The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-18
DE BELCASTEL,
BE NOT HASTY In JUDGING.

ooh! how long this sleeplehs night has ap.
peared to me! Aud yet I wish 1 could make
itlonger," said the youthful Blanche, moving
restlessly in her bed 1T the first peep of dawn.
And why did she dIead this dav, she W hose
| life had heretofore been 80 hsppyf
Because she would for the frst time
destined for her husband. This relative, on
the death of her father, would. in accordance
with established laws, inherit not only his Ii.
ties, but also the greater part of the Count dc
| Belcastel's immense torture.
The Count. who had been wido wer several
years, loved his only daughter tenderly. Her
| happiness was the principal object of hia
| thou ghts but he considered it lnsepara Die
| would he have seen her deprived of the rank
surrounding her birth. Everything appeared
secondary in comparison to this. Full of ven
GRAFTON tor his llluHtrious ancestors, the idea
| of his g:andchiidrens bearing another name,
and exclnded from all right to his patrimouiai
! estates, was insnpportable.
From Blanche 3 tenherest infancy this union
had been planned, and promises exchanged
between her father and that of young Adhe-
| mar de Belcastle- The children, too Young to
have any voice in the matter were accustomed
to regard with indifference future they
conld not appreciate, and which appeared 81
very far off.
Blanche not only devotedly attached to
her father, bat also strictly obedIent. lie had
taught her TO have no Will buJ his, aud III
selectipg books for her TO read he was careful
to procure such es made tilial devotion tie
dominant interest, whilst frivolous romauces
were kept ont OF her reach. Thus both rduca-
ton aud naturai diep"stfton combined th IN.
spire her with the most exalted ideas Of The
only duty she had btherto known.
Bat there comes age when self reflection
asserts itself Very little observation Of the
world was necessary TO form Blauche'B jndg.
ment, and sLe soon understood that some ma.
tual attachment, some congenislity of tastes,
OF Ia t,D0I TOW Al
ness and memory, aided by gossip, convinced
her that there were no such ties between her.
self and the man she was destined to marry.
She then began TO regard with dread the
obligation of marrying one whom she did not
know, and doubtless could never love. She
was even tempted to accuse of egotism and
vanity father who could thus sacrifice the
happiness of an only child to ms own amOi-
tious views; bat, 40 the ightest thought in
jurious to him WAS more painful than any thing
else, she banisbed it Immediately, and reso-
iutely Determined to adVsnc with closed eyes
towards the fnlhlment of an imperative duty.
The conduct of the ChevAlier de Beloaste,
proved that he also shared ElAuche's estrange.
meDt. Apparently possessed of passion TOR
rambling, he spent several years in travelling
through Europe, and his a6Hanced bride su- !
cretIy suspected that his rcpugrauce TO "a
forced marriage was the true cause of this
voluntary exile. Though little II Altering 10 |
erself, she TejOicsd, however, at any cIrcum |
stance that prolonged her liberty. When has !
father fol- grievousIy sick, AdEemar Lastruoi |
back to France, and fortunately Tea,ued lone
IN JIHG 10 spotbe bis last LBbHsnto. N" |
COnnt de Belc8sile wrote hls yuuug relative
u letter Of condoleuce, and the aaH"tr he re-.
ceivrd terminated in these words Ny
fathers last moments we're troubled by has
anxiety concerning the plan which you and he
had concerted Tor the uuiDu of the titles aud
fortunes OF our r~o famIl,,s. He assured me
hat Mile dc Bolcastei gave her consent
Urged by him Ut suCh a moment, ! had no
,hoIce. In SIX months | shall have tie honor
1f awaiting y0ur orders, etc"
As we can we'll believe, tho Count was dis
,ati=fe ed with this letter, Wouudel affection
Ind pride trIunphed for a moment over his
yranncal prejuL Ces.
Bat the iatter soon re'umei their sway. Ro.
lecJiug that in youth Que frequently dIsdains
= hat s easily obtained, he resolved to dis
,hiee his real sentiments under the Cnver Of
nd ference, and try if that would NOT arouse 1
be Cuevalier to an aPprecl alton of his ad van
ages. He remained some time without wElt-
DR, and, when ne did, it as to express tho
ope of soon seeing his young relative and +
rIend also to state that the idea of separs-
ion from Blanche, his only companion, Was so I
slnful TO both, that they " listed to defer the
ad moment long possible. He received T
o answer TO this letter until few days H. =
Jre the eI piratlon Of The ak months. I
Adhemar announced hls arrival the follow. h
lg Monday. Though his style was stil cold, p
. requested in terms less frIRid and dlsin- b
:rerted than those employed at first perms t
on to marry h,s young bride within few -
eeks. "Importaut affsrs," said be, sum. /,
ION to Paris, aud even perhaps t. a foreign /
1uDtTyr whore / may be obliged 10 remain
'me ycara, Bat, no matter where du'y may ="
al me, Nile. de Belcsstle may feel assured Il
Iat her choice of u rebldonce needs only your 4"
pproval to meet with my consent" p
IL wCnld bs vain 70 attempt a description OF )
laucne's state of agitation duunR the few a
liz letter aud the morning she expected Ad- VI
emar. MY days of happiness are vanished II
7 ever" thought sh'. dressing sloWly with v!