Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-05


determined to repress every look ant
gesture, and not by one unguardei
sign would he betray his folly. B,
his increasing devotion to his friend
he must effectually conceal from ever,
human eye his conquered passion.
CHAPTER III.
THE DEVOTION OF THE FRIENDS.
ga friend,
The greatest good by Heaven bestowed y
1t il difficult for those who have
lived under free institutions, and who
have enjoyed uninterrupted inter-
course with the world to realize fully
the deep brotherly love that bound
the friends in its strong links. They
had lived from boyhood in the same
Home, and their intimacy had been
cemented by the almost total isola-
ton in which they had passed their
youth. Let it net be forgotten that
their forefathers pursued by religious
and political bigory had made this
secluded spot the asylum Of their suf-
ferings, for when Cromwell could not
accomplish the utte. exterpation of
the whole nation, he lesolved to con-
fine the Irish Catholi,s to the most
distant Of the four provinces in which
the island is divided, aid that he is
sued his orders with lac,nic brevity,
"To hell, or Connaught."
At the beginning Of the .ear l74S,
the political troubles with which this
and the following years wee filed,
broke in upon the secluded mnotony
Of the Home, at the outbreak of the
rebellion, Bernard O'Brien and Thomas
Power were called to Dublin " let
ters stating the emergency O. the
times. They promptly obeyed the
call but before leaving arrangements
must be made for the future safey
of the helpless family. Father Eve
rard had already corresponded with
Don Louis de Penalvert y Cardenas,
at that time Bishop of Louisiana the
Bishop had already founded a house
for nuns in New Orleans, and tempo
rary retreat was here offered them.
All consented to this proposal, and
hasty preparations for the voyage
were made with many sad forebod-
ings. Bernard's brave heart almost
sunk to lespondency when he placed
the two objects he held most dear on
earth, his aged mother and his affi-
anced wife under the care Of the ven
cradle priest.
Father ;Everard breathed hope and
comfort TO all, he himself offered
thanksgiving to heaven, that this re-
treat had been provided where they
could wait the issue Of the final
/.
The day after their departure the
friends proceeded to Dublin. The
Home was. not, however, abandoned;
one inmate was left Michael Cas-
sidy, the foster brother of Bernard
0'Brien, end the faithful adherent Of
both families, remained inhabitlng
the desolate place until his services
would be required elsewhere. Two
months after his arrival in Dublin,
Bernard was arrested and imprisoned,
charged with writing and circulating
seditious papers.
Thomas Powers resolve was imme-
diately taken, knowing the indecent
haste, and the glaring injustice with
which the public prosecutions Of the
day were conducted, he determined
to use eve,y endeavor to effect his
friends esehpe from prison. A YES
sci bound for America would sail
in few days, and as he himself
was obliged to remain concealed, he
summoned Michael Cassidy to Dublin.
Power made every necessary arrange
ment, with caution and precision he
seemed to hl've been raised to a purer
and better life, all the deep devotion
Of his character now shone forth, and
his disinterestedness brought its own
reward. His heart was no longer op-
pressed in tke presence of his friend.
Never should Bernard know the pangs
which he had unconsciously inflicted.
Power determined that he himself |
would accompany his friend to Ame-
rica, he would not leaye him till his
happiness was secured, and then this
mission accomplished, he would re-
urn, and etery energy of his soul,
would be e9erted for his country's
glory. He fondly hoped that his hand
would help in restoring the down
rodden liberty Of Ireland. tr