The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-07-16

| ter u sorro wfuliy answered the young man
| of my liberty paiDfdl; but I believe I ma,
| cherish the hope that Adeline's affection TO
me has never acquired the force of love-"
| That is q delasion, an error, Adolphus
You are making efforts to deceive yourself I
It possible that you have not penetrated TIN
secrets of OF hearth Since her infancy,
may say. Adeline has only lived for you. i
| like yourself, might have Thought there wa
| no other bond between you than friendship
| had not your long residence at the University
permitted me- to read her love in her heart
although she herself was not conscious of it
| All If you could, at that distance, have seer
and heard her! ALI day, from morning unit
night, your name was on her lips. Every time
that We spoke of the success of your studies
| or expressed our anticpstions of your future
career, she trembled with hope and fear, anC
turned her eyes to heaven with @ fervor tb O.
wonld have appeared exaggerated, if had moi
known the cAuee OF her emotion. She suffered
from your absence more than my mother and
myself; she was moro interested and impa
tient than even ourselves to hear the recital OF
your occupations ut the University. Our re-
quest to be informed of the minutest details OF
your life at Louvain was, might say, dictated
by Adeine. She wished to live for you and
with you. She identified herself with your
existence, shared your labors, your sorrows and
your hopes. In her continual solicitude che
felt the Irresistible need of prayer. We went
every day together to the church, and remained
there for hours. Often I saw tears glisten in
Adeline's eyes, and when would inquire for
whom she SO a9dently prayed, she would tell
me that she imPlored heavens benediction for
her father and for you. Her father was happy
and prosperous; she enjoyed his devoted affec-
ton. Why, then should tears of tenderness
shine in her eyesp
Adolphus's attitude showed extreme discour-
agemeDt and it was in q scarcely Ineligible
voice that he replied:
Sister, many things have occurred since
that time. If the sen timent you speak of had
ever dwelt in Adeline's heart her fathers ami
mostly would have crushed it at once"
How can you believe that" exclaimed the
Joung girl. "Dr. Heuvels' hostility to you
existed previous to the lay when you returned,
filled with despair. from farmer storck's aud
from the butchers. Perhaps Adeline had seen
him rejoice at your discontinue. But what
did she not do to console youf She opened to
your eyes her loving Heart, even wing to
you the secret of her soul. You understand
this secret, A6olphusf You cannot deny it.
Nothing less than this powerful means would
suspicion. Probably you believe that Adeiine's
love has diminished, because she avoids us and
10 wers her eyes when we meet herf All! do
not misunderstand the poor girl She has be-
come pale and thin, and she is wasting away
she must submit to her fathers will il is an
inexorable law. But, Adolphus, it i. certain
that poor Adeiiue suffers more than we can
Imagine. 1t is terriblel Now, to repay her.
you would make her heart bleed, and condemn
her to premature grave. This thought forces
tears from my eyes. Adolphus, Adolf have
pity on her, and do not destroy her life"
His sister's words deeply affected the young
silent a short time. He then slowly raised his
head and SAID, sadly:
seech You, deprive me of the courage necessary
to enable me to accept this bitter fate. / know
all you tell me, Frances. / acknowledge it.
Urged on by an imperative duty, I was en-.
deavoring to force myself to render the sscri
fee less dreadful to myself. Yes, yesi / have
loved Adeline, aud do love her. also trem-
BILE, and am fearful that the idea of my mar
riage may wound her heart. But what am
to do, Frances9 Advise me, if you can"
Refuse the hand of Constance"
"Ohl had this been possible, / would not
have hesitated an instant about my decision.
This marriage is to save my mother from hu-
initiation, to give me the means of ameliors-
ting her condition and making the old age of
my grandfather happy, and to secure you, my
tion in life. If / refuse, we will again fail
into the straightened circums tances which onr
grandfather and mother have been 80 long de-
ploring"
"But what is that to you, Adolphus, if it is
our happiness to suffer Tor you," interrupted
the young girl.
&" know the immensely of your love for me-"
replied her brother; and doubt not my
mother and grandfather would again Tenounce
the hope Of a happy future, if manifested
the wish. What else has your life b sen bat
one long sacrifice for met But now it is my
turn. What I propose to do is the death of q
hope which, like q brilliant star, has illumi-
mated my future path but, however painful it
may be, will fulfil the duty that is marked
tears. Man must endure patiently the fate
that he cannot avert. Think how insupport-
able my position would become by my refusal:
poverty, prosecutions, the hatred and hostility
of others would shorten my mothers life. If
I reject the generous offer of the notary, and
thus insult his dau ghter; do You think that he
will ever forgive met He would hate me With
all the warmth of paternal Indignation. What
would become of us, placed between Dr.. Heu-
vels's eumity and the notary's hatred-the
two richest and most powerful families of the
parish Have 1 the right to render our mother,
grandfather and yourself unhappy, to preserve
a hope the realization of which had become
i mpossbleH"
Frances seemed convinced she did poS reply.
The idea of her brothers marriage with Con-
stance filled her with despair. Her tears flowed
anew.
poor Adelinew she sobbed; poor lamb,
who must be sacrificed Oa. my brother, if it
must be, impIore you to hasten your Ia ar
riage. Let us leave here quickly. would not
Ii ear the funeral bell of her who has so faith
fully and ardently loved us. would not fol
low her cofan to the grave that Will be opened
for her through your act"
This complaint, uttered in accents of piteous
grief, drew FROM the young man cry of an
guish. He convulsively clasped his hands, aud