The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-05
NJ AT "a NE EE @
TRANSLATED raoM THE GERMAN.
iPARr u.-TEN YEARS LATER.
CContinued.)

aud the bathing visitors showed tbensel vet
bat in scanty nnm oers and in morning toilets
The sea breeze shed around pleasant fresh
ness; the ficmAment was covered with hght
clouds betokening passing shower.
The two ladies appeared to bs- in earnest
conversstion. One, dressed plainly in black
was notably several years older than the other
who wore elm pie, light summer Dress She
did not look sickly, though she was very pale
the expression of her eyes was inexpre ssibly ly
melancholy, and ooBtrssted forcibly with The
almost childish mirth depicted on the counte'
nance of the younger.
$50, Vera, dear, it is as Q betrothed bride
that meet you again, !" said the elder lady IN
. peculiarly sweet voice.
"Yes, dearest Louisa as o betrothed bride.
How we change in the course of years! When
/ was young-don't laugh, l shall soon be
twenty-two-I could not think of marrying
without shudder I thought it 30 frghtful
that all our future joy or sorrow should de.
pend on o man but now am so happy and
oontentedl fear nothing 1 trus, him with
my whole SOUL
''Thst is no wonder, dear yon have every
security for happy marriage. What fright
ened you was my example; but you took
warning by me, and God will bless you, as
papa blossed yon, who confided you to the no.
bic Paul, even while you were child bat
am punished"
"Oh, Louisa. do not blame yourself, ycu
poor suffererl Your fault has been long atoned
forS it is only your penance now that contin'
ues Will this never change"
Goods will be done, Vera!"
"Ob, how ] despise the man who has made
you unhappy, who keeps your child from you
Poor little ereaturel ! how It will miss your care
and pine for the mother it has never known W
Il have recommended her to ber heavenly
Mother she will watch over her, since l can
not do IT,"
"Ah, Louisa, how great must be your faith,
how steadfast your trust, thBt with your ter
der heart you can be 80 composed under snch
separation Tell me, bow did you loarn
thisi'
"Through Struggle ct the foot of tho Gross.
But, my good Vera, don'u let Us talk of my lot:
that is too serions. Speak to me rather of
your happiness. Is his fLaly satisfied with
the marriage II
"Yes-tnat is, his brother George is and his
wife, and the dear, gosd Henrietta but Mar
psTet, no! she wonld never have given her
consent, even if ne had asked her. His mother
il long since dead. / am not sorry f 3r that
Louisa; it is perhaps not pretty in me, bat |
shonld always be afraid OF mother-!n law"
"They arc not oil like the Princess u DAlmOtch
ine."
"God preserve the world from that! Bat
Louisa, you will understand how surpr,eed
was when returned from England, where for
two yeRTs had occupied a vsarsora nitua
tion as assistant teacher, aud was preparing to
undertake q similar position in Holland, tnat
my excelont guardian shonld cdoose precisely
that moment tor akipg his proposal. lie 10 d
little old for me, it is true but | am more
reasonable than other girls of my age,-dont
you think SO, LDuisR7'
lyon have at least more experience than
most OF them"
"EOw, want TO speak Cf something about
yourself, which Paul commissioned me to say.
We do not wish you to be dependant. any
longer,-for that you are, however Roo1 and
kind the Baroness may be. 50 you must come
10 US, and we Will surr0urd you with all the
love and care which yon deserve"
Louisa shook her head mo, darling Vers,"
she said "fet things remain as they are. ADi
content with my present position. Lady Ten
Berghe and are accustomed to each other
now. We are even become dear to one anoth-
er, and yesterday evening when told Der Of
betrpthRl | promised her that L WOOlQ
never leave her."
"Oh, Louisa, do You prefer the foreign lady
to your Bistsr y
mo, dear Vera, no ! but who knows whether
/ might not be brought . play the part Of the
tiresome mother.in law in your house I"
Louise, do not joke about such serious
We laid snch charming plane, and when we
hired the house your room was the fl 'st one
Thought Of"
AZ will often be your gnest-but dwell with
you, no Believe me it is better Or
. you ashamed that your sister is q servantf y
"What au ideal Yet cannot tell You how
painful it is to me to think that Princess Dali
mAtchiue Is the lady-companion of o Datch
BAronessp
"Now ease your heart of that matter, little
sister, and learn that since your education was
completed have only been staying VITA the
Baroness friend"
"But who knows thatf" 10 the eyes of the
world yon are neither more nor less than what
Sou seem to be-"
"Dear Vera, what does the world matter to
usf'
"And that-that horrible man can see that
with such oomposure ~
Hush, Vera; remember that I am his
wife,"
''More shame for biml But does Lady Ten
Berghe know what distinguished princess has
for long years been her companion =
''Nol the secret Is we'll kept"
mot in Leyden, though it is we'll known
all over, there. Bot tell me. in all these years
have yon heard nothing of fNAtaliei"
atYpa inhand I va
pondenoe wife the waiting aid of my sister.
in-law, Pelagia. Bat for two years past have
not had nows of Natalie. Her health is very
delicate"
And where is the waiting g-woman nov -
II do not know. D5ad, or left her gituatiou;
G)d knows"
She stood still while. Tne sun came! ont
OF the clouds aud shed golden light on the
waves, while the shore still continued in tho
shade.
"How beautiful that is" said Vera "tLe
golden seal"
"a picture of our life cannot look at the
sea without thinking of eternity"