The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-01-12
II ST4RTLNG STOR

Previous to the year 1879 the city OF
Paris possessed as a guardian Of lis safety
and ch ief minister of police u man of rare
talent and integrity. At the same period
the parish of St. Germans, ju the quarter
Of the Rue St. Antoine, had for its cure a
venerable old man, whose life was spent in
doing good to both the souls and booies of
his fellow creatures, and whose consistency
ard digniied courage caused him to be
loved by the good and respected by even
:he most abandoned characters. One cold
dark winters night the bell at The cures
door was rang loudly, aud he, although in
bed, rose and opened the door, anticipating
n summons to some sick or dying bed. A
person richly dressed, with his features
pal italy concealed by large false bead,
stood outside. Addressing the cure in a
courteous and graceful manner, he apollo
gizcd for his unreasonable visit, which as
he said. the high reputation of monsieur.
had induced him to make.
s'A great and terrible, but necessary and
inevitable deed he continued, els to be
done. Tine presses, and the soul about 10
pass into eternity implores your ministry.
IL you come you must allow your eyes to be
baudaged, ask no questions and consent 10
act simpiy as spiritual consoler of a dying
woman. If you refuse to accompany me
no other priest shall be admitted, and her
spirit must pass alone
After a moments secret prayer the cure
answered. 81 will go with YOU" Without
asking any further explanation, ne allowed
his eyes to be baudaged. and leaned or the
arm of his suspicious visitor. They both
got into coach, the windows were imme
diately covered with wooden shutters, and
they were driven off rapidly. They seem
ed to go long way and make many doub
lings and tulnngs ere the coach drove un-
der wide archway and then stopped.
During this time not word haG 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, and then,
taking the old man by the hand, he assist
ed him to alight and ascend the wide steps
of a staircase as far as the second story. A
great door opened as if of itself, and sew
eral thickly carpeted rooms were traversed
in silence. At length another door was
opened by the guide, and the cure felt his
bandage removed. They were in solemn
looking chamber. Near bed, yelled by
thick damask curtains was small table
supporting two wax lights, which feeby
illuminated the cold, death-like apartmf Mt.
The stranger The was the Duke de-1,
then bowing to the cure, led him towards
the bed drew b1ck tue curtains, and said
in a solemn tone:
s.Minister of God, before you is a woman
who has betrayed the blood of her ances-
tors, and whose doom is irrevocably fixed.
She knows on what conditions an interview
with you has been granted her; she knows
too that all supplications would be useless.
You know your duty, M. lie Cure. leave
you to fulfill il, and will return to seek you
in an hour
So saying, he departed and this agitated
priest saw lying on bed beautiful girl
bathed in tears, battling in despair, and
calling i'm her bitter agony for the COM
forts of religion. No investigation was
possible, for the unhappy creature declar-
ed herself bound by a terrible oath to con-