PART THE SECOND. CHAPTER X.—(Continued.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 233, 19 October 1877, Page 5

PART THE SECOND. CHAPTER X.— (Continued.)

But Walter had yet one visitor to see : once again the door opened, and a woman entered ; she was not veiled, but a large cloak and hood enveloped her tall gaunt figure. Walter started as he beheld her ; the face was so wan and haggard, and the large eyes glared wildly upon him. She stood still without speaking. 11 What can Ido for you my daughter 1 " said the priest. She came nearer. "I have come to see my victim, and to let you see^youx murdress." Her eyes, fixed on Walter's face, beheld that not a muscle moved. He looked at her with the same compassionate glance. "lam ignorant how thou hast wronged me : will you tell me, and are you a Catholic ? " Once, once," she said, wildly. "Oh ! talk not of that— of those days gone by, to the lost, the perishing ! " " Nay," said Walter, tell me of them, it will ease thy aching heart, which is breaking 'neath the burden of memory." " Thou didst dwell once secure in innocence and peace ; then sin, entered the paradise, and with it misery. See, have I not guessed rightly ? " She was crouching on the ground now, and weeping those agonising tears which they only shed whose eyes have been dry for many years ; and at last, in broken accents, the story came. Young, lovely, but lowly bora, Maud Felton had become one of the numerous victims of Lord Leicester's vice. Cast off for a newer toy, the favourite gave her over to the care of Elliot. She would have escaped from him, and soon ended her wretched existence, had not her child been born. Elliot, who desired to keep her as a slave, saw his advantage, used Leicester's name, and told her, that in event of disobedience, the child should be taken from her, and so she dragged on a life of misery. A ray of light had been shed on it by the visits and consolation of Rose Ford, who had accidentally found her out. We know the information that Elliot compelled her to procure from Rose ; and the discovery of what she had done, and of the falsity of Elliot's words, had driven her almost frantic. All this was related to Walter, and she added, "you are already avenged, father. From the hour of your condemnation, my child sickened, and this morning she died." " Then I shall see her ere you do," answered Walter, gently. " Oh I my poor child, how is it that that deep mother's love of yours, which could not part with her on earth, can consent to part with her for aye 1 " A groan of anguish burst from Maud. " Why not turn now to God, and after leading a life of penance here, rejoin your child in the light of God's kingdom ? As for me, reproach not yourself so bitterly. You did not intend to work my death ; and it was but a few days sooner. Elliot would speedily have tracked me ; but if you think you have wronged me so much, grant me then a favour that sh; 11 cancel the debt." " I will, father," she said, looking up eagerly ; " but what is it possible I can do 1 " "Rcjtmt," said the priest, solemnly, "not with the wildness of despair, but with the utter abasement of hope. Seek Rose Ford, tell her you have seen me, and I commend you to her care. Bhe will hide you from Elliot, teach you the new path you are about to enter and bring you to a priest. Wilt promise me this, my child ? " " Oh I call me not that, father," she said, shrinking back ; " I— the outcast I " " Nay," said Walter, " the Gospel tells us that ' when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him and had compassion on him. 1 Are we not the faint shadows only of His fatherly heart ? Be of good cheer, my daughter, and give me thy promise ; " and it was given, and Maud quitted the cell.