The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-02-18

Z. mouth, and. after having slowly poured in i
con'ents, was about to take it away, when
. seemed to her as though she could discern
sight movement IN the o!d mans lips. A thri
nf agitation run through her at the though
, She tried him again with another spoonful ; b
swa1loweo II with al nnmistakable play in th
muscles of the throat
Qaivering with hope al d ouite beside he,
cell. the maiden followed MP the doses {
broth, all the willie auxiuusly wetchng be
patients countenauce, Presently, and ali sud
denly, a convusiNe vibration seemed TO ru
throughout his limbs Le stretched himsel
out, then remained notiohless; bis respiration
D seemed uttetly at a stand still.
cry burst from Cecilias bosom-a cry o
t terror and OF anguish, tina, at once frightene,
! up Bart and his mother from their knees ant
; brought them hnrI! ing to the bedside. Their,
lay Cecilia with Eer head upon tho old man.
bosom, s0bbinG aloud and copiously bedew
ing IL with her warm tears breaking fortt
| ever and anon into sharp exclumations O.
| gTef AID pain, or showcling down kisses
upon the cod lips Of him whose death she
mourled.
But soon again another cry burst from Der,
this time one of surprise ana joy. Uacle Jan
had moved his lips. was opening and shutting
his month as though his body was mecbaui-
cally craving after focd. She jumped up and
with feverish haste poured into his n outh two
or three spoonfuls of the broth in rapid success
sion In her joy she would probably thue have
given him the whole basinful, if the reu,.uI
brance of the physicians warning had not held
her hand. Bearing these in mind. she lad the
epoou uo"H IRaln, again approached her face
closely to that of the old man, ard parrowIv
watched the effect of this fresh dose of uour
ishment.
Soddenly the sick mans eyes opened, but
stlll 1ell as II unconsciously npon the sweet
oountenance that 80 delightfully SMILED upon
him.
"Uncle father! you live! Thanks, oh thou
mercltnl God !" Cecilia calculated, in voice
faltering with emotion.
Again he closed his eyes, again for a while
ne lay ihotioniess as corpse Then he opened
them anew upon the maiden, and for long
time kept them intently fixed upon hers as |
though questioning his memory who she III ight !
be. lmperceptibly his arm began to move; he |
slowly brought it round the maden's neck,
drew her head down to him, and kiss, d her
" lille almost inaodibly he spoke:
Cecilia"
This kiss, the sound of his voice. of her Own
lame uttered by it, scented tn strike Cecilia
With overpowering emotion. Releasing herself
,tntIy but hastily from tie circling arm
Pray, Oh pray ~ she cred to the Others s no
tooa with her by the bed, threw hereelf upon
Ter knees before the crucfx, and raised her
ands in thanks TO the image of the dying
sviour.
Then for some moments she remained i'm
lersed IN the most fervent prayer, then sprang
D her feet again and returned to the bed. She
onnd the old man lying upon his sde looking
onhd the room with unsteady and wondering
axe; he pointed with his niger at the three 9
cures which were still their knees upon :
le floor.
Whof" be inquired, with feeble voice.
Ou UOu, on tfOu ne lives! he speaks! he'll
'coverl my poor uncle, my kind father" l
celia cried, seizlng both his hands in hers
Id pressing them with the most earnest afec- Il
on. n
The sick man smiled sweetly upon her then d
again tarned an inquiring look upon the =
1eeling figures. Y
Its nno5s B5A5tMBart, who s praying for yoq
'ter Wanna they are all sending up prayers s.
God for your recovery" 81
Z" Bart :" murmured the cid man, as though C
It comprehending what he heard Bart he "
aging bere and for met" a.
;. Come! come the maiden cried; "Bart o.
'ther Aun, don't yol hear 7 my uncle's recov- ~
ug, he knows bis poor Ceciiat Cometn lt
lhey all rose from their knees and sp. Ia
)ached the bed. The old mans ewes wan. or
red from face to face, to each in turn, and til
med to rest with especi ial attention upon the co
lntensnce of the youth who stood close by, ca
eyes streaming with tears of 10y. After !. nr
moments Uncle Jan reached out his thin 70
ID to "ard Bart, drew him slowly down ward, th
inward till their lips met aud impressed -"
ID his upon those of the young mau q kiss se;
blessed kiss of recon- cilIation. Da
eciiia's legs trembled Gnder her; she was The
iEed to lean upon the table to save herself COZ
n tailtng. This demon onstration OF kindly ths
ing ia her uncle had so affected her that she ma
vered in every limb and seemed ready to W.
not Lass 1,nra +ha attaS i VI HeA ci'ol Ipu' the
OF each and all Gushed forth new flood ~ a~n'
ears. rec
ut now suddenly and hastily the beggar.
IAN entered che room, calling:
CecilIa, Bart, Wanna come quick quick Co+
WI" Oat
% approached the bed, beheId with aston \
lent the old mans improved condition, and rati
All! thanks to God III heaven for that! moI
ler Ann, stay ycu here bat Bart and nro
ia and Wanna must tce my morping's p',
to The end. 9Iick! come down all Of non non
d as TO one seemed to comprehend her or oi-e
9 any movement toward following her, she CTat
hi Bart and Cecilia by the hand and drew but
along With her "ut Of the room. of n
low, in front of the huuse stood c! 0wd Of .I.,
10 waiting for something. They spoke with tn,i
nation ard horror of the attempt at mur- ,Jar
lade by Thys upon the old man, ard ex- l'SS
in the thought that he was now ahout TO - 8
We the due reward of his wickedness The ana
arnes had passed through the village and liter
people had followed them to the Abbey arch
theO
'5lia and Bart stood with the widow in the who
be low, without knowing what spectacle sion
Is that they were called upon to witness. mo q
ntly they heard in the passage which led - nte
} back part of the building the tramp of ol w U u
steps and olank of arms. While in as thelr
1ment and terror they listened to these monI
'ected sounds, and while Kate laughed stone
phantly, two Gendarmes made their ap- worlt
nee IN the room, and then two more with huns
HeGween tnem' ms hands tied behind fouDC