The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-11


but arid pSains thinly covered with etunted
vegetation, while the horizon is bounded BY
that blue and cloudy line which slway'
marks the limit Of desert. Yet, as we Jourhe
| over these vast epaces, 1t is Impossible not te
| observe, from time to time, that clear ano
| slender rivnlet meanders here and there over
| the moor, and that its verdsnt banks are
studded with vigorous plants and thrifty
trees; while m many places the hardy soDt
| of toll who took advantage of the neigh boring
| water, have opened their lonely farms, puli!
| comfortable houses, and frequently gathered
themselves together in neat and thrifty villa
ges.
In one of these spots, whore meadow land
aud pastursge have made agriculture Prohta'
there is farm of considerable size and
value. The massive trees which spread their
thick shade on every side attest that the
spot has been occupied and cultivated for
| which surround it, and the stone bridge that
leads to the principal gate, justify the belief
that the estate has some right to be considered q
oEdy demesns In the negho9Srnood 9.aHs d It ths s
property is covered by the homestead of the
farmer, comprising his stables and oranges; so
that, in fact, everything in the rear is con-
oealed by these edioes as we'll as by dense
thickets and hedges which are growing in all
the wild luxuriance of nature. Indeed, the
dwelling of the proprietor was q mystery
even to the farmer who worked the soil for
its surrounding copses were an lmpenetrsole
veil to his eyes, beyond which neither he nor
his family were ever allowed to pass without
special permission.
Within this lonely and sacred precinct,
buried in foliage, was a large house, called the
Chateau, inhabited by gentleman and his
daughter, who, without single servant. com.
panion, or attendant, led the lonely lives Of
hermits. The peighbors said that it was
avarioe or ill. .humor that induced q person
possessed of SO beautiful an estate to bury him
self in such q solitude. The farmer who work
ed on the property carefully avoided all expla-
v,oki fN kn N11rr nk oNf fhnr
prietor, and sedulously respected the myste-
rious habits and fancies of his master. His
business prospered; for the soil was fertile and
the rent low: Indeed, he was grateful t. his
landlord, and, every Sunday, lent him a horse,
which carried him and his daughter in their
woather-beaten caleche, to the village church
On great occasions the farmers son performed
the duty of ]ackey for the proprietor
1t Is an afternoon of one of the last days of
July. The sun has nearly foished his daily
course, and 10 declining rapidly toward the
horizon; still, his rays, though less ardent than
close and sitting. At Grinselhof the last
beams of the setting luminary play gayly over
the foliage, gliding the tree tops with spark
ling light, while, on the eastern eide of the
dense foliage, the long, broad shadows begin
to fall athwart the eward. aud prepare the
groves for the gentle aud refreshing breeze
that springs up ut twilight
Sadness and gloom hang over the sombre
chateau and its grounds o deathlike silence
weighs like gravestone on thedesolate scene
the birds are songless; the wind is still not a
leaf stirs; and light alone seems to be living
in that dreary solitude. No one conld observe
the entire absence of noise, motion, and
vitality, without being impressed with the
idea that nature had been suddenly plunged in
deep and magic sleep.
Suddenly the foliage at the end of q thicket
in the distance is seen to stir. while cloud of
| twittering BIRDS frightened from the herbage
hies rapidly across the little path, which is
Immediately occupied by young female
IFal in hi 70 uh0I oh from, I,o
tween the branches with a silken net in pur.
suit of a butterfly. The beautiful apparition
with loose and streaming hair, seemed rather
to fly than run, as her light and rapid steps
touched the earth while darting after the
9sudy insect. How graceful she is, as, halting
for an instant beneath the coquettish moth,
| she looks up to behold its gold-and-purple
wings dancing round her head. mocking and
playing with it's gay pursuer! She thinks she
has caught If; but, alasl the edge of her net
only touched the butteify's wings. and away
it deshes, over hedge and copse, far, far be-
yond her reach ! How beautiful she is, as in
that golden light, warmed with exercise and
excitement, her eyes glistening, her lips parted,
gazing, half pleased, half disappointed, after
| the departing ipsec, till it is lost in tae even
ing sky Wind and sunshine have slightly
tanned her delicate cheeks, but their roses are
only heightened into the glow of perfect
health Beneath her high and polished brow,
coal black eyes shine through long and silken
fripges, while a chiselled mouth discloses rows
of faultless pearls between lips which shame
the coral! Her stately head is framed in masses
of long, curling hair and, as the locks are
tloated over her-iyory shoulders by rapid mo-
tion, the proud and arching lines of her swan
like neck are fully displayed in all their
splender. Her form is 1.-the and supple, and it's
graceful contour is modestly marked by q
snowy dress AS she lifts her head and gazss
at the sky, poet might easily fancy her TO be
some fanoiful being of the air." and convert
her into the fairy Queen of the solitary realm
For q long while this beautiful woman wan
dered about tho paths of the lonely garden,
seemingly absorbed in reveries of various
kinds. At times she was gay, at times sad.
At length she approached q bed of violets,
which, from the training of the plants, had
evidently been carefully tended, and, observing
that they languished under the intense heat Of
the past day, began to gIieve over IL en-
Alas! my dear little flowers, why did 1
neglect to water you yesterdays You are very
thirsty, are you not, my charming pets :"
For moment or two she was quiet, still
gazing at the violetS, and then Continued, in
the same dreamy tone:
bot then, slasi since yesterday my mind
has been 80 disturbed, so happy, so" Her
eyes fell, and blush crimsoned her cheeks. as
ehe murmured, softly, "Gustavep
Motionless ~ q stature, and absorbed in her
enchanting dream, she forgot the poor little