Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-19

chartn.
After the usual forms had bee,
complied with, they returned to th'
Governors mansion and the festivi
ties: proceeded with uninterrupted
gayety.
The guests had just risen from tn,
we'll filed tables and the gentlemen
had proceeded to the verandah ii
front Of the house, where cigars an(
light wines filed the pauses of the
brilliant conversation. In a few mo,
ments O'Brien complained of excess.
i've languor and shooting pains
through the head; he was rallied by
several of the gayest of the company
and a cup of strong coffee, the uni.
yersal panacea, in Louisiana, 70,
every slight indisposition was pre-
scribed.
! The gentlemen then re-entered the
parlors where the rich tones of Ma
bel's Irish harp were heard mingline
with the lighter chords of the Spanish
guitar.
Bernard fingered after the others
for the last few moments he had been
struggling to converse freely and to
throw off the feelings which were
gradually overcoming him; but, as
he entered the door he staggered, and
would have fallen, had not Power
turned to assist him and then he per-
ceived the deadly pallor of his friends
face. O'Brien was Immediately con-
veyed to his apartment, where medi-
cal aid was called in, and everything
was done which could give compara-
tive comfort and cOmpOsurc.
But, alas! the yellow fever had laid
its ruthless and unrelenting hand on
its victim, and nothing could retard
or avert the impending blow.
Mabel stood near trembling with
hope and fear; not q tear was shed; {;
over the fair brow electric flashes of
white and red passed alternately; it
was moment of feeling too highly
wrought aud too opposing nature for
words; it was moment of deep grief
then hope--and then despair. Ber-
nard submitted with patient and man
ly tranquility, he received the last
sacraments from the hands of Father
Everard but even at this last moment
when life was ebbing fast he made
every necessary arrangement with
GOODNESS and precision. His mother
and wife were left to the protection
of his friend, "be to them he said,"
what | would have been, but my
heart tells me that ] have nothing to
fear, it has only pleased God, that
they should exchange protectors"--
He could say no more. A rapid
and unfavorable change had already
come on, a deep lethargy succeeded
and in a few days all was over.
The office for the dead, the solemn
"De Protundis," was chanted over
the lifeless form Of the one who had
lately entered the same church in the
pride Of manly vigor and health, full
of youth and hope. Such are the
vicissitudes ofhuman life. The young
widowed wife retired to q convent till
the days of mourning had expired.
Power endured a.long season Of
mental anguish, which was succeeded
by q softened remembrance of past
pain and humblcd sorrow.
About two years after the events
related in the last chapter, Mabel
gave her hand to Thomas Power.
Bernard O'Brien's aged mother long
held her place in the domestic circle,
and it was the chief care of both to
bestow every comfort upon her. Ma
llel was supremely happy as a wife
and a mother; high in the estimation
OF the good and virtuous, and as she
was surrounded by all the enjoyments
which true affection can bestOw, she
daily acknowledged with gratitude
this disintcrestcdness of the ties which
had bound together the hearts of the
friends.
Thomas Power loved his adopted
country with all the ardor of his en-
thusiastic nature, and in her subse-
quent trials in the war of 1879, he
had the satisfaction of standing firm
in her defence.
Michael Cassidy always remained
a faithful adlerent to the family, and
Patience Jackson, with true yankee
enterprise, made her way to New Or
leans; but Mick did not consent M
mediately. Patience, on her arrival,
threw herself on the protection of
Mabel, and in her service she remain
ed for length of time. In after
years Mick frequently congratulated
himself on his acquisition and declared
that it was a mercy that Patience
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