The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-18

whom God alone can save
There sleeps my mother dsari
There fell my father down.
=. The whirling tori ert bore him OBJ
Re 'srnggled long in yani
| And beth together sanki
And now A. our silent hut.
| whore deeolation dwells,
| To mourn upon this drssry bank,
And watch the wave and gravel
No longer erieye,' the stranger said.
4 father and brother to
TO thee, poor lonely girl, Ill bel
He took her hand he led her OF;
In garn ents rich he clad the maid;
| Before the sltsr promised love.
And blessed her life in happy home!"
As Lenors was about beginning the last
verse of her song Do Vlierbeck appeared on
the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants
instantly rose in alarm at the freedom with
| which they were sitting in the presence of
| their young mistress, listening to her songs
| but the poor gentleman ct once understood the
meaning of her action, and with a gesture of
approval sienaled them to be quiet. As the
last words died on his ear,-"Pm glad to see
| you amusing yourselves" said he "but now
that the song is ended, I want your services in
another quarter, my good woman"
Followed by Bess, the farmers wife, he as
cendsd to the dining-room, where the table
cloth was already laid and everyth in order
for the reception of the dishes ,Bessy's son
over his arm and De Vlierbeck Immediately
began to assign them their several tasks dn.
rlog the service OF dinner, aud to repeat and
drill them in their tasks till he was perfectly
Satisfied with their performances.
The honr for dinner was st length near at
hand. Everything was ready in the kitchen,
and all were st their posts. Lenora ia full
dress and with FACILITATING heart, fingered in
which he appeared to be reading, sat beneath
the catalpa in the garden.
It was about two O'Clock when o splendid
equipage, drawn by q pair of superb English
drew up in front Of the portal. De Vlierbeck
welcomed bis guests oourtsously, and Monsieur
Deneoker gave orders to the conchman to re-
turn precisely at i've O'Clock, as matters of
Importance CURED his presence in Antwerp
before nightfall.
Denecker was a large. stout person, dressed
rather extravsgantly. bot ia atyle Of studied
stylish The. expression of his face, it must
be owned, wds rather vulgar, and exhibited
compound of cunning and good nature temper
ed by indIff 'rence But Gostave, his nephew,
belonged to an entirely different GLASS of per.
sons. His tall figure was graceful and easy,
his oounteuance frank and manly, and his
whole demeanor denoted refined manners aud
high cultivation. Blue eyes aud blonde hair
impaired q poetic air to his head but an en-
ergetio glance and lofty brow took from it
every expression of sentimental weakness
No sooner had De Vlierbeck presented his
broke forth in exclam ations of undisguised ad-
miraton:
"How charming, how beautiful she isl and
yet so hidden IN this Griuselhof of yours, Mon
sleur de VHerbeck! What q shame, sirl what
q shamev
In the mean time Gustave aud Lenora had
moved oil to q short distance from the old gem
tlemen. and were busy in q chat of their own
1naud'bie to the rest but evidently interesting
to themselves, for they were observed not only
TO oiush but trsmble Denecker, in fact, could
not help observing the young peoples emotion;
and as De Vlierbeck passed down the saloon
with bim, remarked that the young beauty
was evidently turning his nephew's head. "He
talks OF her constantly" said he, land don't
know what may come of it: but give you fair
warning, Monsieur De VIierbeck, If you are
unwilling to see something more than compli-
plimonts between these children you had bet
ter take time by tho foreloOk. IG will soon be
too late to reason with them for my nephew,
With all his calm gentleness, is not the man to
retreat before dIffie 1lties."
De VIerbeck WAS secretly delighted by the
merchants oounsels, but was too Wise to dis
play anxiety.
"You are joking. Monsieur Denecker," said
he: Il cant think there is particle of dsn9er.
They are both young, snd there is nothing sur
cumstanoes. There can hardly be anything
serious in their Intercourse. But, come." ad-
ded he, aloud: II perceive that dinner is
served; and SO let Ne adjourn to the tablet"
GostSyS led in the blushing girl, and the ell
ders folio we'd I'D mirinGly in their rear, while
the merchant shook his iuger ooquettishly at
his gallant nephew. De Vlierbeok placed
Monsieur Deneoker opposite him at the table,
and made Gussave the visa Vis of Lsnore.
Bsss brought in the dishes, while her son
waited on the guests. The viands were pre-
pared with considerable skill, and Denecker
took frequent occasion to express his satisfac-
ton with their exquisite flavor. In truth, he
was rather aurprisod at the sumptuousness of
the repast; for ne had been prepared to expect
Ienten fare in q household which was renown-
ed throughout the neighborhood for it's austure
In q short time the conversation became
general; and LenorA astonshed Monsieur
Denecker by the extent of her information and
the admirable style in which she expressed
herself and did the honors of the table. Bot,
her ease and freedom while
oonyersing with the uncle, an observer could
not help detecting that she was shy, if not
absolutely embarrassed, when obliged to re-
ply to some casual remark of the nephew,
Nor was Gustave more at ease than the maiden
In fact' they were both happy at heart because
fate had thrown them together; but they
would have been quite willing to enjoy that
delicious silence which in love 10 often more
eloquent than language.
In the meanwhile De Vlierbeck ratified away
with the ease of . man OF the world on ali
IN AkEAH tA