The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-01

u ti-mau's conduct convinced her that II secret
and perhaps q terrible one-weighed on hi
= heart. Every day or two be went to Ant wer
in The calteas, without Informing her or an!
one else of the hject Of his visir. He cam
back to Grinseihof late at night, seated him
B self at the supper table silent and resigned
aud, persuading LeDoTa TO go to bed, sooi
} went of to his own chamber. Bot his daugh
ter was well aware that he did not retire Il
rest, for during long hours of wskefulness SHE
head the 1oor Creak as he paced his apart
ment with restless steps.
Lenora was brave by nature, and her Singh
lar and solitary education bad given her a la
ten, force OF character that was almost mascn
line. By degrees the resolution to NJ AXE bel
father reveal his secret grew in her mind
And, sltbougha feeling of instructive respect
made her hesitate, a restless devotion to the
author of her being gradually overcame all
soruples and emboldened her for the enter
prise
One day Monsieur De vlierbeck set off very
| early for town. The morning wore away
| heavily; and, toward the afternoon, Lsnora
| wandered wearly about the desolate house,
! with no companion but her sad reflections. At
| length she entered the apartment where her
father usually studed or wrote, and. after q
good deal of hesitation, in which her face and
| gestures displayed the anxiety of her purpose,
opened the table drawer, and saw in it, un-
| rolled, o written document. The paleness Of
| death overspresd her countenance che pc
rused the paper and instantly closed the draw
or. After this she left the apartment hastily,
and returning to her cha mber, sat down with
hands olasped on her knees and eyes fixed on
| the door in @ stare Of wild surprise.
"seu Grinselaef" exclaimed she. "Sell
quilted my father because we were not rioh
enough for him. What is this secret and
what does it all mean If it should be true
that We are beggars! Oh, God! does ray of
light penetrate my mind is this the solution
of the enigma and the cause of my fathers
depression Z"
For long time she remained motionless in
her chair, absorbed in reverie; but gradually
her face frightened, her lips moved, and her
eyes gllstened with resolution. As she was
endeavoring TO fight bravely against misfor-
tune, she Suddenly heard he wheels of her
fathers caleche returning to Grinselhof She
ran down Instantly to meet him and as he
drew up st the door she perceived the poor
sufferer buried in a corner of the vehicle, sppa
rently deprived of all consciousness and,
when he descended from the vehicle and she
saw his expression distinctly, The deadly pal |
lor that covered bis haggard cheeks almost
made her sink to the earth with anxiety. In. |
deed she had neither heart nor strength to ut |
ter word to him; bat standing aside 10 |
silence, she allowed the old man to enter the !
house and bury himself as usual in his cham |
Der.
For some minutes she Stoad on the door
SILL undecided as to what she should do but |
by degrees her brow and cheeks began to red
den, and the light of resolution shone in her |
moisteped eyes.
Ought the feeling of respect to restrain me
tfonserfa SAID she to herself; shall l TN!
must know all! mues tear the worm from
his heart; l must save him by my Lowell"
Without moments further delay, she ran
rapidly through three or four cham bsrs, and
came to the apartment where her father was
seated with elbows resting the table and
his head buried in his hands. Throwing her.
self on her kness at his feet, and with hands
raised to him in application
Have mercy on me, father!' exclaimed
she; nave mercy on me, beseech you on my
X aees; tell me what it is that dlstresses Won
must know why it is that, my father buries |
do, md az !
from his childw
"Lenora! thou last and only treasure tn at
remalnest to me on earth." replied De Vlier-
DECK, In a broken voice, with despair in his
wIld Gaze,-"Lenora, thou hast suffered dread |
fully, my child, hast thou mott Rest thy poor
mead IN my bosom. A terrible blow, my cnIld,
Ii about 10 fall on us!'so
LenOra did not seem to pav auy atteniion to |
these re marks, but, Olsen gaging heaself from
her fathers embrace, replied IN firm aud de-
cIded tones
Il have not come here, father. for consola.
tlon, ont with the uDalterable determination
10 learn the cause of your suffering. / will
not go away without no~ing what misfor.
tune 1t ID that has long deprived me of
your love. No matter how much NAV ven.
1raIe you and respect your silence, the sense
oi GUY Is greater even than venerarion. l
ID ust-l Wii-kuow the secret of your grIef!1
ihon deprived of thy fathers love I" ex-
claimed De VIierbeck, reproschfully and with
surprise; "my love for thee. my adored
2hllo, Is precisely the secret of my grief.
ana prayed the Almighty to make you happy
pot, alas! my prayers have always been IN
Shall l be unhappy, then = asked Leno-
"a, without betraying the least emotion.
unhappy, because of the misery that awaits
u.s." replied her father. the blow that is
ABOUT to fall on our house destroys all that
we possess. We must leave Grinselhofn
The last words, which plainly confirmed
n1r ie are seemed for moment to appall the
8 wered him, with increased courage
=; You are not dying this slow death because
!l-tortune has overtaken you, my father; l
know the unconquerable force OF your char
aoteE too well for that. No! your heart is
weak aud yielding because 1 have to psrtake
your poverty! Bless you, bless you, for your
affection But, tell me, father if were offer
ed all the wealth of the world on condition
that would consent to see you suffer for a
single day, what think you would answer :"
Domo with surprise, the poor man looked
proudly at his daughter, and gentle pressure
Oh . nsT hand rs odO was his sole reply.
the treasures of earth and meet poverty with
out sigh And you, father-if they offered