The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-06-25

cause of your distressf Adolphus, you must
despise such expressions. They are only vain
words, hioh merit contempt"
the youDg man was silent. The unusual
GOODNESS of his manner and the bitter aud
ironiosl expression of his features seemed to
prove thas no had closed HE heart to all con-
ISOLATION. Adeine had never seen him 30 in
sensible to her friendly words. The fear of not
being able to remove his depression touched
her, and even wounded her deeply, because she
believed that she was deceived in regard to the
extent of his affection for her.
She said in sorrowful tone:
"Adolphus how cruel You are to mel If you
have not the courage to support the contradic-
tions of life, you have at least that of obsti-
| nately refusing me q share in your solicitude
tresses you in this unaccountable mannerf'
"lmpossible, Adeline. I caunot reveal the
real cause of my despondenoy."
Will yoo conceal from me the wounds Of
your heart 7"
do not be offended, Adeline." stammered
the young man, deeply moved. =" thank you
my ffsripgs but it is one Of those sad secrets
that We must keep hidden in our own bosom
There are some miseries the burden of which
we must bear alone. 1 entreat you not to AJAX
you should discover the subject of my care,
my unh ,ppness would be increased"
Depressed by THE unsurmountable GOODNESS,
the young girl inclined her head with deep
Sigh She murmured confused complaint and
covered her eyes with her hands to conceal her
tears. Frances seized her hands and tried to
mo, let me weep" sobbed AdeIne. ~ have
lost the sweetest illusion of my life. who
believed in the confidence of Adolphus one
believes in the confidence of q brother. There
is q secret that he does not share with me- and
l have lost the right to console him."
Adolphus contemplated with forced calmness
his friends desoation. Her tears her sobs.
and especially the tender interest which her
complaints revealed. greatly affected him. His
sister looked at him supplcatiugly, as if to
entreat him to have compassion on Aediine.
1lnho Gpla mat fhn f,
feelings that governed him but suddenly q
strange palor overspread his oouutenauce, and
he commenced in voice which trera bled with
emotion
"You desire it, Adelinef You who 80 gener-
ously open your heart that may pour in it q
portion of my sufferiugs. you would learn this
secretl You will probably accuse me of folly !;
but would rather commit an act of folly th an
see tears flowing from your eyes. Adelne you
know how much my family and Frances have
done for me. They have sacrificed to me the
greater part of their resources, aud have COM
promised their future welfare. will tell you
all, Adeliue, even should the blush of shame
burn on my brow: Whilst studied at Lou
vain, and had need of a large sum for my sup
port my mother and my sister worked secretly
at ight to gam q little money for their beloved
Ny grandfather sold the only piece of land that
examination. / unhesitatingly accepted these
gifts of love because believed and hoped that
God would bless my studies and my endeavors
and that / would be able to repay nv friends
for their sacrifices Imagine with what Joy
and pride returned to the village. l had my
diploma, the magic ring that would hen ceforth
be a stream of wealth and peaceful enjoyuents
to my family. Two stars shone in my horizon
to aid suffering humanity, and to render
those happy WHO had scattered many proofs
of their nDbonnded love around my path. Do
you know, Adeline how my dreams have been
realized l dare not tell you. Imagine how
ust suffer to my grandfather, in spite of
his seventy years, working as u day laborer
Imagine how my heart is breaking when see
our poor Frances injuring her sight, by the
light of small lamp, over some work that she
will sell in secret to furnish small amount of
money to the house. My mother, oh, my God
what bitter chaice she silently drains! Do
not shake your head, Frances. l know that
the carpenter has been here. l know that he
has humiliSGed aud insnlted my mother.
know yet more, for to-day has been a fatal day
for me. All whom met after left the butch
er's had something dreadful or offensive to say
| o-me! 1t is dreadfuli Adeline, until to-day
q feeble ray frightened my sad thoughts.
believed there was some hope that might sur-
mount the painful difficulties of life. All that
has happened day has Withdrawn the band
age from my eyes; has shown me the future as
it really is, aud has forever broken down my
courage. Calumpy, the indignity of rough
men, has Observation-Disclosures if you pre-
| fer tiny budding reputation; but, triflinE ss
| it may be, it is an immense lose to me. an OBJ
| stacle that l cannot overcome. Noj let me
speak, Adeline; / have nearly hniShed. To
| know that my grandfather abrIdges his life by
| this hard work that my mother is exposed TO
| such deep bumiliations; to see my sister work
day and night, and to fear that in the end all
that she Can accumulate may not serve to keep
us from poverty, to know all that, and to be
| powerless infanr, not to be able to pre-
vent the misery that increases, aud to preserve
from it those who have sacrificed everything
| for me this, this is the agony that consume s
| my heaIt, the incursble wound that bleeds in
my breast. you now know the secret of my
heart. You Will, probably, consider me very
thoughtless to unvell these things to you; but
you cannot at least reproach me with want OF
| confidence in the friend of my childhood"
Adolphus' explanation, and more especially
| the gloomy tone of his voice, had filled Adeline
with pity, and perhaps with alarm. She was
deeply impressed with these disclosures. and
tears fell from her eyes. Frances, not less
3 fl ,cted, took one of her handle and sadly cast
down her eyes. After a short silence, Adeline
| renewed her efforts TO conqaer her own die
couragement. She did not succeed as she de
sired, for her detection contrsdlctsd her words
as she resumed:
"Adolphus, indeed your situation is very
painful. feel your griefs more strongly, per
haps, than you do yourself. But you are wrong
to yield TO the blows of fortune, when expert
ence and reason tell you that better tmet
| H., hnv