The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 17, 23 April 1903, Page 23

The Storyteller

MY ROSARY.

It is before me now— a worn Rosary, of quaintly carved, black bog-oak beads, linked with silver, with a large, black and silver crucifix. It has been to me, as it was to those who cherished it before me, a solace in many a troubled hour — a messenger of comfort when earth looked darkest, And even the sweet light of the Will of God seemed obscured amid the gloom. But how light my crosses, how puerile my tears when weighed in the balance with the sorrows, trials, and persecutions of those who first revered my Rosary ! It was in those dark, troublous days when, in the Island of Saints, a price was set upon the head of the priest of God, when, on the black mountain-side or lonely cavernous recess, the faithful assembled in secret to assist at the Mystic Sacrifice, whilst devoutly murmured ' Aye Marias' fell from the lips of those who owed their faith through the long night of persecution to Our Lady's Rosary. But little recked God's devoted priests for the dangers that encompassed them .' There were souls to be comforted and strengthened, and if their struggles and sacrifices were destined to be crowned with martyrdom, willingly, yea, joyfully, they laid down their lives for their faith. But to return to my Rosary and its strange story.

It was a cold and stormy evening when a small weather-beaten vessel cast anchor in a pretty Irish seaport. There were the usual crowd of sight-seers on the quay, some, perhaps, on business bent, others waiting for the chance of an errand, but all too busily engrossed in watching what was going on to take much notice of a young man m peasant garb, who quietly shouldered his bundle and set out at once for the town. A few curious glances were cast at him as he passed along the quiet streets, but he asked no questions of those he met, only returning with a smile the salutations of one or two good-natured people who gave a word of welcome to the stranger. - / When he reached the outskirts of the town he paused, and gazed anxiously around, as if expecting someone. He looked out across the waters of the bay, at the verdure-clad slopes, at the distant hills crowned with purple heath, and then his eyes rested on the towers and turrets of the Castle that commanded a view of one of the fairest of the many fair scenes that enhance the beauty of the Emerald Isle. A smile, somewhat sad, flitted over his face as he said half aloud : 'My dear old home ! How many long years have sped away since last I gazed upon it, since last I looked upon the faces of those dear to me. God grant that this night may see the end of mv weary waiting ! I wonder if all has gone well, or if Eva's arrangements ha^e been thwarted. Faithful little sister, what risks you are running for me ! '

Just then he perceued at some distance away an old man looking cautiously around. When he saw the stranger he hastened his footsteps, and as he drew nearer the young man saw in his hand a large black Rosary.

' E\a's beads ! the token she promised to send me : this, then, is mv guide ; and the stranger went forward, saying in low tones, ' 1 am Father Desmond, were you sent to meet me ? '

The old man looked earnestly in the young priest's face and said as he fell on his knees and begged his priestly blessing : ' Oh, your reverence, welcome home nt last, even if troubles and dangers await you ! How the mistress and Miss Eva ha\o prayed for your coming 1 See, your reverence, the Tlosary they sent you aa a sign that you are to trust yourself to me this night ! There are spies abroad, aye, and traitors, too, but God grant no harm will befall you ' ' 'Am I not to go to the Castle to-night, then ? ' anxiously asked the priest, who longed for a sight of home and kindred — the mother who prayed that she might live to receive the blessing of her son, the sister who was little more than a child when he bade her farewell.

' No, your reverence, 'tis not safe. The master has a great company there, and there is any amount of dancing and feasting ' ' But mv mother and sister, where are they ? '

' They are there, too, your reverence. Sure Miss Eva would have ventured out to meet you but she was afraid the master would miss her. So 'twas better not ' ' But am I to go to-night ? ' asked Father Desmond .

' I will take your reverence to the old cave in my boat ; it is the host hiding place, and the safest. Wlt n Miss Eva heard you were coming she made all ready and comfortable, in case it would be unsafe to go to the Castle.' The young priest silently followed his guide, thinking of the whole of the vcars that had fled since last ho trod on Irish soil, since last ho saw the mother and sister who awaited his coming with mingled feelings of delight and fear, knowing that his renegade brother, master of the broad family acres, retained at the sacrifice of his faith, would not spare the despised and hated priest did ho know that he had returned at the risk of his life to hring the consolations of religion to his suffering brethren in the land of his forefathers. They had now reached a secluded spot on the seashore, and the priest, with his guide, stepped into a

small boat, and soon reached the cave chosen by Eva Desmond for her brother's retreat. The old man, after doing all possible for the young priest's comfort, reluctantly left him.

• You will return to the castle to-night, Patrick, will you not ? '

'To be sure, your reverence, I promised Miss Eva to be there towards midnight without fail.' 1 Well, tell her, with God's blessing I'll see my mother and her soon. Give her back her beads ; but, stay '— and! taking from his own rosary a silver medal of Our Lady, he attached it to his sister's beads, then, with an earnest blessing, he sent the old man on his way.

