The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25


| that you will pardon my bo!dness. I Cal
hardly imagine that the feeling-the irE eeistioi'
feeliDg-I have entertained for Lenora IRON
the first moment sa her, has escaped yon'
penetrating eye. 1 ought probably 70 hsv'
ask ed your consent long ago, before she Cd
| tanned so complete q dominion over my heart
but have always secretly encouraged tho be
lief that you read my sonl and were not oIs'
| pleased with my motives
| Gustave WAS silent, awaiting tho hoped'tor
| words OF encouragement; bot De Vteroecs :
only looked At him with gentle smile snn
| gave other indication of HE pleasure
motion of the hand, as If he wished the lover
| TO go " ith his con versation, was tho oniy
| sign he made 10 reply. .
| Gustave's resolution began to ebb atthis dis-
| couragpg by-play, bnt, sommonlng Gil MS
| energy for another attack. be continued:
&" Yes, sir, l have loved Lenore from my hrst
| sir ut of her; bot What WAS then aspsrk is now
| @ fame. Dln't think II ID her loVeliness eion e
that bewitch.d me She might indeed encbapt
the most in sens BILE of mankind but found
far more glor,Ons treasure In the angelic heart
of yonr daughter. Her virtue, tho immacula late
purity of her soul her gentle and msgp aninous
senfimepts word. the pr0dieal gifts OF
mind and body uhich God has lavlshed upon
her.-have increased my admiration To love,
my love TO absolute idolstry How dare con-
ceal my emotion from you any longerf l can
not live without Lenora; the very thought of
even a short temporary separation from her
overwheims me with despair. j long to be
with her every day. every hour; long TO bear
quent eyes! know not what may he your de-
clsion; but, believe me, if it shall be adverse
to my hopes, shall not long survive the blow.
IT your decree separate me- from my beloved
Lenora, life will no longer have q charm for
mel"
Gostave uttered his romantic rhapsody-tbe
rhapsody of most lovers-with that genuine
emotion which bespoke his sincerity. and
touched the heart of De Vlisrbeck so deeply
that he grasped his hand and implored him to
be calm
Don't tremble So my young friend" said
the old gentleman. know very well thai
yon love Lenora, and that she is not iusensible
to your fec ion for her. Bot what have you
TO propose to me 7"
Gustave replied. dejec'edly, 'lf still doubt
your approval, after al the marks of eateem
You have given NE, it is because i fear you do
not consider me worthy the happiness 1 have
sought. l have no ancestral tree whose roots
are buried in the past; the good deeds of my
foretathers do no" shine in history; the blood
that runs in my voins comes from common
stock"
do you think" said De Vlierbeck. inter
Iupting him, " that l was Ignorant of all this
from the frat day of our acquaintance7 No,
Gustave; no matter what your lineage may
be, your own heart is generous and noble !;
and. had it not been no. would never have
es teemed ard treated you as my son."
And so,' exclaimed Gnstave, catching at
the last words with borst of joyous impa-
thence, you don't refuse me Lenora's hand p
you will interpose no objection, provided my
uncle gives bis conSentT
" No." replied De Vlerbeck ~ shall not
refuse it TO you. On the contrary, it will give
me urbounded happiness to intrnst the fate of
my only child to your keeping. And yet there
is an obstacle of which you have no idea"
" An obstacleW exclaimed Gusteve, growing
pale =" an obstacle between Lenora and me-"
Z" Be silent q moment" said De Viierbeck,
and listen to the explanation I shall give
Grinselnof and all it's dependencies belong to
usf 1t is not 80: We are penniless. We are
poorer far than the peasant who rents our
farming. land and lives yonder at the gate"
Gustave looked dou btingly ut De Viierbeck,
with so incred ulous a smile that the poor gen.
tlemsn bushed, aud trembled like an aspen.
see you do not believe me-" continued
be; II zee IT in your smile and look. Like the
wealth aud starving my child and myself to
amass riches,-a wretch who sacrifices every
thing for money,-a VaHabond whom all ough
to fear and despise"
"Oh, pardon me- pardon me, sir y inter
rupted Gustave, moved by the excitement of
the old man. ~ think nothing of the kind
Ny veneratlou for you is unbouuded"
Nay, d"n't be frightened at my words,
youug Iuau," continued Do Vlierbeck, u
caimer tone. =" make no accusations against
yon, Gustave. l only SAW in Your iucredulous
smlie that | had succeeded in masking my
poverty even from you, and in making you
suppose that my economy was RvariCe. bat 1t
is needless for mo to give you any further ex-
plantation jnsj now. Let it 81 fiji se you 10 know
tbaS "bat say ID strictly, honestly tue.
possess nothing -uothinS!
And now" added he, after n moments 81.
lence on botu Sides "leU mo give you piece
of advice. Go home to-day without seeing
LenorR; examine Your soul calmly, and zee
whether there are no secret emotions that may
make You change Your present views; let
night pass, and If, tomorrow, .enora, poor ~
you know ber to be, is still dear to yOu,-it
you still think you can be happy with her ant
make her bapry,-seek your urcle aod ask bi,
consent. Here Is my hand, If the day shai
ever come when can offer it fathers. il
will be- the bappiest of my litew
Although the revelation made by Monsieur
De NIIeTb" K Vas astonishing to Gustave, The
solemn tine in which he announced il conViu
ced the lover of its truth. He was silent for q
moment; but soon n spark of enthusiasm be-
gan to glisten in his ey and Liz hit up his face
as he exclaimed:
How can you AJAX me if l shall continue t.
love Lenora now that know her to be poor
IL will be happiness enough for me to receive
her as q wife, to be bound to her 10y tue eter
nal bonds of love. to be forever within bel
reach and to receive my happiness from lei
look and voicel What delight it will be fol
me TO protect her and know that have the
privilege of working for her! Palace oil
hovel; riches or poverty, all are equally indif
| ferent to me, provided her presence animate
the spot! nights reflection, Monsieur D,
Vkerbeck, caanot change my resolution
Grant me Lenora's hand, and will thank yoI
on my knees for the priceless gift !"
Add suppose | doD reDlied the old gentle