The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-08-05

have You beenf We deemed you dead, and
were preparing for your funeral Have yon
| brought back the Ally, or left her in n ditch
| l thought you bad ridden her to the devil, for
we searched the country round ere We gave you
up" ,,,.
| the WORSE" returned S5cheveril.
"You have ridden her long enough to break
| her back, and loee her tail into the bargain.
| back, and must have whet your appetite nm
| iess you halted by tho way. HI vorch fef IL
you viii do justice to our supper"
Il have not Jared badly" replied GerVase'
! "for after good five mile Rallop foil IN with
n gentleman whose hospitality accepted, the
| while rested the ii ly in his stable !"
give miles in which directionT enquired
| Harry.
| "Rushock was the name" returned his
cousiA.
esquire Finch the Papist! wny you'll risk
your neck for An abettor of recusants," retorted
| young Townshend. "and you lost your heart
to his pretty daughter, Pll be boundf"
!" met one R1gers there, who spoke OF goa
as his bosom friend, although cannot say
should feel fsttered by his preference" pur-
sued Sacheverli, pleased at thus being able to
evsde his remarks touching Mss Finch.
Ha. ha! the rascal out you out with Miss
tress Clara roared his cousin. THAT is a
Joke. The fellow is bnt milk and water Pa
pist, and not bad one in the hunting field if
he burst mount a wel-bred neg. The Justice
will go stark mad Il he hears you've accepted
hospitality from Finch, wherefore if l may
ven .ure some friendly advice l would hint
to You to hold your tongue about your visit to
the manor of Rushock,"
But what AN TO say - asked GeIvase: 81
must tell the truth"
leave that to me, and keep your counsel OF
yon may have to swear away poor Finch's life
at Worcester Castle. and his denghter's to
boot" retorteh Harry, adding contdentialy
ion didn't chance to See priest there, did
you ~
"Priest--~hat priest ~ enquired the other,
scenting danger.
"Ha you might not know he was priest"
rejoiued young Towushend; lone Johnson,
an o,dish man, rho prowls about these parts"
IL saw no one wearing the garments of
priest" returned Gervase evasiveiy, as he be
came sensible of the risk to which no was
likely to expose the good Franciscan by any
avowal Of the truth; "TneLe a was va .aa an aged
gallant gentleman enough, after the pattern of
the old cavaliers."
"a mortal foe of ours. Beware you name
him not. Leave that to me, and only hold your
tongue" pursued his cousin.
1t was close upon supper time, aud on reach
ing the dining hall they found the ladies
awaiting them.
Dora expressed her surprise at Sacheverilrs
long absence, greeting him with the utmost
smisbility. and both of them began question.
ing him touching the particulars OF hls adven-
ture
"He hath not fared badly" cried Harry for
Brown Bees not only saved her own legs, but
his neck into the bargain, and took him to
ome farmhouse miles away, whore they gave
him a meal, and doubtless piled him with ale
aud cider till he conid scarce find his way
homeward. AS to tue mare, trust taey fed
| her too ~
| While the ladies were ughug over this ac
count of his adventure the Justice made his
! appearance aud beard the story from their
| lips.
hend, =" for suffering tins mad cap son of mine
| to mopnt you on that ti!iy, and thank Prosi'
deDc- that nothing w"ise hath happened. As
to that colt, she will be sold forthwith at the
next horse fuic"
Nay father" exclaimed his son, since
| Cousin Gervase hath broken her in, SEQ not
whereof We should not proht by his skill.
| What better proof of his success than his being
| brought safe homs in = dusk by roads which
be never passed along beforeF
"Tis true suffered her to guide me, and she
! made straight for her stable, and came as
| quietly as u lamb" observed Sacheverili.
"Tsn to one they never fed her, then" re-
jDined Harry. "Ail the better. for they would
| only have cramD her with beans ana maoe
| ner twice skittish'
Gervase experienced some quslms of con-
| science at giving silent sanction TO the false
| hoods uttered by his cousin, nor were these IN
accompanied by a sense of humiliation when
| be reflected upon the possibility OF exposure,
sooner or later, at the hands of Rogers How
ever he felt tolerably secure on this score,
| when he remembered chat the latter would be
more likely to make the revelation to Harry
| than to his uncle, but even so he should not
be free from the impntation of dissen-
bling since he had concealed the presence OF
| Father johnson, which that traitor was almost
certain to disclose. These thoughts added to
| his torments as he lay sleeplessly upon his bed
| thinking of Clara, aud of the peris by which
| she W as encompassed He regretted toe prom
ise extorted from him by the priest not to chal-
lenge the wretch who was threatening that
lady'S honor and eafe'y, for whom be felt he
would willingly have shed his blood. AT
length he sought to soothe his agitation by re-
| calling the words OF the good Father in the
garden, aud by remembering that his faith was
he1,, aud that she fDund her consolation n
that C4tnohc doctrine which already dawued
Upon him as ths only true solutIon of his
| trlnh'es ana distractions "Oh !! thought be,
81! could hat learn her trUst in Mary's in
| terces-juu. and in the Divine Presence OF
| Mary's Spn. where b1rneth nj Lht and day tie
| little lomp before tie humble altar where tt st
good Fathcs oft areth tha Holy Sacrifice each
morn, how happy l should be' He then re.
hscted that Gods presence is not ciTcumscribed
by sacrameotal bourdS and he began to pray,
and presently "a pe;.Getnl calm stole over him,
| ord go he futi asleep.
| Daring the few following days nothing re-
mark at blo occurred TO disturb the even tenor of
domestic life at Elm!ey, and Gervase was
| thrown much iuto the pleasant society of bis
| cousin Dora, whose bright eyes and fascina.
ting ljveliness would unquestionably have won