The great hall of the castle was brilliant with light, and resounded with revelry and merry-making. Noble high-born guests moved to and fro enjoying to the full the magnificent entertainment provided for them by Sir John Desmond. But amid the courtly knights and brilliant ladies Eva Desmond, in the height of her girlish loveliness, yielded to none in beauty and grace. Many admiring glances were cast upon her as she moved about among her brother's guests, the simple elegance ol her rich, white silken robes contrasting favorably with the bejewelled ladies around her. But there was one among them who watched her with jealous «yes for though Lord Errington had her brother's permiasion to seek the hand of his fair, sweet sister, yet he could not succeed in winning her favor. She distrusted him, as she feared and distrusted her renegade brother, who had brought such sorrow into her life, and crushed and broke her mother's heart.

As the hours wore on the girl's face assumed an anxious expression, and her thoughts seemed far away. Approaching her mother, she softly wispered, ' It is almost time for Patrick's return. I promised to meet him at the north tower. J will go now. Try and excuse my absence.' -^

But other eyes had watched her departure, and Lord Errington, anxious to urge his suit, also left the hall; Very soon he saw a figure, shrouded in a long, dark cloak, silently steal through a corridor and disappear into the darkness. Just as silently did he follow her, and after a brief period of waiting he heard footsteps approaching, and in answer to the greeting of the newcomer the sweet voice of Eva Desmond said in low tones, ' What news do you bring me. Patrick ? ' ' The best of news. I'll mention no names, Miss Eva, for fear of listeners, but he to whom you sent the token is safe, and returns it to you, with a request that you will always send it by the messenger as a sign that all's well.'

' Thank God ! thank God that he is safe,' exclaimed the girl, ' but I must go now.'

The listener heard these words and hastily retreated into the Castle, intending to meet her casually in the corridor on her return.

' Don't forget, Patrick,' were her parting words to the faithful old man ; ' my mother and I will be ready at break of day, and you must be there to take us to the cave. ' ' But is it safe, Miss Eva ? The master or the guests will be sure to miss you.'

' These revellers will go to rest at dawn ; the day will be far spent before they think of rising, whilst we will not be absent for more than two or three hours.'

When Eva Desmond re-entered the house the first person she met was Lord Errington, who looked at the Rosary she carried in her hand, and his face wore an angry scowl as ho said to himself that this was the talisman sent her by the unknown — the token that was to be the sign between them. When the girl sate him her own face grew pale, for the fear at once entered her heart that he had been spying upon her actions, and somewhat haughtily she bade him allow her to pass, as he attempted to detain her.

' You may treat me with disdain, Miss Desmond,' said he to himself, ' but von may yet repent this night's work, for I will sift out your secret.'

\\ hen all was quiet within the Castle, Eva Desmond and her mother softly stole out, and, attended only by the faithful Patrick, made their way to the sea shore. Soon the little boat was skimming over the waves to the lonely retreat where the son and brother awaited them.

Some weeks passed away, and Father Desmond had grown accustomed to the loneliness of his sea -girt cave ; indeed, he was beginning to love it, and if he were only free to go forth to minister to his scattered flock would ha^e been quite content with so quiet a hermitage. To a trusty few had been confided the secret that there was a priest in their midst, and more than once a little group had assembled in the ca\e to assist at the Holy Sacrifice, and once again after many a weary month of waiting to strengthen their fainting souls with the Bread of Life. He had even penetrated the Castle during the absence of his brother, and in a secret turret room had celebrated the Divine Mysteries to the intense joy of his devoted mother and sister, who never dreamed that so much happiness would be theirs. It consoled them somewhat for the fearful knowledge that the brother of him who came to them at so many risks, bearing in his priestly hands God's richest gifts, had sworn to pursue to the death the priest who dared bring the balm, of religion and charity to the souls who longed with ardor for the blessings so cruelly denied them. And often at dead of night. Father Desmond, guided only by the faithful Patrick had visited the aged sick and dying, whose daily prayer had been that they might

