The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-08

suffsring. Yoa have given me TO understand
that my return 10 O comfort to youj suffer me,
then to console you stu more oy assnrS S bse&
to the burden, and to do my utmost to supply
your place as in times gone by. Goa Only
knows If I did right in leayingi Perhaps II l
fittings might have been very different"
broke In Maude, whose eyes were now fairly
brimful of something very nearly akin to mer-
doctor, rs you did in the days Of Coiquhoun,
everything might have been different. Why
did you go awsyft a..
"Wbyf Bsoause-" and his voice grew SUD
denly 80 passionate that Maude began to
tremble and to wish abe had not asked the
question-"because dared not stay. Q Miss
Neville" he continued, now fairly carried away
would come when shonId tell you thisl If
you had remained in the world, IL would have
been buried till death in my heart but SINCE
you yourself have asked me for the reason, aud
since you are going where We shall never,
never meet again, I must and will tell you
why turned away just at the moment that
yon had Learned to look TO me for help In your
cause / found that the lady of Neville Court
was growing dearer to Richard OMeara than
g rich and beautiful heiress onght to grow to
poor and honorable man. Dear Miss Neville,
it was presumption, it was mad ess, know
but could not help it. Directly discovered
my weakness, forsook the temptation, and
had not your own interest seemed now TO de-
mapd my presence never would l nave ap,
peared before you again. Farewell for ever!
In your convent home think of your tenautry
as watched over by your guardian angel, and
as happy as you would wish them to be in the
for them during your brief but brig scjourn
here. As to Richard o Neara, forgive and for
get him! Once more farewell y
He rose as he spoke, and advanced towards
the spot where she sat, no longer smiling, but
pale as death. Before, however, he could
reach her, the door flew suddenly open, and
Fanny Neville, looking very much pleased and
surprised, hurried into the room.
CHAPTER 1xxII.
"The very last person in the world should
have expected to see, DR.. O'Meara," exclaimed
the little intruder, she shook hands warmly
with her fathers old friend and favorite. We
heard from Father Donovan that you he'd left
Rome; bat for all that, thought you were
far, far away. Bot what is the matter you
look quite ill ~
She might have asked the same question of
Maude, who was vainly trying to hide her en-
barrassment by making additions to the green
leaves certainly never contemplated by the
designer -
Tue doctor muttered something about IA
tiguing journey.
"I am very pleased to see you," said Fanny,
looking from one to the other as she spoke
with o somewhat mysti6ed air F" very pleased
indeed. strangel 1t was only this morning
goodbye 5sfore lefts.S "
Do you purpose leaving Ballyceoss, then :"
asked the doctor, with as much of his usual
manner as he could command.
al do, indeed (; has not Maude told you'll
Well, she might have done so, for it is no
longer o secret. l am going next week to the
Sisters of Mercy"
"What, bothl" exclaimed the doctor.
"No, not both" cried Fanny, laughing !;
i" that would be too much of good thing. No,
Maude is going to take me and Mrs. Csrew,
too, and they will stay some weeks In Dublin,
perhaps even till am othed : but Maude
has no idea of being a nun herself, nave you,
Maudie dearf"
She turned as she spoke, but Maude had al
ready vanished. Had he lost his identity, or
was he really and truly Rscherd oMeara still !
to swim round with him, and Fanny Neville to
move and speak like figure in dream.
When Mrs. Carew entered the room, and hav-
ing been introduced to him, pressed him to
stay to dinner, so little capable was the doctor
of framing q polite refusal, that he was obliged
to say yes in spite of himself.
At last the dressing bell rang, the two ladies
| retired, and the doctor was left alone. But il
| was not for long; for in less than ten minutes
| Father Don ovan, who bad heard of his arrival
made his appearance lie was soon after fol
| lowed By Fred, who, just On hour too late, pro
duced the missing sneet of his letter, telling
| them tn at he had only that morning discovered
| it on his writing-tsble. He handed it to the
doctor. who found therein the full account OF
Miss Fanny Neville's intention to forsake the
| world, though the writer had left the an
nounoement of the Order she had selected fol
his P. s. the envelope. Little did Fred
| imagine, as he watched the doctor quietly try
ing to decipher bis gri6onnage in the fas
waning light, what his carelessness had cost BIZ
friend, and certainly oMeara had no wish t.
enligbten him.
As soon as Fanny's toilet-never q yer.
elaborate one-was completed, she hurried Il
Maude's room. After tapping gently, she en-
tered, and found her cousin sio WY pacing tn
floor, trying to recover some part, at least, o
her wopted equanimity. Gently Fanny calie'
her by hor name, aud stole her arm round he
waist; but Maude's only reply was burst O
tears.
"Maudie, darling" whispered Fanny, NOR
, softly STILL what is the matterT cannot tel
! you how l have been longing to ask you; bu
was afraid to come in. Why did you run GU
of the drawing-room 80 quicklyf'
Tuere was no answer.
Listen, MSudie, Hitherto we have had n
secrets from each other. Shall we begin no,
now that we have only three more short day
I to spend together Will you not tell me whR
| it is that grieves you, and let me comfort 20
for the last, last time I"
Who could resist such petition, especial
) as the little pleader enforced it with kiss ate
kssH Certainly not Msude; and, seated on
sofa, yelled by the quiet twilight, she wbi
4 pered the story of her conversation with til