Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-21
PRIEST AND Nun WE'D

Che Romance cf q Young New York Cler-
gyman Who Was Sent to Australia.
According to the story of William Math-
ewson, n well known merchant of San
Francisco, who spent Sunday in Salt Lake,
the east bound Central Pacific train con-
tained, among other passengers, q couple
who, had their history been known. would
have attracted more than ordinary atten-
ton. The story is a long one, and in order
to get the full details one must go back to
the beginning.
In Orange county, n Y, about thirty
years ago lived well to do Irish farmer
who. by industry and thrift, had become
the possessor of several broad acres of land
and some spare cash besides He had only
one son, Patrick, bright lad, and the
height Of his ambition was to see him fitted
for better position in life than that of
farmer. To this end he sent his boy to the
best Catholic school in the country, and
great was his Joy when he learned from the
lips of the young man that he had decided
to take holy orders and become IA priest.
Time passed on and Father Patrick Han
lon was the name added to the roster of
the clergy of the church founded by Peter.
The young priests first duties were in
little town of Nebraska, where for a year
or two be worked assiduously in building
up his little charge. So successful was he
that the attention of his bishop was called
to his work, and in very short time he
was commended for his earnestness by
Cardinal McCloskey.
And then came a change. His holiness
Pope Leo must have the faith spread in
Australia Young men were wanted to
carry the Cross into the far off country, to.
teach the way of eternal life to the be-
nighted people of the remote interior, and
by n special order from the cardinal, in
dorsed by the pontiff Father Hanlon was
included among the many who were to
spread the gospel of light among the peo-
pie of the large island.
For two years did Father Patrick labor
earnestly among the rough people of the
district to which he was assigned. That
he was successful can be attested by the
statement that in lieu of holding services
in the dingy old building he found when
he first visited the spot he, in less than a
year, celebrated the mass in neat little
church built by his flock, who had learned
TO love him, and from the further fact that
the town to which he was assigned was no
longer considered as rough, but that its
people were fsst becoming quiet and or
derby.
But the physical nature of the young
man could not bear the constant strain,
and ere long his health failed him. Real
i2ing that his labor on earth would soon
be finished if he did not seek rest he asked
TO be relieved for a time and went to Mel
bourne. Here he sought his much needed
repose from duty, and here is where the TO
mantle part of the tale begins
In the hospital Of st. Vincent was a Sis
ter of Mercy who was known to the sister
hood Us Sister Agatha. A beautiful wo
man was she, with wonderfully lustrous
eyes and one Of the sweetest faces that God
ever endowed womankind with. The touch
of her hand was the softest and the music
of her voice the sweetest to the poor un
fortunates who were sent to the institution
Sister Agatha had a history She was the
daughter of an English clergyman and had
become convert to the Catholic faith dur
ing early childhood. When she became OF
age she united herself with the Sisters OF
Mercy and had gone to Australia.
While in Melbourne Father IIanlon oc
casionally visited the hospital And here
is where the Church of Rome lost one OF
its most tireless workers and st. Vincent's
hospital its most gentle loving nurse.
1t was u case of love at first sight on the
part of both, and yet neither was glad. BY
the solemn vows of the church both were
bound to life Of ccIibacy. But it was not
to be. The ruler of all hearts had not so
ordained and, working in his way, willed
otherwise
In consequence, Father IIanlon proposed
The details OF the struggle he underwent
before he could fully justify himself that
he was taking the right course viii ever
remain a secret until the morning of the
resurrection. And the proposal will re
main locked in two human hearts, aclosely |
guarded treasure until it shall be told be,
fore the throne on the day when the morn
ing stars shall sing together and the sons
of the eternal shout for joy
They were married, not, however, until |
the church authorities had been notified |
In vain did the bishop of Father IIanlon's !
diocese plead with him not to take the step |
The die was cast, the Rubicon crossed, and |
the wedding took place
Gre the tidinSs could fly across the sea
to the old home in New York the young |
man learned that his father had died and |
left him his entire fortune. It was toward |
the old home of his boyhood that lac and |
his wife were going when the informant
met them MIR Mathewson had known |
the young man in his infancy, and to him
had told his story.--Salt Lake City Times |