The Irish standard., 1888-01-07
Father Rudolph,s Wait.
Written for the Catholic Home Almanac.
BY CHRISTIAN REID.

Ii feet. he looked like very old man
II His hair and beard were sllverY white.
his brown face was wrinkled and bag
gard. and his wasted hands had nt
more appearance Of life than if their
pulses had ceased to beat.
But his eyes, though deeply snnker
under the shaggy brows by which they
were overhung, had feverish lustre in
them, as they stared vacantly before
him-seeing nothing Of the actual OBJ
jects around, but fixed in memory or
scenes that had passed many years be
fore. On wild wastes of snow, anc
beetling crags of gray ice-w1th the
sdadowy forms aud wan faces Of mer
suffering the extremities of cold and
starvation, showing dimly through the
twilight of an Arctic winter.
On the previous afternoon, Father
Rudolph, one OF community Of Bene-
dictines whose monastery was situated
in sheltered valley in one of the beau
tifal mountain lands Of Germany
while returning home from a visit Of
business to a neighboring town, had
in crossing q mountain ridge that over
looked the surrounding country, found
this stranger lying insensible by the
wayside, The father as he mounted
q long hill bathed at the moment in the
broad light of the declining sun, had
caught more than one glimpse, at GER
tain winlings Of the pa.h, OF the figure
Of a man extended full length under
the shadow Of rock at the summit OF
the ascent--.but it never occurred to
him until he was within few yards OF
the place. that there was anything un-
usual in this. No doubt it WAS some pc.
destrian tourist, he thought, who,
wearied 10y the steep climb up the
mountain, had thrown himself down
to rest awhile before continuing MS
Journey. AS he drew near and near
er, however, and noticed the relaxed
attitude Of the form, and the blood(ess
hue OF the countenance, he suddenly
stovt still--a chilling apprehension
creeping over him. Was this sleep, or
-~was IL death? he easked himself.
Ii Was neityer one nor the other, he
soon discovered. Though unconscious,
the tHan WAS alive.
From his general appearance and
dress, Father Rudolph judged that the
stranger was, as he had supposed on
fist Seeing him, a tonrjst--most likely
al Englsshman; conjecture, which,
later, proved 10 be correct. But who Or
what he was individually, was ques-
tion not at all to the point just then.
How to aid the unfortunate man at
once and effectually was the problem
that presented itself to the good Father;
aud after an instant's consideration, he
say that his only course Tas to procure
assistance from a hamlet which stood a
little way back Gu the road behind him.
Hastily retracing his steps thither, he
SOON returned accompanied by half a
dozen stout mountaineers with q litter.
upon which the insepsihle form was
placed and borne to the shelter OF the
monastery; where the skill and care OF
the good monks soon restored the poor
wayfarer to consciousness. But as he
seemed exhausted in strength and very
much shaken in nerves, a quieting
ilraught was Immediately administered
producing deep and refreshing sleep
shat lasted until late in the day succeed
ing that Of his rescue.
On awakening finally, he expressed
his thanks with much earnestness for
the kindness which he evioently appre-
ciated: bnt he seemed disinclined to
falkland lay for more than an hour
with, the dreamy, far-off look already
described, in his sad gray eyes Father
Rudolph, who considered him his own
special charge, sat silently beside the
bed reading his ofice-and so quiet had
his patient been, that when the latter
suddenly spoke he started.
Father he began, then checked him
self to ask, you speak English?'
'Yes, yes, was the reply. I have
lived much with English people. I
speak the tongue
Il am Cathollc,' continued the sick
man. I'LL am in danger of dying, I
want to make nay confession and re-
ceive absolution.'
i think I may safely assure you,' said
the monk, that you are in no danger Of
ayiug-at the present time. But to ap-
proach the sacrament OF penance is al
ways we'll, my son, and when you are
better, will with pleasure hear your
confession. In order to get better, you
must now take some food, he added
proceeded to enforce
the fulfilment of this recommendation.
1t was day OF two after this that the
stranger, who meanwhile had sufficient
~ regained his strength to permit his
leaving his apartment and taking some
slight exercise, said to Father Rudolph
with whom he was pacing slowly up
and down the cloisters IS the summer