Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-04-12
AI1oDOrR o. mn PiHIiEtN Fct1dE

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possessed a. guardian Of lie safety, and chief
minister AZ police, q man Of rare talent and i'm
teQrity. at the same period, the parish OF 81.
Germais, in the quarter Of the Rue st. AntoiRe'
had for its cure kind, venerable old nan,
whose whole life was spent In doing good bs'h
10 the souls and bodies Of his fellow creatures
and holy consistency ard digni6ed courage causJ
ed him 70 be beloved BY the good, and respected
even by the most abandoned character. One
cold, dark winters night, the bell ct the old
cures door was rung loudly, and he, although
in bed, immediately rose and opsned the doer,
anticipating summons to sCnae nek OF dying
bed. t.-
A parsonage, richly dressed, with his fear
lures partly concealed BY large tslss besTd'
stood outside. Addressing the cure in d cSoEI
teous and graceful manner, he apolegized for
his unreasonable visit, which, 80 be said, the
high reputation Of Monsieur had induced himtO
make.
"A great and terrible, but necessary and inev-
table deed, he continued, in 10 be dOne. Time
presses a soul about to pass into eternity i'm
plsres your ministry. II you come you must
allow your eyes to be handsged, ask no queS-
tiohs, but consent to act simply spiritual con-
soler Of dying woman. II you refuse to ac-
company me, no other priest can be admitted,
and her spirit must pass clone
After momen. Of secret prayer, the cure an
swered, 4 will 90 with ydu. Without asking
any further explanation, DO allowed his eyes to
be bandaged, and leaned or the arm Of his Sus-
picious visitor. They beth got into coach,
whose windows were imediately covered with
wooden shutters, and then they drove Oh rapid
ly. They seemed to 60 long way, and make
many doubling and turnings ere the coach drove
under wide archway and stopped
| During this time not single word had been
exchanged between the travellers, and ere they
got out the stranger assured himself that the
bandage over his companions eyes had not
been displaced, ard then taking the old man re-
spectfully BY the hsnd, he assisted him to alght,
and to ascend the wide steps Of . staircase, a.
far as the second story. A great door opened,
as IL Of itself, and several thickly carpeted
rooms were traversed in silence. At length
another door was opened by the guide, and tho
cure felt his bandage removed. They were in
solemn looking bed chamber; near bed, halt
yelled by thick damaSk curtains, was small
table, supporting two wax lights, which feebly
Illuminated the cold, death like apartment. The
stranger, lie was the Duke de-, then bow
ing TO the cure, led him towards the bed, drew
back the curtains, and said in solemn tone:
Minister Of God, before you is woman
whO has betrayed the blood Of her ancestors,
and whose doom is iTTSvocably fixed, She
knows on what conditions an interview has been
granted herr she knows, too, that all Supplica-
tons would be useless. You know your duty.
M. le Cure; l leave you to fulfill it, and will
retuan 10 seek you in half an hour re-.
So saying he Departed and the agitated priest
saw lying on the bed young and beautiful girl,
bathed in tears and battling with despair, and
calling, in her bitter sgOny, for the comforts Of
religion. No investigation possible for tho
unhappy creature declared herself bound, by
terrible oath, to conceal her nams, besides, she
knew not in what place she was
Il am, she said, 'the victim Of 4 secret family
tribunal whose sentence is irrsVocablei More
cannot tell, forgive my enemies, ~ trust
God will forgive me, Pray for mel"
The minister Of religion invoked the sublime
promises Of the gospel to soothS her troubled
soul, and he succeeded. Her cOuntenance al
ter time became composed, she ClaSpsd- her
hands In fervent prayer, and then extended them
towards her consider. ls4
AS she did so, the cure perceived that the
sleeve Of her rsbe was stained with blood.
MY child, said he, with . trembling voice,
what is thisP' IN .rr ,91I
Father, it 10 the vein which they have al.
ready opened, and the banddAgs no doubt was
SareleSSly put on ,.,a .s.,'..,.,. .l'' TI,5
AT these words q sudden thought struck the
priest. He unrolled the dressing, allowed the
blood to now, stepped his handkerchief In Il,
then replaced the bandage. concealed the stained
handkerchief within his vest, and whispered;
Farewell, INV dalIOhtey takn ao,,.I. -