an atfectionate and faithful domes
tic, who knew how to obey or command as oc
wbims of her master at times and at others T.
] make him bear with hers. These were be
coming every day more frequent she hao
passed the age OF forty in single state; tn
consequences, shs said, of having refused al
the offers that had been made her her femal
friends asserted that she had never found an,
one willing to take her.
Coming" said Perpetua, as she set in it
| usual place on the little table the flask of Dol
Abl-,ndio's fayorite wine, and moved slowl.
| toward the parlor door: before she reached i
! be ent sred. with steps 80 disordered, looks 81
| clouded, and q countenance 80 changed, tina
| an eve less practiced than that OF Perpetu.
conlo have discovered at a glance that some
| thing unusual had befal1en him.
"Mercy mel What is it ails my master 2
"Nothing, nothing" said Don A6bondio, as
he sank upon his easy chair.
"How, nothing! Would you have me believ.
that, look ing as You dof Some dreadful acci
dent has happened"
"oh! for the love of Heaven When Say
nothing il IS either nothing, or something
cannot tell"
THAT you cannot tell, not even to me 7 Who
will take care of your health Who will give
yon advicei"
ooh! peace, peace! Do not make matters
worse. Give me glass of my wiue.'
And you will still pretend to me that moth
ing is the matter" said Perpetna, e ling the
glass, but retaining it in her hand as if un
willing to present it except as the reward Of
coDAdeRce
"Give here, give here" said Don Abbondio
taking the glass with an unsteady hand, and
hastily swal wing its contents.
"Would you oblige me then to go about,
, my masterf" said Perpetua, standing up
right before him with her hands on her sides
looking him steadfastly in the face, as if to
extract the secret from his eyes.
For the love of HEAVIER do not worry me- do
not kill me with your pother; this is matter
that tconcerns-concerus my life"
Your life ~
"My life"
You know well, that, when you have frankly
corhded in me, have never -"
Yes, forsooth, as when -"
Perpetua was conscious she had touched Il
false string; wherefore, changing suddenly her
note, =" My dear master" she said in moving
tone of voice, II have always had dutifuf
regard for you, and if l now wish to know this
to give you advice, to relieve your mind"
The truth is, that Don Abbondio's desire to
disburden himself of his painful secret was as
great as that of Perpetna to obtain knowledge
more feebiy, her renewed assaults; after
having made her swear many times that she
would not breathe syllable of it, he, with
frequent pauses and ordinations related his
miserable adventure. When it was necessary
to pronounce the dread name of him from
whom the prohibition came, be required from
Perpetua another and more solemn oath :
having uttered it, he threw himself back on
his seat with heavy sigh, aud, in tone of
command, as we'll as supplicaton, exclaimed ::
For the love of Heavenm-
Mercy upon mew cried Perpetua, "what a
Godf'
"Will you be silent or do you want to ruin
ME completely ~
But what will my poor master do; ~
See there now" said DON Abbondio, in
peevish tone. see the fine advice you give me-
10 ask of me, what I'll do as if you were the
one in difficulty, and it was for me to help you
outw
Nay, could give you my own poor opiuion !;
but then"
"But-bat then, let Us know it,"
MY opinion would be, that, as every one
says our archb bishop is saint, a man of courage
and not TO he frightened by an ugly phiz, and
who will take pleasure in upholding curate
against one of these tyrants; | should saw.
aud do say. that you had better write him a
handsome letter, to inform him as how"
VII you be silent! will you he silent! Is
pistol bullet in my side-God preserve me i
will the archbishop take it outf'
"Ah pistol buEets are not given away like
and it were woful if those dogs
should bite every time they bark. If man
knows how to show his teeth, and maze him
self feared, they hold him in respect: we
should not have been brought to such pass,
If you had stood upon your rights Now, ali
come to us (by yonr good leave) TO-
" VIII you be silentR"
"Certainly; bnt it is true, though that
when the world sees one is always ready, in
every encounter to lower"
will you be silent Is this n time fnr suol
idle talk 7"
well, well, you'll think of i; tonight; bnt
IN the meantime do not be the frst TO harm
yourself-to destroy yonr own health. Eat
mouthful."
. " I'D think of it, murmured Don Abbondio
" certainly I'll think of it. must think of it:'
and he arose, continuing-"N ri take moth
ing nothing; I've something else to do. But.
that this should have fallen upon me-
..;, Swallow at least this other little DROP"
said Perpetua, as she poured the wine lyon
know IL always restores your stomach"
On! there wants other medicine than that
other medicine than that, other medicine than
that" ~
=, So saying he took the light, and mutteripg
"a pretty business this! To an honest man
Ike me And tomorrow, what is to be done 7"