The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-02-11
Continued |
CHAPTER VIII.

Abbey farm. Nothing of what she saw there
was of q nature to confirm her worst suspicious
on the contrary she began to believe that abe
had, to some extent, done Thys wrong. lie
showed much care for the old man, and
spoke so compassionately of his benefaotor,
that she was forced to doubt whether, after al
there might not lie something good deep down
ut the bottom of his heart. That the old man,
moreover, was in any immediate danger she
could not believe either; for twice day lhys
had good meal of meat and potatoes dressed
for him. and If he could bear such solid living
ms that, he could hardly but be in some sense
strong and in good case.
But here Kate was taken ill., IF she had fol-
lowed the hypocritical villain into the dark
passage, when he, Oh he snid, carried mp the
patients meals, she would have seen that IL
was not to the old mans chamber, but to his
own, that he carried the strengthening fare.
Poor Uncle Jan got nothing bat poor food that
his stomach revolted against; such that he
even guawed on by preference u: his hard, dry
Pye-bread crust, little suited as that, too, was
to do him any good.
The sick man did, indeed, with increasing
impatience oven at times with considerable
irritation, begin to press for better nourish-
ment, feeling himself to be in fact dying with
hunger but al that he could say upon this
head WAS totally Intellectual at ono time
talking hi IN over with plausible words, at an
other simply turning deaf ear to his entrea-
ties, until the poor old man held his peace from
mere exhaustion and weariness.
The third evening, Just Rs Kate WAS ahont
to leave the Abbey farm for the night, Thys
had asked her to come back after having made
her arrang ements at home, uudor pretcXt that
Uncle Jan wished for warm bath, aud that
great quantity of hot water would be wanted
for that purpo-n. Accordingly, a. soon ~ she
had put Meien to bed she returned. Now,
however, she was told that the old man had
changed his mind about the bath; but that
nevertheless il would be well she should stay,
for that fever had come on, and II was very
possible the doctor might havcto be fetched In
the course of the night; perhaps oSen-only,
however, IN order |" run no risk-the priest
Zoo - al l.,t 10 Iar, ,,.l
materially worse than no had been, but he was
old man, wellnigh worn out, and without
much power of rRilyipg left in him. 1t would
be most prudent, therefore, to have some one
at hand in of need contrary to all eX-
pectation, his case might suddenly become 50
rious.
All this dust thrown into the widows ey es
had not, however, entirely blinded her. Her
conclusion was that the old mans illness was
in truth much more serious than she had been
made to believe; and she determined that, if
the night did not bring her some satisfaction
on this head, she weuld in the morning at once
break with Thys and bring the rector and the
burgomaster about his ears and 30, with tho |
aid of the spiritual and temporal authorities, |
arrive Mt solution of this mystory of inie aity.
Sho was sitting alone by the FIREPLACE med- |
tatinR on the beat way of bringing the matter |
before the authorities so that they should |
plainly see their way in the uurighteous plot |
that was being played OF at the Abbey farm |
for depriving Cecilia of her law fol in hertance |
Perhaps the rector would not refuse making an |
attempt to bring back tue old man TO a sense
of Justice; and in that wny she might be able
to effect that for her benefactors which, while |
sho remained in the house, would be totally |
beyond her reach, seeing that up to this time
she had never once succeeded i'll obtaining
eight of the sick man.
But in the midst of her deliberations tn faar
crossed her mind that next morning mig hit per
hsps be too late for who oould tell what mi ht
be going on upstairs between Thys and the
old mani This doubt threw her into fever ii
OF restlessness and anxiety. From time to time
sne rose frOm her seat snd, stepping on tiptue
into the passage which led toward Uncle Jams
chamber, with noiseless tread she approached
the foot of the staircase; but, after listening
there for some time with all her ears, she heard
nothing, everything upstairs remaining in
perfect quiet; she presently therefore, returned
10 the slttiDg-roou, and continued her Iledita-
ton by the Preside.
And now the note of midnight is sounding
from tho tower of the village church. ono
by one, sadly and snemnly, tho strokes re-
vertebrate through space; Ouo 10y one they die
away upon the car, till the deepest stiffness OF
the season again prevails. In Unclo Jams
chamber burns n small metal lamp Gimly
dickering, with dense Smoke and lurld flame
Dismal, unearthly even, ~ the sccue the i'm
perfect light leaves the corners all in gloom !
the very walls arc not distinctly visible Tlr |
room has thus the n CT of Il mere portion of
space of space endless and bouudless as
ternity.
Only part of the bed aud of tho table which
stands 10y IL receives tho blood red ILLUMINATION
OF the lamp. Tho old man is lying on his side |
with bis face toward the table he seems To-
sleep; neverthc 'ess, from time to tInle he me-
chaulcalIy opens hlS eyes, but only inst as
TO shut them again Immediately
his coantenauCe Is ghRsuy tue skull an.
parent in all it's augularity, Ii covered ONLY
with q thin transparent skin, strrtcAed ia II
were, over the bones; hts eyes arc CLASSY and
llfeless, his lips coiorless. Only from the rod
Il anne of the lamp ilckers acr, - his face tinrc
OF lurid color, such rs the last RAYS of tina
earthS light might shed over the ashy checks
al corpse already laid out for tho grave.
By the table sits Thys. who, intending to
watch beside tho sick man, las fallen FAST
asleep, with bis huad against the back of tLr
chair.
- Ills lll-tavUred features, too, are in tho light
EVon now, when relaxed in sleep, his visape
tells plainly of the evil soul within; and his
great mouth bears permanently impressed upon
It malicious smile, Ever and anon his ms
contract or his brow creases nervous twitch-
lngs, more than sufficiently expressive of i'll.
feeling and annoyance, fit across his oounts.
nance. He is evidently dreaming.
The aged sufferer has ag ain opened his ewes
and now notices the significant play of feature
which so unfayorsbly betrays the hidden work.
ngs OF the sleeper's mind. With mingled
error and aversion he keeps his eyes liked
lpon the ill-omened spectacle, aud conscious.
1883 and reelection awaken in him as he con.
emplates it.