The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-09-30

I written, ana Tong epistie- from, Mrsr Yste, in
| search Of his master, wherever he might Dc.
| He fret went to Hodington, and thence on the
| morrow to Wollashull, on Bredon Hill, where
he learnt that the Squire and his daughter
were likely to be found. As he passed by
HAMPTON Lovet, he met an acquaintance who
had come from Westwood (having witnessed
the scene described in our last chapter). ana q
| told him how Master johnson had been sent OH
| prisoner to Worcester Castle.
| Clara and her father had Quilted Dame Wyn-
tonr's house soon after Father JoaohIm,s dePar-
| ture, and had ridden 10y Pershore to Wollashull,
| where they were Hospitality received by Squire
Francis Hanford and his lady.
Squires Hanford and Finch had been com.
| rad es in arms during the OWL wars, and had
always been on terms of the utmost familiarity.
| Squire Hanford's wife, Eliz sbeth, was daugh-
ter of Walter Clifford of Chillington, and had
| been beauty in her youth. Their only son,
named Walter after his maternal grandfather.
was at that time staying at Chillington with
his grandsire, SO that the old people were
| alone.
time, and was struck by the pensive look upon
her conntenance and the psllor OF her cheeks
but attributed the latter to the fatigue OF her
long ride. Both she and her spouse naa a; 9G-
ton of Mr.. Finch's sffsirs bat the latter fel6
delicacy in broaching the subject to his host,
as he knew that, like most, of the Catholle
gentry of ths period, he was himself hampereo
with pecunary difficulties.
On the very day of their arrival, Mr.. Hanford
was visited by neighboring yoeman, VINO
came to tell him that he had seen Mr.. Finch
passing through Persbore on his road thither,
and that he deemed it nelghboriy TO INFORM
him that Sheriff Dowdeswel1 had issued u writ
for bis apprehension for debt, aud toat for tne
considerable sum of E5OO0.
MY dear FRIEND" said Hanford, when he
had called Francis Finch aside into his study,
81 atn far from being rich man; indeed at
the present moment am sorely pressed with
em barrassments arising from the exactions to
which we Catholics are all subjected; but
if You can show me how to befriend you, you
may rest assured that 1 will do my utmost to
relieve you. know that you are 50 far oven
worse off than myself, that the sheriff hath
issued writ for your apprehension, and that
you stand in hourly peril of your liberty"
sis it so 7 l know that l am hopelessly in
yolved wish Rogers, but was not aware that
he had actually obtained a writ for my appre-
tension"
Tnereupon his host reported to him what he
had Just heard, and Mr.. Finch, after thanking
him for the information declared that, rather
than be a bnrthen to his Catholic neigdbors he
would allow the law to take its course.
' Nay, my good friend, if it were only for
CIara's sake, you should keep out of prison."
quoh Hanford. Five Thousand pounds is
alas! more than 1 can muster; but if your
other friends will help, will lend you one or
two thousand. Suppose you leave Clara here,
and go off to Hornyoid and Russell, and our
friends in Herefordshire. and see if you can
borrow the remainder from them. You may
thus tide over your present traits. Mean bile,
if you desire it, will see the sheriff and inform
him of your intention to pay the amount forth
with"
Accordingly the Squire of Rushock lefs his
daughter at Wollasnull, aud rode OFT before
dawn through Upton to Blackuore and Little
Malvern, and thence on the following day into
Herefordshire
Clara found truly sympathizing friend in
her hostess, to whom she lnsensibly opened her
heart, relieving herself of the weight which
pressed upon it.
81 could save him by a word, and shall
f.n az AFicfro Han HaI
drawn from her the narrative OF Edward Ro.
gers addresses, and the history of all that had
transpired to the time of his nocturnal visit to
Hodington.
What, marry that wretoh, to save your
father from a temporary difficulty You would
be shortening his life by sucn an ill advised
step, my dear child, as we'll as running your
own. Tell me more about this Mr.. Secheverill
you named anouf l am sure you like him,
Clara"
She sighed, and perhaps blushed, for Dame
Elizabeth tnen seemed insIinCtiVely 10 read her
heart and took her hand in hers.
I" He is still Protest staut, you said, thiuk 7"
:" God knows" sne returned in faltering
| voice. land yet, having prayed so bard that
he may see the light, cannot but believe IL
| may have dawned upon him."
Mixed marriages are, as rule to be de-
| plored, no doubt" reformed the dame :: " but
| there may be exceptions"
mo, no, dear madam; do not speak of it."
Aud yet you love him, Clara. 1 am sure
you do
ne Knows tnab COulQ never Weu G1n at
| the sacri6ce of my faith, and I believe he
| would nonor me the more for keeping true to
| it,"
Then he has songht your hand ?"
| "Yes"
"And you, did not quite refuse him ?"
| No; but told him this-that could never
| marry heretic.'
lie knoweth you love him 7"
! Clara was silent, but her friend felt teal
drop upon her hand, aad only said:
| "God bless you, darling; aud may He bring
about this hsppJ contamination in his owr
good time aud wayn
On the following morning they walked ut
Bredon Hill to the old ruined Chapel OF Sc
Cathariue of Wollashull, and as the day wat
clear and genial, they sat them down beneath
the ivy. mantled arches and talked again abou
the past few weeks of Clsra's life.
al wish your friend Mr.. Sacheverill would
suddenly appear here" said Mistress Hanford
=" for l am sure that between us we coulC
smooth matters for your father"
Just at that moment, as if iu confirmation o
the time. honored proverb, domestic from th,
mansion came in hot haste to inform them tina
man had juss arrived from Rushock in search
of Squire Finch, and had brought some letters
which he handed to Clara. Her father hat
commissioned her to open any missive tha