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

looked at themf WE'LL everything that my
father or had made or bought he laid down
again, quite carslessly; bus every thing ttat
r ad belonged to Karl Rocket cketack's smithy
he looked at as though he would have eaten 1t:
you must have noticed it yourselves If you had
your eyes open. Aud then his way OF speak
ing Just like our people here-his handine.s at
thesf,rge-and, above all, his little tune. Yes,
yea! that's a lad ont of our village, Pll lay nv
ifs of it. Who'd have thought it'll
And now colonel,-a real out-and out
colonel!'
While the smith and the people thus talked
over Karl Ricketicketack and his doings, the
two strangers bad turned into the Crown,
where they put up their horses and got some
dinner themselves. Then the colonel left the
inn, and proceeded on foot along the high-rosd
to the cor poration clerks house. There hs was
shown into psrlor, where he had TO wait q
pretty long while, till the official came in from
his fields, and entered the room with many
deep and formal bows, and thus opened:
"Colonel van Milgem, your most obedient
servant. mnst beg that you will be graciously
pleased to pardon N.Y.
Bat tho colonel did not give him mnch time
for ceremonies and fine speeches, and with
hearty grasp of his hand broke in upon him:
We'll my good friend, have you any news
for me is my child fonndf'
mo, colonel, not yet," replied the clerk in
melancholy tone.
God he p me- then 70 cried the soldier, with
a gest sture of desperation. striking his hand
against his forehead. "Must then give up all
hopei'
so good, colonel pursued the clerk, Gas
to hear my report, and you will fnd that, so
far from giving up all hope, we are, on the
contrary, IN all probability, on the right scent.
On the occasion of your last visit you left me
money enongh to carry on my researches re-
Gardless of cost; and you may be assured that
have spared no pains 10 win your favor and
the thoEsand frauCs yOu promised me- in case
OF success. Hear now the sun of Information
have got together. When Karl van Milgem"
(and here the clerk bowed nearly to the
groUnh) "lcft Wes'nal with his chlld, then
tnar years old, he toll no one where lie was ga-
iuG 10, aud very Likely did not know himself
for very tronbIe and sorrow. Bat l have
loilG t:om yourself, coIonel-and tha result of
r,y researches 9 anucdes with yoaLinformation
that he ntrusicd his child to the OF an
n!I eCnO Ilmas;oC ut y eelde, the other sI-le
of IurUkout, Peter Dfie35ens by name, who
lived with his wife in lonely cottage at some
distance from the village. 70 him he gave he
olIid and a little iron Casket in which Ee al
Jck,d up rhe pnrchsse mprey of his smithy,
ana which, in case of need, the old people
were to open, that the child and they might
not want for anything. Then he went off to
Holland. ana it is believed, took service with
tho French army at all events, he never
after ward made any rqnirv after his child =
a. least SO | was told Weelde, and the peo-
Pile from whom l heard this had themselves
kno wn Peter Driessens."
TIE people don't know what they say my
FRIEND" interrupted the colonel. II wrote
twice frem Egypt to inquire after the child,
but got no answer. Afterward, on my return
to France, after keber's death. hoped to be
able to find her out myself. How my heart
DBaG as 4 LrOLteu over Ln6 D6aCQ ana came near
the spot where the old peoples cottage had
stood! But, alas! found nothing but heap
of ashes AT that my heart was wellnigh
breaking; what felt it is impossible can
tell you. Luckily, however, ] heard from the
people of the place that Driessan had saved
himself aud the little Monica, and gone off and
abont 70 See if he could beg a little to-
getfror toward making up his loss"
Just SO, colonel. The sshoolmaster's wife
was burnt to coal; bat he got away, with
your Monica on bis back and a little iron
casket uudaF his arm. He got q very strong
certificate from bis parish and sat out with
the child through the viliages about, to get q
little belp and find some means of making his
living, | know from Il sure hand tha5 he was
seen hegyiug 4h,rt with the }tttle Montea AZ
Meerhunt, OIInen, BAlen, and Moil; at the i,at
place ne fell i'll, aud there died. L. l. oats
since yesterday that l know when il was taat
ne came TO his end. The corporation clerk
Mol, my very good brother -Ufi %, has sent
me he certificate of his death, and adds that
nothing was found about the poor school
master that could lead to any trace OF the
cSilh, which he well knows l am on tn search
after. OF the iron casket, also, he says no.
thing. Do sou think. colonel, Driesseu can
have been bad enough to do the child a 1nis
chief CT loave it behind somew here in the
heath or wood ~
Goa no! certainly not!" cried the colonel;
"he my old school master. and was ALWAYS
my fTieud--my hest freed. When | came to
him ard told him going to Holland, to
enlist in the army, he begged me "f his wn &C
cord to leave the little thing with him. botu
to cheer him in his old days, and for the
chiids sake, that il might not come into mere
strangers hands. l assured, my dear sir,
that he has left the child some where in good
keeping, and the iron ca>kst tool"
" THAT'S what think myself, colonel; and,
a. the result Of my Inquiries e4ds me con-
lecture that Monica must be found SOMEWHERE
| Hat Teen RethY and MeeFhout, l am minded to
run over to MUll to-mUrrow and rummase up
all tie villages and farm houses in the ueiga-
| borhoOd."
''Wcli said, my friend; 40 do your trouble
| shall not uHr9warhpI. ! have still n fay
days TO spare, and will see ii | can't Il, some
| hing to help in the matrer. To. night we shall
| sleep a Lichtacrt, and tomorrow, about mid.
! day, we'd meet you AT the cielk OF Molrs
| hnn.s, aud then talk over together
| WHATS 10 be done furshor, ID ,u'J spare the
| money, my good fricnh; take 4 comfort Able
| C'r'DGe, aud dou'J tlro Yourself II death for
! r"'"l".. Good-ny tiIl tomorrow, then, aud
! Goh grant Us suCc"s4."
| Wlth tle7H words. tho coloncI roso from his
| char, shock The clerk by tie hand, and re-
! tur1cd to ihc Grown. An hour later tyo
h"rsrmeu we're trotting away on the road tc-
| ward l. CEtaert.