Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-02

went out into the garden. where such Of the
patients as had the strength and inclination
were willing away the long DAYS In cultivating
the soil Francois. the strongest of them all.
wac busy digging. but hardly had sister
Clemence appeared than he caught sight Of her
at once, and throwing down the spade. rushed
mp 70 her. crying joyfully:
"Melinel Meline! Oh, God be prsisedi'
But she checked his advance with a warning
gesture, saying. in gentle yet firm tones:
am not Meline. That Is al past am
Sister Clemence now"
Francois face fell His hands. outstretched
IN welcome, dropped at his side, and he seemed
TO be trying TO convince himself as much Ne the
woman before him when he urged:
But You were Meline; and Won have come
to be with me here always"
Sister Clemence did not lift her exec from the
ground as she replied. in q steady voice thai
gave little hint OF the turmoil within:
Il Was, Francois. but am not now. have
given myself TO God, and in his service am
A hurt, disappointed look came into Francois'
face. Although il was the veriest impossi-
putty, he had, poor foolish fellow. permitted
himself 70 cherish the dream that when Meline
came to the lazaret their former blissful reIa-
Mons would IN some measure be restored But
how different was the truth Meline was Me-
line no longer. and in her place stood pale.
calm woman, who indeed bore Meline's faoA
and spoke with Meline's voice. but her name
Was Sister Clemence, and her heart was hence.
vulsion Of feeling carried him before IL. His
eyes flashed angrily, and his voice had a cruel
ring % he cried:
Then why do You come here? Was I not
miserable enough already? You had better
And turning upon his heel. he strobe back to
his spade and drove il fercely into the ground
a. though he would vent his wrath upon the ip.
nocent, defenseless earth.
Sister Clemence, lifting her eyes for the first
n "a hNsN0e .r.l a.
signing deeply a. she murmured
be patient"
The days that followed were full of trouble for
sister Clemence. whose great purpose was to
convince Francois that God was good despite
the utter shipwreck Of their plans for earthly
happiness. and that instead Of mourning In re-
oelious despair over an irretrievable past tho
one thing Tor them both was 90 submit without
complaint 20 the divine will, and ind consols-
ton in the precious hope of an unbafiled bound
less future. Surely an eternity Of unshadowed
bliss IN heaven were compensation beyond CON-
earth.
very presence of Meine, lovelier now than
ever, though seeming affair of, and more like a
pictured Madonna than the Meline of old in
stead OF helping 60 reconcile him 90 his sriey-
Gus lot, al FIRST rather increased the fires OF
his rebellion IL was n constant reminder of
the joy that had been denied him. But in time
has hard feelings toward the WAYS of Providence
began 20 soften Sister Clemences profound
unquestioning faith put forth an influence that
could not be persistently withstood He listened
TO her sweet ressonings, he needed her earnest
| in1unctions, he turned 20 the same source from
which came her wonderful grace OF submission
-ay, even more-of serene triumph; and ere
the dread disease, creeping on from stage 20
stage with slow yet cesseless steps laid It's fell
hand upon the centers Of vitality. and the long
martyrdom Of his life was ended he found his
way to that peace and patience which had
already been her sure possession.
IL was man years before Sister Clemence
folding her weary, toil-worn hands upon her
heart, fell asleep, as softly though she did
not well know her ewes were never 20 open
again upon the drear surroundings and amid
which, during that interval of waiting for tho
summons. she had been the best-beloved Of all
the holy women who shared her Chris,-like
labors.
You may still hear her story il perchapcs
you visit Tracadie, for her name will not soon
be forgotten where lovers. seeking the strong
est assurance of their constancy, covenant with
one another to be as faithful as Meline Lavoic,
y. Mcdonald OIley. ava HIrper's Bdzar