The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-15

rates consent is not necessary TO render mar
riage ceremony lawful, provided you have hi
presence"
How so 2" asked RepZo
"fOu shall hear. There must be two wit
nesses, nimble and cunning You go to the
CITRATE the point is to catch him unexpect
say, 'Sgnor Citrate, this is my wife !; Lucy
says, 'Sgnor CIrate, this is my husband ;" yor
must speak so distinctly that the curste and
the witnesses hear you, and the marriage liz at
lnviolable as if the pope himself had celebra-
ted it. When the words are once uttered, the
eurate may fret, and fume, and scold it will
be of no use, you are man and wife,"
''Is il possible II exclaimed Lncy.
do you think, said Agnes, that the thirty
years was in the world before you, learned
nothingf The thing is as tell you"
The fact was truly such as Agnes represent
ed it: marriages contracted in this manner
dent was, however, not REQUIRED to but in
cases of great necessity, and the priests made
use of every preoauiion to avoid this compul-
"Ifit be true, Lncy r. said Renzo, regarding
her attentively, with q supplicating expression.
" it be true" exclaimed Agaes. "Do you
think l would say that which is not true
Well, well, get out of the difficulty as you can,
l wash my hands from it,"
"Ah, no! do not abandon US - said Renzo (;
II mean not to suggest a doubt of it. place
myself in your hands look to you as to 8
mother"
The momentary anger of Agnes vanished.
But why, In ANNA" said Lucy, in her usual
modest tone. "~by did not Father Cbristo-
pher think of this p
Think You that it did not come into his
mind ~ replied Agnes "but he would not
speak of it."
Why 7" exclaimed both at once.
'Why-because, if you must know it, the
friars do not approve of it,"
"lfitis not right" said Lucy, 1--WE must not
do it.
What !" said Agnes, edo You think would
I,4 st -. ~
against the advice of your parents, You were
gong 10 marry u rogue-but on the contrary,
L am rejoiced at your choice, and he who
causes the disturbance is the only william and
the cnrate-"
1T is as clear as the sun, said Renzo.
1T Is not necessary to speak of it to Father
continued Agnes. Once over,
what do you think he will say to you 'Ah
The friars must talk thus but, believe me, in
his heart he will be we'll content"
Lucy made no reply to an argument which
did not appear to her very. wonderful; but
the thing is DONE"
Softly" said Agues "there 10 need of
caution. We must procure the witnesses, and
present ourselves to the curate unexpectedly.
He has been concealed in his house for two
days; We must make him remain there. If he
your intentions, he will be as cunning
ab cat, and flee as Satan from holy water"
Lucy here gained courage to offer her doubts
of the propriety of such q course. "Until now
we have lived with candor and sincerity" said
she; g let rs continue to do 30: let us listen to
his advice"
e" Be guided by those who know better than
you do" said Agnes gravely. "What need of
advices God tells us, Help myself, and will
help thee We will tell the father about it
when it is over"
"Lucy," said ReDzo, " will you fail me now
Have we not done ali that We could do, like
good Chrissiansf Had not the curate himself
hxed the day and the hourf And whose is the
blame If we are now Obliged to use little
No, you will not fail me. 90
at once to seek the witnesses, and will return
to tell you my success" Sosaying, he hastily
departed.
Disappointment sharpens tho wit; and
ReDzo, who, in the raightforwerd path he had
hitherto travelled, had not been required to
subtitle much, now conceived plan which
wonld have done honor to q lawyer He went
directly 10 the house of one Anthony, and
found him in his kitchen, employed in stirring
a polcntG of wheat, which was on the fire,
whilst his mother, brother, and his wife, with
three or four small children, were seated at the
table, eagerly intent on the earthern pan, and
awaiting the moment when it should be ready
for their attack. But, on this occasion, the
pleasure was wanting which the sight of din
uer usually produces in the aspect Of the
laborer who has earned it by his industry.
The size of 'he poleRt6 was proportional to the
scantiness of the times, and not to the number
end appetite of the assailants: and in casting
dissatisfied look on the common meal each
OO
likely to survive it. Whilst Renzo was ex-
changing salutatiops with the family, Tony
poured ont the pudding on the pewter trenoher
prepared for its reception, and it appeared like
a little moon within q large circumference of
vapor. Nevertheless, the wife of Tony said
to ReDzor "Will you be hell pod to
This was q compliment that the
pea'ants of Lombardy, however poor, paid to
those who were, from any accident, present at
their meals.
:" thank you," replied Renzo ''I only came
to soy few words to Tony and, Tony, not to
disturb your family, we can go and dine ut the
inn, and we shall then have an opportunity to
converse" The proposal was az agreeable as
it was unexpected. Tony readily assented to it,
and departed with Renzo, leaving O his family
his portion of the polenta. They arrived at the
nm, seated themselves at their ease in a per-
feet solitude, since the penury of the times had
driven away the daily frequenters of the place.
after having eaten, and emptied bottle of
wine, ReDZo, with an air of mystery, said to
Tony, eff You will do me a small service, l
will do you great one"
" Speak, speak, command me-" said Tony,
hlling his glass; II will go through fire to
serve you"
You are twenty-five Iivres in debt to the
curate, for the rent of his field, that you worked
last year."
"Ah Repzo Renzo why do Won mention IL