The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-04-22

q dent to ali thai the progress of the malad
If could he no longer arrested. Gently an
VI peacefully she passed away, surrounded h
+. all she loved best on earth, and none grieve
n for her more truly than Sir Morosr.
i Never before had he Witnessed a Cathoii
d death bed scene. Whether it was its holy an
o radiant cilmness, or whether it was the fe
words that Helen O'Msara spoke TO him alone
the night before her death, that influences
\ him, non ever knew. Thas there was O chan z
every one saw, for the effsc of it was vsibl
, throughout the whole of his after-life, and
dark as was Marguerite sorrow, deep in il
folds was hidden my sterious and unexpected
joy. The dreary conflict was over it hat
tcrmi mated in the tscit surrender of Sir Nor
car, and the years that followed were years Of
peace.
! Nor was this happy change in her husbands
conduct Lady Neviles only consolation in
her bereavement; she had another source Il
| happiness in Richard O'Meara, Helen's now
| motherless boy. He was at this time about
! ten years of age as rosy, rough, red headed, a
little urchin as you could have picked mp at
| any cabin-door on the Connsught hills; but
| so spright'y, 80 amisble, 80 winning wIthal,
that he had already become general favorite
| from one end Of Ballycross to the other. The
self imposed care and education of this
child proved delightful distraction ~ Lady
NeVlile; and after his mothers death, Richard
divided his time almost equally between Ne
vile Cont ard his fathers house. AS to Sir
Moroac, he dearly loved the sprightly boy,
and eagerly If red TO share with his W fe the
care OF his ed NC ,tioD. Thus, by the solcitude
of his friends, half the trouble attendant on
Or O'Meara's bereavement was alleviated;
while, as soon az his childish g,ief for his mo-
theirs loss had faded, little Richards life he
came one of almost unclouded happiness. His
mornings be would pass with the Baronet
sometimes hnnting riding, sometimes sit
ting patiently beside him in the library, read
ing or making extracts from huge foios to as
sist him in certain work on Agricultural re-
form In the afternoons he might generally |
have been found in Lady Novitie's boudoir, |
reading with her. modelling for her, or chat. |
tering to her about his pleasures and tronb
les; theme of which the patient listener
never seemed to weary.
bout two years after Helen's death, Lady
Neville once again became mother. and to
The intense delight of both parents the child
appeared healthy and likely to thrive. Weeks
rev into months and these again into r year
MI no symptom of weakness appeared; and
when another year added To tue firsL aud
he little MauGe could trot round the room
nd pratle to Der deiIghted father, his hap
''ness knew no bounds. AS to Richard
Meara, his se'f-devoii)n to The little lIdy
vas simply heroic He would perform Niger
ances, run on all tours, twist his face into hi.
eous contortions, stand on his head or 10 any
ming else the ruthless little despot demanded |
him by the hour together, not even mnr-
,uripg when the reward besto we'd on his per-
'rmances was the forcible extraction OF
andful of bis tawny locks. G
man more changed than Sir Morcar Me- |
lie 1t would have been difficult to imagine |
Deeds, not Words seemed to be his motto ; {
II ne never alluded TO the past, but seemed to 6
y TO make amends for it by a hundred kind '
nd loving actions. Among others, he suffered
IL wife 10 enlarge the small aud hitherto iu- ! I
'nVenlant Catholic sohoolhouse at Bally- +
'oss: Zoe following year he himself contri. l
neSn handsomely towards the erection Of q | f
nall church in the same place, and as an as t
slant priest was Immediately appointed in
'nsequence, Sir Morcar offered o all house 8
tie neighborhood for a presbytery. Nor L
as this all on the day that the church was t
'usecrated, Sir MoIcar himself attended the i
and afterwards entertained both J
10 Bishop and the assistant priests at Neville d
ourt with a kindness and hospitality that
'uid not nave been surpassed by the most s
rvenf Catholic gentleman in Ireland. Who t
lall describe Lady Neville's happiness or il
Nv dearly she learned to love the LITTLE eq aare
one edltce, Notwithstanding it's want of v
chitecturaI symSssscy, that seemed to rise h
fore her as the I'D nument of her husbands b
stored love, or how vividly she pictured her "
tile maude Que dav kneeling there between 81
rselt and Richar OMearaf o
Bat that day was never destined to arrive, 81
{ when the little lady was just three years q
d. the whole tenor OF her parents life was p
terea. Whether Sir Morcsr had grown weary b
the seclusion of century life. or whether he ii
nscienti1usly believed himself to DO the Il t. d
st man to represent the county o. it is Q
u gwen US TO Know: Certain it is he offered
turned. Then followed a whirl of business t.
ID excitement. handsome house was
ken in London, furnished and prepared n
ID before Lady Neville could recover from a
Q astonishment incidental to such an unex. b
cited chain of events all was ready for q
cir departure. Il
God only knew how much it cost her to ii
ave the people who, during many years of "
ndly and daily intercourse, had grown al. oil
ost individ ually dear to her or what it cost fc
IT to relinquish the seclusion of Neville p
'urt for the whirl and turmoil of the nKIish II
etropo'is and the excitement that must inev- Il
ably attend Sir Morcar's political career P
1T although trial aud bereavement had made q
IT shrink from the world and its pleasures u
ey had brought with them habit of reflec r,
IN that had taught her to prefer the cali of ST
lty to that of inclination. In the same n u mur. +
urlng spirit that she had borne the loss of &
r friend, she now rose to follow her husband q
ID he never even suspected how much the vi
lrt cost her. He had told his tenants that T,
was only leaving them for q time, but she
AIRED it was fIr ever. She knew him better K
an be knew himself. For some time past b.
. had observed a growing spirit of discon- It
Mt stealing over him-an evident yearninp II
r more excitement than that afforded bV d.
: present rie, and she felt assured that tho dI
easnres of Lrud0n once tasted, he would 1t
yer again settle down on his estate, but thai IN
name w"uIdL ca eforth swell the mel ap cho!y TO
= of aDseuteuS. W
l. VAS not until the very moment of their 81
pariure that sns learned that he had com st
ttCi tive charge of dnriDy | III