The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-07

you that aun forced, much against my will, 10
lay all my heart open 70 you. i am sincerely
my only end and aim in life has been TO make
my benefactor's last days easy and peaceful,
and rs much as possible TO spare Kim all an
noy ance You women are always 90 simple,
and can never understand ones dong in .
small matter what isn't we'll perhaps in itself,
in order to gain some great good. However,
that's what I've been doing. Uncle Jan is
sadly avarioious. His whole soul is in bis
money. i don't mean to blame him. Cecilia ;
it's weakness of old age. Well, TO eontradies
and thwart him in that respect would only
have done, theni Why, out OF love 10 him
I've played the miser myself,-have pinched
and lived hard gone cold and hungry, snd ss;
day after day in this solitary den, that's more
l!ko grave than nything else les indeed,
Cecilia, M any poor creature I've hunted away
from the door while ms heart was hloedlng for
them all the while. l have lougsd for society
and friends, and have let tee best years OF
my life go by in This deathlIke solitude. have
loved yoa the very image of simple, mi AZ
fecped goodness; my soul has thirsted after
Jour sisterly affection; and Yet have been
bitter and hash with you,-roogS and rude
sometimes, l knoE IL well enough. AID why
have / done all this 1t was-try and under
stand me. Cecilia-it vas all 10 please Uncle
Jan, and that might be q comfor! TO him in
his old age"
Cecilia seemed quite overcome by his words
and manner, though still! unable 10 say word
for sheer astoulshment.
sob, how / have suffered" he continued, in
tone of desperation. Always teguing, never
oneself, cried out upon for ones selfsscrif ce,
and obliged TO pat mp with all in silence: II Is
as tholgn one mad neither heart bor soul"
He covered his eyes with his hands all the
while, however, closely spying between his
fingers at the expression OF Cecilias coensen-
sDcer which ever more AID more spoke ont her
astopishmenr.
poor Tbys!" at last she replied in tone
Of commiseratior; Why didn'E you tell me all
this soonerf Then | should never have felt SO
upjastly toward yoo."
And now, now that you know il, Cecilia"
be parsued, taking away his hand from before
his face, and throwing into il the most mp!or-
Ing preston of which it was capable, " "Il
you skill hate NE low r.
Il heve never hsted you, Tbys," answered
Cecilia; If i b ad, how should De pleased a.
toe tfieadiEess you no1 show would G.a1.
IS, am sure, regard you as a brother, and
ten"eforth will always treat yo1 IKE oae.'
You wou'i be afraid OF NE any t. gre, then =
why should !, If yo1 are goods earted AID
kindf'
a pause in the coz ye-sa,ior ensued. 1t was
evident fEom the unsettled wandering OF EIe
eyes, thst Tbys was anxiously debating s0ne-
thing in lis Luind. At last be raised has head,
and said, with all of Indifference:
Cecilia. have something TO tell you that
will perhaps astonish you. Bat don't let IT
trouble you; it's only project and may never
"Oh, well, then, I'll try and not be frigb ten
ed about that" answered Cecilia, with emile;
80 let me hear it, Thys."
ODCIo y al Wdub6 you anu uc 10 De married
together"
Howl What's that you sayf" Dried the
maiden in an agony of alright.
a. for my part have told him it couldn't be"
he pQrsued.
GOOD heavens, what an ideaw calculated
Cecilia, still quite beside herself
" l told him it couldn't be-" repeated Tbys,
his eyes intently fixed u pom his intended prey.
Aud he gave up tue thought, ddn'G he,
Tbysf" she rejoIred in an mp.orirg tone.
NO. indeed. For all can do TO talk him
out OF 1t, he obstiuateiy holds fast 10 it, and
woD't let it CO."
"Oh me! oh mew sobbed the poor girl, with
her apron at her eyes, and vainly endeavoring
to conceal her tears, white Thys looked on with
a fendsh smile, till, suddenly rising from her
seat. Where is my uhclef" che exclaimed
" You know well enough" was the answer.
- that he IS up stairs; and if you call him
down CT disturb him he'll be out of hQmor for
the " fofe day"
CecIiis rat down again; then, ia tone of
mingled despair and tupplieation, sue resumed,
"Oh, FoI dear Tmys do but get this thought
ont of hIo headn
Let 10 ta k che matter over cooly, Cecilia
Perhaps we snail fad some way that may sat-
sfy rs all "
"An ye,!' sighed the maiden. Help me,
Thys! will be grateful to you my life long"
Lock You DOW, Cecilia; before you go to
give yourself up TO grief and sorrow aud to
accuse our good Cncle Jan CT caprice and
tyranny, it Is necessary you should know some
thing of his reasons; aud perhaps then you'll
find that you have reason to he srstefR to him
after all. Uacie Jan thinks that be hasn't
much longer - live, and for my part believe
til at he's right. Well, his greatest trouble is
the fear of having 10 leave you behind alone
and Unprotected in the " ord and nothing
bot seeing you orcs for all married will set
him at this paInc"
Bat, fhys, / don't wish to msrry-at all
events, at present; am much too young yet"
rs, said 10 hun; aud that was one of the
rePaoDs for Which refused when first be spoke
oft"
'Oa, heavens! you've never changed yonr
mind. thenf DJn't say SO = snS cried in terror.
We'll don't quite know how to answer
that myself" was the reply, "siAee that doubt
has rIsen IL my mind as to what my duty really
is VIA. IL is. IN fact, that in generosity and
right reason 1 ought to do. First, you must
cOuUIder, Cecilia, that your uHcle has been
DursIuR tits project in his mind for months
past. ;iil it has thoroughly taken root among
bis thoughts. You know him if he can't carry
it oct he'll surely fall i'll with vexatiop, and
very likely die; and then, Cecilia, we should
be the cs1ss Of Els death"
"OD God ! oh God :" cried the poor girl rails
ing her eyes to heaven.
Void you wish TO he the cause of his
death - Thva