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

her TO forget for moment her wonsed respect
full bearing.
The cures eyes were shimmerine with tear,
that would not be kept back, and his voice was
very broken as he murmured:
BE calm. my child: il is the will of God He
has laid his hand upon poor Francois. and
his voice sank 10 q whisper almost inaudible--
''he has gone to the lazaret"
Faint as the words were they fell upon Me-
lines straining senses like the blast of a trum-
pet For a moment her eyes were fastened
upon the csiss's face with wild look of eredu-
lily. Then, as he, reading their meaning Alright
shook his gray head sadly, as though to say,
Too true-alas. too true" she threw MP her
hands with an Undesirable gesture Of despair
and crying ont, The lazaretl oh, my God,s
fell back upon the sofa in q merciful swoon
Summoning Madame Lavoie. who appeared
in a great state of perturbs ron, Father Gan
call IN after vespers to inquire how il was with
Meline. When he did come back he found the
poor girl returned to consciousness, but living
upon her bed in a state OF stony, speechless
grief that filled him with grave concern. He
spoke softly and tenderly to her, but she
seemed not to hear him, looking straight be-
fore her with burning eyes, and in no wise
acknowledging his presence. He saw that
words were useless then, and commencing her
to the pity of God, went away, his kind heart
lamenting that there should be such sorrow in
the world.
Many days passed before Meline awoke from
her blank despair. and then il was only 10 en-
ter upon sad, silent life, which, while il left
no DUTY unified nor task neglected, yet spoke
IN terms not to be mistaken of broken heart
The young doctor and his older rival, the
lawyer, having waited what they deemed decent
interval. renewed their suit, being encouraged
thereto by Madame Lavoie; but they had better
have spared themselves the trouble. for Meline
would none of them, and they were dismissed il
possible more crestfallen than before.
food old Father Ganvreau was her one
counsellor and confidant. From him she learned
the particulars concerning unhappy Francois.
sailing away apparently in perfect health, scarce
half the season had passed ere he noticed that
his skin began to lose its natural healthy color
and his complexion Its rudy freshness He
thought little of il at first, deeming il only some
temporary ailment; but, the weeks went by
this ominous pallor increased, until at length
the dreadful fact could no longer be concealed,
| and his shipmates were compelled, in reluctant
Borrowing self-defense, TO immune him in the
fore,hold OF the Rose-Marie until he could be
handed over to the laZaret. There he was now.
prisoner for life; and. alas instead of submit
ting to the viii Of God, he was rebellious if not
indeed blasphemous, as with hot words he cursed
| his cruel fate.
One day by chance the cure mentioned that
one OF the Seurs Hospitalieres, who, with he
| roism unsurpassed in the annals Of martyrdom.
devote their lives to soothing the sufferings of
the inmates OF the lazaret, had gone to her re-
ward, and that another was shortly expected 10
take up her noble work
where will she come from, father?" asked
Meline, with an access of interest she had not
| shown since the day of her great grief
From the Hotel-Dieu at Montreal. my
child answered the cure
Meline was silent for . space; she seemed lost
IN thought, as though some design were seek
ing to take form within her mind. Presently
she looked into Father 4anvreau's benevolent
countenance with bright CLEAN in her ewes
that gave him a start ss if she had suddenly
awakened from sleep.
Father, is it possible for me to become one
| OF the Sisters of the Hotel-Dieu?" she asked.
and 1t was evident that she awaited his reply
with intense eagerness.
Yes, certainly, my child; il is quite possible
But why do you ask" the cure replied. failing
| at first to catch the drift of her thoughts.
"Because-because." murmured Meline, hes
ltatlngly, IF L became one of the sisters
might some day be sent over there" and she
pointed in the direction of Tracadie.
For a moment Father Ganyreau was CON-
pletely nonplussed; he knew not what to say.
Should he condemn or approve of Meline's sug-
| gestion? Was il his sober Judgment or his
warm sympathies that caused him to thrill with
| admiration for her daring conception He
knitted his brows and bent his ewes upon the
ground, while she awaited his reply, divided
betwixt fear and hope. At length he raised his
head, and looking very serious, said;
Il see your meaning, my child, bun am in
doubt as to the propriety of the matter. will
think 1t over, and give you an answea when
| come again"
The next day he returned, and spent an hour
| In earnest converse with Meline, the result
| being that satisfied as TO her perfect sincerity
| ana trustworthiness, he undertook to render all
the assistance he could in the furtherance of
| her design.
When Melines desire to enter the Hotel-Dieu
was made known to the elder Layoies thew Of
fered but little objection. They were devout
Catholics, and since their daughter had lost all
Tratar ~, 1i,-s
| pose her dedicating herself to the service of
God. They would have their married son come
| to live with them, and he would care for them
| in their old age. So the way opened readily be-
fore Meline, and ere another April passed she
had taken the VEIL and was henceforth Sour
Clemence, of the Hotel-Dieu.
Here only the mother superior knew her
| story, and, won by Father Ganvreau. who him.
self accompanied Meline to Montreal, she gave
him promise that at the first opportunity she
would send Sister Clemence TO the work upon
| which her heart was fixed. The good father
returned to his parish no longer doubtful as to
the wisdom of his actions. and lost no time in
conveying TO poor Francois a hint that if he
would but be patient his miseries might in time
be lightened by the ministerng care of the one
separation from whom had been the bitterest
drop in his cup of misery.
Francois, who, since his entrance into the
lazaret had alternated between periods of sui
len gloom and paroxysms of furious reyiling
at first, but when it was made clear to him he
showed such wild impotence that his inform
ant felt somewhat sorry that he had opened
his lips, especially as there was no telling how
long time might Hapse ere Sister Clemence's
coming could be counted upon. In the event
the time was long. and Francois. whose i'm
petuous, volatile disposition stood in strange
contrast to Meline's quiet, steadfast nature
was at first feverishly expectant, then fretfuly
complaining, and finally, as hope long deferred
brought sickness of heart, gloomily despond-
ent.
The months went by, and Meline still waited
patiently for the call to come. The slow spring
northward, and the trees were already bursting
in leaf. II ever Tracadie might be said to have
elements of attraction il was now, and behind
thoughts and prayers were ever bent upon il
slightly blot upon the landscape.
her, and with beating heart she FASTENED to obey
the summons.
''Sister Niger has been called away Peace be
unto her soul! Her place at the lazaret must be
filled. Will You go?" said the mother superior,
In her calm, clear voice, looking keenly into Sis
ter Clemences face.
Would she go? The good God be praised,
Had she not, by waiting upon Him, kept her
soul in patience for this very hour2 The pure,
pale face which had grown still more transps-
rent since the free, open-air life of home had
been exchanged from the confinement of the
cloister, flushed crimson from brow to chin,
the downoast eyes over-brimmed with sudden
NJ Il