The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-03-25

esteem and friendship shall always be you're
Go now; quit Grinselhof this time without
until this affair is settled. 1 will tell her my
self whatever think proper for her to know
Half pleased, half cad his heart dividee
between joy and sp.iety-Guss.vs bad at
| EcheIPoe!, M
On the afternoon of the folio wing day Mon
| sieur De Vlierbeck was seated in his psrl0r
| his head resting on his hand. He seemed
plongsd in profound thought, for HE eyes
! by turns contentment aud hope, ipquietude
| and anxiety.
| Occasionally Lenora came into the apart,
meut, and, seeming unusually restless, wan.
dered about from spot to spot. arranging and
| rearranging the little fancy articles npon the
tables, looking out of the window into the
garden. and at last running downstairs sudden
ly as If she were pursued. No one who sa " her
could doubt that she WAS nervously anxious
| about something; yet her expression was one
of joy and hope Had she been able to pepe-
trate her fathers mind and behold the various
emotions that excited iJ. she would not per
haps have been so gay aud blitbesome; but
poor De Vlierbeck restrained himself with his
hsbitual care in her presence and smiled at
her Impotence If lie too were confident of
approaching happiness.
At length, tired of running about. Lenora
seated herself by her father and fixed her
cleSr ana questioning Ra2S on DIS lace
Don't be SO excited, my good child" said
he. I'VE shall know nothing to-day but We
may, perhaps, tomorrow. Moderate Your joy,
my daughter; if it please Heaven TO decide
against your hope in this matter your grief
will be more easily Conquered"
lob, no, father !" stsmmered Lenora; "God
will grant my prayer feel il in my heart.
Don't be astonished, father, that 1 am full of
joy, for think see Gnstave speaking TO his
uncle. / hear what he says, and Monsieur
Denecker replies; see him embrace Gustave
aud give his consent! Who can doubt, father
that ought TO hope, when know that Mon
sieur Denecker loved me and was always
kind 7"
Would YOU be very happy, Lsnora," asked
De Vlierbeck, with smile, 1T Gustave were
betrothed to ycuf
"Never to leave him!" cried Lenora.-'to
love him,-to he the happiness of his life, his
consolation, his joy,-to enliven the solitude
of Grinselhof by our love!-ah! that, father
would be delight indeed for then there would
be two of us TO contribute to the pleasures of
your life! Gnstave would have more skill
than To chase away the grief that sometimes
clouds your brow: you could walk, talk, or
hunt with him he would venerate aud love
you as "a son, and watch you with the tender
est care; his only thought on earth would be
to make you happy, because he knows that
your happiness is mine; and IL, father, will
recompense him for his devotion by the graft
tude of my heart and love. Oh, yes. dear
fatherl we shall live together in q paradise of
contentment"
Ingenious grill" exclaimed De Vlierbeek
with a sigh may the Lord hear your prayer
But the world. my child, is governed by laws
and customs of which you are altogether igno.
| rant. wife must follow her husband where.
ever he goes. If Gustave shall select aD other
residence you must follow MIN and console
yourself gradually at the separation from your
father. Under other circumstances. parting
might be painful; but solitude will not eadden
me if know you are happy, my child.7
The startled maiden looked at her father
with surprise as he uttered these words and,
u q hn cd hnr hna1 Fal H.
breast and tears STRAINED silently from her
eyes. Monsieur De Vlierbeck took her hand
tenderly, as he said, in faltering words:
Il feared, Lenora, that I would make you
sad !; but you must become accustomed to tho
idea of our separation"
Lenora raised her head qoic&ly as she re-
pied, IN a trm and resolute manner, What!
| could Gustaye ever dream of our separation
| 10 leave you at Grinseihof passing your days
| in secluSioD while and my hush band were in
! the world in the midst of festlvityf 1 should
| not have an ibstants rest, wherever [ mig b,
| be: conscience would cry aloud in my hearts
'UngrRteful and insensible child, thy fa- her il
abandoned to suffering and solitude! Yes,
| love Gustave; he is dearer to me thau life is
self, and receive his hand as u blessing from
God; but if he shou id say to me, .Abandon
| your fstherr-if he left me MO choice exespt
you or him,-i would close my eyes and reject
him! shoold be sad ; should suffer per
haps even l should die; but, father dear
| would die in your arus!'
| She bent down her head for q moment as il
her large eyee, liquid with tears, she fixed
| them on her father, as she added:
| You doubt Gustave's affection for you you
imagine him capable of filling your llta witt
sorrow,-of separating from you'll Ga
father, you do not know him; you do MOI
know how much he respects and 10 ees you
you do not comprehend the warmth of his ger,
er"ns aud loving hearth
ID, VlierSeck bent over his child aud i'm
pressed hiss on her forehead, as he was
about to inter some words of consolation
when suddenly Lenora sprapg from his arms
and pointed eagerly to the window, as il
listening to approaching sounds.
The NOISE of wheels and the chatter of horses
on the road soon gave Monsieur De Vierbecf
to understand why Lis daughter had been 8,
startled, His face assumed - more animated
expression, and, descending burriedly, h,
reached the door Monsieur Denecke
alighted from his coach.
| The merchant seemed in exceedingly gooG
humor he grasped De TIier bech's hand, ex
pressing his delight at seeing him once more
| How goes IL with You, my old friendf
seems that rogue, my nephew, has taken I'D
| vantage of my absence" And, although d
Vlierb beck ushered him into the saloon with al
the formality imaginable, Deneoker slapped
him Familiarity on the shoulder, and continued
"Wel!l WE'LL we were good friends from th
beginning, and now 1 understand W are to b
regular gossips--at least l hope SO. Tha
Ian =t1NaN bad