not depart hence without the blessing ol the priest of God. In the meantime, Lord Errington made secret enquiries relative to Eva Desmond's unknown iriend, but all to no purpose. Angry and mortified at his failure as well as at the girl's rejection of his suit, he confided the story to Sir John Desmond. ' I think you must be mistaken in the idea that my sister favors an unknown suitor— but stay I ' he exclaimed, as a new light broke upon him, ' perhaps she is aiding in the concealment of a priest. I have heard of a stranger in peasant garb being seen in the neighborhood. If 1 thought that —he thundeied in \iolent tones — ' if I thought that 1 would make her repent it ! Help me, Enhigton, help me all you can to unearth the secret.' ' That old man, Patrick,, knows something, and several times I have seen him, laden with bundles, going in a somewhat stealthy manner towards the beach , and I know, too, that a string of black beads belonging to your sister are sent as a sign that all's well.' ' Her Rosary beads ! Well, I must find occasion to sendf Patrick away for a time, and if he supplies the unknown with food we may be able to starve him out of his place of concealment,' said Sir John Desmond in malicious tones. ' But we must go to work cautiously, and not let them suspect that we are watching then), for I do not want my sister's name to be mixed up in the business.' Together the conspirators went down to the beach, and as they sauntered along the sand 9, maturing thenplans, Lord Errington stopped and picked up a string of quaint bog-oak beads. ' Your sister's Beads ! ' he exclaimed ; ' she has evidently been here and lost them ' ' Very good ; we may make use of them,' said Sir John Desmond. 'We may be able to lure him from his hiding place.' When they returned to the Castle, they at once sent for Patrick, and Sir John Desmond fabricated an errand that would take him to a distant part of the country, and keep him away a week or ten days. The old man's face grew pale as he listened, as he feared it was a plot to entrap Father Desmond. No one supplied him with food except himself, and without the boat the priest could not leave the cave, as there was no other exit. ' But who will attend to the wants of the mistress. and Miss Eva so ill ? ' asked Patrick, for the anxiety and worry occasioned by the constant planning and secrecy had been too much for the young gul, and for some days past she had been unable to leave her room. ' I cannot go without a word with them,' he said, for he feared for Father Desmond's safety. Then a thought entered Sir John Desmond's head. ' It's all right, Patrick ! Miss Eva knows you are going and told me to show you this as a sign that all's well.' and he drew from his pocket the beads that he had just picked up on the sea shore. The old man looked astonished, but being convinced that Miss Desmond had for some extraordinary reason taken her renegade brother into her confidence, could say no more, but set o\it on his journey with the assurance that Father Desmond's wants would be supplied Surely Miss Eva would not have bade him go if the ca^e were otherwise ' But still he had his misgi\ings, and fain would have had a word with Mrs. Desmond before his departure, but the conspiratois took care that this should be denied him. So, comforting himself with the thought of the beads sent him as a token, ieluctantly he went his way. And Father Desmond, in his lonely s-ea-e,ut ca"w\ looked in vain, day after day, for help and succor, puuing the while that no harm might come to those who aided him, yet fearing that the worst had happened, for what else could account for his abandonment by his faithful sister and her devoted servant ? 1 ' Mother,' said Eva Desmond, in anxious tones, 'what has become of Patrick ? He has not been here for days ' 'He knew of your illness, and doubtless will not disturb you. But "we may rest assured he is looking after our beloved son and brother.' 'I am sure of that, but I thought he might ha\e brought tidings of him to you. It is ten days or moie since he was here ! ' It was the evening of the same day. when, anxious and uneasy, the mother and daughter stood looking out across the wide waters of the bay. To their loy they saw their faithful servant on his way to the Castle but when he came into their presence they saw at once th.it something terrible had happened Almost broken down with emotion he bade them come at once to the ca\e, for Father Desmond was dying In disjointed words he told his story, and how he had been cajoled and deceived. Mrs. Desmond and Eva did not wait to hear more, but set out at once on their sorrowful errand No murmurs, no reproaches, escaped their lips, but the sweet ' Welcome be the will of Cod,' which so often has sustained the broken-hearted in their darkest hours, was the tearfully-murmured prayer that escaped from their suffering. But two others witnessed their departure, for in this emergency the usual precautions were set aside Sir John Desmond and Lord Errington immediately followed, and no sooner had the little boat rounded a headland than they embarked in another, laughing in a malicious glee at how easily the well-kept secret would be discovered. If, as they supposed, the priest was preparing to instruct his flock in some hidden cave, with what satisfaction woxild they not thwart his plans, by putting in force the stern arm of the law !

After a time they saw the little boat drawn up on the beach at the entrance to a rocky and Bilently^ they drew theirs up alongside. Their footsteps made no sound on the soft, white sand, and after a moment or so a dim light was visible. They drew nearer, but instead of the assemblage of people they expected to find, they beheld a low pallet bed, beside which knelt Mrs. Desmond, pale, but tearless, whilst Eva, in trembling tones, recited the Rosary, pausing not even at the entrance of the intruders.

Sir John Desmond gazed in fear and astonishment on the scene, for on the humble bed before him lay his own brother, the companion of his childhood, the friend of his youth, the priest whom he had driven to death. In an agony of remorse he knelt beside hi«%, and confessed how he had deceived Patrick by means of a false message from Eva, and how he told him that she had sent her Rosary that all was right, and thus by sending the old man away had deprived his brother of sustenance. Then, taking the beads from his pocket, he silently placed them in Eva's hands

The dying priest asked his sister to give them to him. In words of love and forgiveness he comforted and pardoned his erring brother, assuring him that fever, contracted in visiting the sick, had contributed to his illness, as well as neglect and want ; then, placing the Rosary in his hands, begged him to take it as a sign that he repented of the past and would return to the faith of his fathers. Earnestly the remorseful man promised all this, and for a time no sound was heard but the sobs of the little group who knelt around. Just as the dawn broke, lighting up sea and sky with floods of golden glory, the soul of Father Desmond passed away. and while Eva, heart-broken but courageous, recited the sublime liturgy for the departed, John Desmond, his Rosary clasped closely in his hands, wept beside her a penitent indeed. — ' Annals of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.'