The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-06-17
Star and Catholic Messsnee'
NaW oRLEANs. suNpAY. JUNE u. ls17


nature intuitivsly shrank. For ct least one
hour she sat weighing the pen in her tiugers,
aud reading and re-readiDg the few words she
had written. But after n while her thoughts
left Mrs. CArew aud wandered to subject
more perplexinR still. To whom must she
now turn for aid among the difficulties that
would so soon rise around her? FOR, alas,
aaid risipg Sigh, mot now to DIR. % Meara
In this question of religion he, of all others,
must be excluded, lest the world might ace in
his interference q confirmation Of aunt Barba-
ra's suspicious" And If it did, and gave its
verdict accordingly, ~onld there be any JUS
tice in itq. Had one single thought ofRlchard
O'Meara influenced her in her decsioni So
Instant apeous, go clear, 30 honest NO
flashed from every nook and corner OF her con-
aeieuce that she could not fail 10 be satisfied
No, with all her heart and soul she could say
that only for the sake of the God who had
founded His Church had che sought to return
to it; for the sake of the Lord and Master who
has reared His tabernacle among the children
of nlen had she desired to fad it, aud make it
Sho home of her heart.
One half at least, then. of amt Barbaras
accusation had been false. Was there any
truth in the second; was she not totally in
different TO DIR. O'MeaFa, except inasrnnch as
she was bound to him by ties of common
gratitudsi Very slowly an anewer rose from
the uttermost depths of her heart; aud as 1t
rose Maude grew troubled. like one who has
raised spirit in his own despite And yet 1t
was only vague. trembling, inoohersnt little
answer after all; one that wonid have re-
for ever had not her question summoned il TO
the surface. Bot shsdowy as 1t was it bitterly
upbraded her. and as she listened to It's
phantom voice Maude burst into tears.
But this fit of weak meas was of short dura-
tion, for Mande's courage was too high 10 be
easily cast down, and she coon turned her at:
tention to the beet meaus of repairiUR the
evil. Something, 1t was evident, though abe
hardly knew what, must be rooted out and,
knife in hand orr little heroine set herself to
the work of eradication. Barron, indeed, did
half an hours deter mi ation make the face of
the future look but not for an instant did
she waver in her resolution, until hardly a
green leaf remained of all tho verdnre that
had embellished her young life. No more
brotherly condolences, no more playful raillery,
no more leaning on the strong arm, or reliance
on the strong will for support, no more soft
ness or Notwithstanding for the future but
cool, calm, quiet, every day eivility.
With the firm satisfaction of q monarch
who. having gained victory over rebellous
subjects. eheathes his sword with O forced in
difference to their losses aud his own, Mande
Joined her hands, and, leaning her face upon
shem, looked ont into futurity with hard,
resolute eyes that seemed to bid every remain
ing atom of womanly weakness def snce. She
WAS sitting thus. in the foil Ansh of her VIC
tory, when the door suddenly opened, aud Dr.
OMeara stood before her.
He had como for book he had left that
afternoon on the table. and naturally expect
that he should and the room in dark ness, had
brought Q oandls in his hand. For an instant
he stood with 10, raised high above his head.
pOeripg into tho lighted room in q fashion
troly ludicrous. The next he hasteued forward
with . laugh OF his blunder, feeling and look
ing highly delighted at the unexpected chance
thus afforded him of bidding Miss Neville good
night, and telling Der his story about Tim and
aunt Barbara. Never was man moro utterly
COMPOUNDED than O'Meara a. his reception.
The fafntest possible smile responded to his
joyoua laugh. few nervous troubled words
acknowledged his hearty greeting, and then
Maude relspsed into silence. looking mike
her usasl self, that the doctor was fairly
pnEzled. All unconsciously she had started
from her chair at his entrance, and for few
moments they stood facing each other, as
though neither knew exactly what to say
next.
OMeara was the frat to recover his usual
equanimity. You must pardon me il have
startled you, Mics Neville; but need not say
that should have entered less unceremo
niously had l imagined that / was about to
break in upon a lady's meditations. he'd no
idea that you protrTcted them 10 such an hour
as this. Do you not believe in beauty sleep, 7"
he asked, trying in vain to recover his ordi-
nary manner.
Maude now remembered for the first time
that shs was standing, and resumed her seat
ait 10 q thing / do not trouble myself much
about" she replied, as che busted herself in re-
placing some papers in her desk; "but au
NOT often mp rs late as this. stayed because
Iwished to write an important letter, and it ia
90 much easier to collect ones thoughts when
everything is quiet The house has been &c
The moment after she would have given
worlds to have nnsAid the words, for in the
momentary glance she took at HIM she saW
that they had touched him to the quick. Sh,
was right Without another word he CROSSED
the room for his book, and then, returning t.
the table, held out bis hand aud quietly bad
her good. night. There WAS an agitation IL
HE voice aud q troubled look on his face tina
grioved her to the very heart: hut with th
resolution she had inherited from her fathe
she sti6ed her regret, and cOldly returned hi
SaiutatioD. As TO the doctor. he walked hom
that night lost in psrplsxity, and with
shadow resting upon his heart as deep as tn
darkness that now lay upon tho soene arount
him.
CHATTER XIII.
It WAS the second evening after the event
recorded in our last two or three chapters, aut
q close. cloudy, and very sultry evening /
was. Snch one often succeeds a day o
sunshine and preludes night of storm :: whel
q strange stiffness broOds in the mir, and wheI
neither leaf Rtirs on the trees, nor u ripple OF
the water; when the horizon Rlows with
1urid oopperish tint, and bright little Il lshe
of lightning dart from clond to cloud Will
the low mutteriHg thunder keeps up sHoh q con
tinuous rumble in the distance, that it sound
like the voices of angry giants growing u
each other in their depS among the hills faI
f,n