The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-11
I will bring you your

dinner after while"
But the feb fidttered around the Watering
pot until she withdrew it from the tank and,
| even after her departure, continued to crowd
| toward the bank she had tou ched with her foot.
The young lady wstere5 her flowers and re-
firing slowly to the solitary house, she returned
| after o while at the same slow pace, and.
| throwing some crumbs to the fish, began TO
saunter slowly aboutSthe garden-patSs, l;n. mat
| thoughts. At length she reached spot where
| q gigantic ostalpa-tree overarched the garden
| and bent it's branches almost to the earth. A
| table and q couple of chairs stood beneath the
| fresh and fragrant shade, and book, ink
| staRd, and embroidery frame, gave token that
| the retreat had not long been abandoned by
| the lady herself. She seated herself in one Il
the chairs, took up the book, then the em-
broidery, let them fall one after another, and
| fually leaned her beautiful head on her hand,
like one who is weary of spirit and anxious for
rest.
| For while her large dreamy eyes were
vaguely fixed, as if gazing into space; at in
| tervals o smile played around her mouth, and
oasionally her dropping eyelids closed entirely
but the lashes quickly reopened, only to fall
more heavily than before, till at last a pro-
found sleep or intense revere seemed to get
possession of her mind and body.
But did she sleepf There is no doubt that
| her spirit watched and was happy; for
| pleasant expression constantly played over
! her features, and, if sometimes it became
| serious, the joyous look quickly returned with
all its radiance She had long been plunged
| by this happy dream into complete forgetful.
the neigh of q horse was heard at the gateway,
disturbing the silence of 'Gripselhof. Still the
maiden was not aroused.
The old caleche returned from the city, drew
up near the stable, and the farmer and his wife
ran out to salute their master and put mp the
horse. While they were thus engaged, Mon
sieur De vierbeok got out OF the vehicle and
spoke to them kindly, but in q voice so full of
aad th at hOth l0Nkad af him wifh h.
ment. In fact, the gravity of this singular
person never abandoned him even in his most
affable moods but at that moment his physi-
| ognomy in dicated degree of intense depres-
sion which was by no means habitual. He
| seemed altogether worn out with fatigue, and
his eyes, which were commonly 30 vivscious,
drooped, dull and langoishing, beneath their
heavy lids.
| Tue horse was quickly put in the stable, and
the young lackey, who bad already divested
| himself of his livery, took several baskets and
packets from the vehicle, carried them into
! the farm house, and placed them on the table
| OF the ante chamber.
"And now, Master john" said De Vlierbeck,
| approaching the farmer, "I shall have need of
YOU. There will be company to- morrow at
Grinselhof. Monsieur Denecker and his nephew
dine here"
The farmer, perfectly stupe6ed by the an
| Douncement and scarcely able to believe his
own ears, looked at his master with staring g
eyes and gaping mouth, and, after moments
hesitation, stammered forth:
| Abdb lAERc, ElCn R0ubl9uAus BIZ, VINO SITS
near you every Sunday at high massi"
| .The same. John. Is there anything sur
| prising in it Z"
And young Monsieur Gustave, who spoke
| to mddenoisellc in the churchyard when church
| was overf
| "The sameW
"Oh, sir, they are such rich people They
! have bought all the land around Eehelpoel,
| They have at least ten horses in the stable at
their chateau, without counting those they
have IN town. Their carriage Is silver from
| top to BOTTOM"
Il know it; and it is exactly on that ac-
count that desire to receive them in be-
| coming manner. You must be ready; your
wife and your son also. 1 shall call you to-
| morrow morning very early. You will willingly
| lend hand to help me, won't youf"
"Certsinly. certainly, sir; word from you
Is enough. 1 am always happy to be able to
tserve you in any way"
/ THANK you for your kindness John. We
understand one another, my worthy fellow
| and 80 farewell till to W."
Monsieur De Vlierbeck entered the farm
mouse, gave some orders to the young man in
relation to the things he had taken from the
vehicle, and, passing through the screening
grove, walked on to Grinselhof.
AS soon as he WAS out of the farmers light
his physoZnomy assumed more serene ex-
preston, and there was a smile on his. lips as
ne cast his eyes around in search of some one
in the solitude of the garden. At tnrn of the
path his eye fell suddenly on the sleeping girl.
How beautiful she was in her calm repose
The golden twilight covered her with it's
bright reflection and threw a rosy tint on
everything about her. Thick curls strayed in
beautiful disorder over her cheeks and snowy
flowers, shaken from the catalpa's branches by
the evening breeze, had fallen around her in
protusion. She still dreamed, and the happy
smile yet rested on her features De Vlierbeok
gszed earnestly at his sleeping child. and
raised his eyes to heaven as he said, tremu-
lously:
Thanks, Almighty Fstherl she is happy
Let my martyrdom be prolonged; but may all
my .sufferings render Thee compassionate for
herp
After this short and ardent ejaculation he
threw himself into q chair. leaned his arm
carefully on the table, and, resting his hand on
it, remained still as q statue. For long time
he watched his sleeping child, while his face
seemed to reflect each emotion that fitted
across the delicate features Of the maiden.
Suddenly modest blush overSpread her brow,
and her lips began to Artioulate. The old gen.
tieman watched her narrowly, and, although
she had not spoken in connected sentences. he
caught one of those stray words which often
betoken what is passing in dreamers mind.
Gustavep she dreams of Gustave. May
God be pEoPitiouS to usI Ah, yes, my child"
exclaimed her father, {" open thy heart to
in store for usf Yet, nol-let us not destroy