The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-01

Father 81 daughter sprang into each other
arms, and for long while remained speech
less, wrapped in q tender embrace; then, at
ing themselves with their hands Jpterlockej
they we're silent and absorbed, as If the worl
and it's misery were altogether forgotten.
"A new iife-a new and refresb hing current o
blood-seems to have been suddenly poure
into my veiDs," said Monsieur De Vlerbt Cd
Alas, LeDoTR, what a sinner 1 bave been
how wrong 1 was not to divulge all !! But yo
must pardon me, beloved Guild; you mus
pardon me. 1t was the fesr of Mtcting you
The hope of finding some means of rescue, o
escape-that sealed my lips. l did not know
you, my daughter; Old not know the inesti
nIable treasure that GUd in his mercy ha,
lavIshed me-! But noW you shall know all
| will no longer hide the secret of NY conduc
and my grief. Tie fatal hour has come; th'
blow desired to ward off Is about to fall ant
cannot be- turned asidel Are you prepared, deal
chlld, to hear your fathers story -
| Lenora, who was delighted to behold the
calm aud radiant smile that illuminated the
face of her broken hearted parent, answered
him instantly, in caressipg tonss:
Pour all your wots into my heart, dear
| father. and conceal nothing. The part have
to perform must be based ON complets know.
| ledge of every thing; and you will feel how
much your condolences relieves your burdened
soul"
Take, then, your share OF suffering 8,
daughter" replied Do Vlierbeck, land help me
Co bear my cross! will Disguise nothing
What am about to disclose is int deed lamenL g.
able yet do not trembie and give way at the
must be the story of q fathers tortore. You
will learn now, my child, why Monsieur De-
necker has had the hsrdihood to behave TO-
ward rs rs he has DONE"
He dropped her hand, but, without svertiDg
his eager gase from her anxious eyes, con-
sinued:
"You were very young, Lenora. but gentle
mother found all her happiness centered in
your care aud comfort We dwelt on tho
lands of our forefAthsrs; nothing disturbed the
economy, our moders Q income sufd icd to sup
port ne in manner becoming our rank and
name.
g. had q younger brother, who was endowed
with an excellent heart, but generous to q fault
and some what imprudent. He lived in town,
and married a lady of nobe family W ho as no
richer than himself. She SNOWY in her
tastes and habits, and, fear, induced him to
increase his revenue by adventurous means.
There can be no DOUBT that he speculated
largely in the public finds But prob ably
you do not understand what this means, my
child. 1t is a species of gambling, by winch q
man may In a moment gain millions; and yet
tits game that may, with equal rapdity,
plunge him into the depths of misery and re-
luce him as If by magic to the condition of q
beggar.
AT first, py brother was remarkably sue
,essful, and established himself in town in q
style of living that was the envy of our
Wealthiest citizens. He came to see fire.
Iuently, bringing you, who were his god
'hild,' thousand beautiful presents, and
avished his affections with testimonials of
kindness which were proportoned to bis for
une. l spoke to him often about the DANCE
GUS character of his adventures, and endeav-
,red to convince hum that it was unbecoming
! gentlemen to risk his property upon the
hazards of an hour bot, as continued success
or gambling made him deaf to all my appeals
md to all my advice.
"A5 last the evil hour camel The luck
which had 30 long favored him became in con-
la NFh to
,aips, and saw his fortune diminI shing with
very venture Still, courage did not fail
llm; bat, on the contrary, hs seemed to fight
nadly against fate, witch the IDLE hope of
oroing fortune To torn once more ia his
avor. But, alas, il Was fatal deIusioni
One night tremble as / recall i'll was |
n my chamber and nearly ready to retire /;
'ou were already in bed, and your mother was |
aging her prayers on her knees beside your |
title couch. Afr=mendous storm ragged with
ut ba'l beat in io:renrs against The win
10 VS.. and the wind uowled IN the coimneys
nd s~ayed the trees if IL was about to
low down the house. Toe violence of the |
empesb began to make me somewhat anxious, |
Ehen suddenly the door-bell was pulled and |
he sound of horses heard at the gate In a |
lpmen6 the snmmons was answered by one of |
ur eeIvants,-for We kept two then,-and a |
rmale rushed into the room, throwing hersei f
D Tears at my feet. 1t was my brothers |
rife
" Trembling with fright, of course hastened |
D raise ner a; but she clun2 to my knees, beg |
taS my assistance, lmplorlug me, by every |
aSeioua appeal she could mink of. to save |
or husbands life, aud convincing me by her
obs and distraction thaG some ftightful cal
miLy was Impending over my brother!
" Your mother joined me eagerly in my eff
DItS to calm the sufferer, and by degrees We
damaged to extract the cause of her singular
onduct and unreasonable visit. Mg brother
alas had lost all he possessed, and even
1orel His wife's etory was heart rendug
ut its conclusion filled us with more anxiety
or her husband than his losses; for, overcome
y the certainty of dishouored name, haunt
d by the reflection that law and justice would
Don overtake him, my poor bother had made
n attempt upon his lfel The hand of God
sd providentially guided his wife to the
partment, where size surprised him at the
atal moment and snatched the deadly instru-
lent from his grasp! He was then locked up
u d room; dumb, overcome, bowed down to
he earth: and guarded by two faithful!
rlends. If any one on earth could save him, it
'as sarely his brother!
" Such was tue wild appeal of my wretched
lsteri n-law, who, needless of the stormy
ight had thrown herself into coach and
led to me, through the tempest, as her only
ope for their salvation. There she was at my
set, bathed, in tears, sobbing, screaming,