Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-08-20
PERE SEVERN.

The gray cherubs that looked down
from the vaultcd ceiling of St. Chrvsos-
tom S were still half yelled with wreaths
OF incense smoke. The old Sac.istan,
coughing feebly to himself fitted here
and there about the great gold altar,
putting out the candles that fenced it
with their light.
The rustic of crisp skirts and sub
dued murmur of voices from the cool
shadows of the cathedral corridors an
nounced that some of the worshippers
still fingered. A few women were
grouped near the vestbuie that led to
the confessional. AS from time TO time
they turned their eyes toward the Gid
cd grille an odOr of white rose and
geranium was diiTuscd from their gar
| ments and mingled with the odor of
incense that still fingered in the air.
The duty of confession to-day hal a
| special interest. They were curious
to have an interview vita the new
priest OF whom so much had been
written and said He was little known
| in France. this same Pere SEVERN, but
much had been published about his
work He was still a young man: he
had served the church bat barely three
years. In that short time he had
labored among the wild tribes of Al
geria, had twice narrowly escaped
martyrdom at the hands of the Am
azons and Dahomey. They spoke at
home of a scarlet hat for him
| A tiutter among the skirts gust
OF worldly perfume-Porc SEVERN
awaited another penitent. She came
forth timidly from the shadows of one
of the flutted pillars. The other ladies
had not noticed her presence, she was so
slight and the corridor was dim. They
looked at her irowningly as on an in
truder
She advanced slowly toward the
confessional with faltering steps, sob
bling softly, her face hidden in a white
batiste handkerchief. She was all in
black. yet the natural coquetry of a
woman of the world was displayed in
the arrangement of her curling brown
hair and toQue of China crepe.
Arrived before the confessional, she
| IlCsllutCt ttLAt IoohSN4 Ni ottiNt, 90 IL
seeking a way to escape. She raised
her tear-dimmed eyes and saw through
the gilded bars the shaved head of the
priest bent in prayer. A yellow shaft
of light fell upon the figure of Christ
on the wall above him. She bowed
her head and entered.
The priest slowly raised his face
,,I ii. cof+ ox,, fa1l m +bn MAINTAIN,
knecling before him. She did no
look up; she was too ashamed. Hel
face was still hidden in her handker
chief-the sobs shook her slender
form.
speak, my daughter, he said
gently. LAY the burden of your sin'
at the feet of God. His mercy an,
love are eternal. He will dry you
tears-speak."
Then, with her face still hidden il
her handkerchief. she spoke, so low
he had to bend his head to listen.
, Il know l cannot hope for mere,
now 1t is too late. But will tel
; you all. And you shall judge. CO.
shall-if years of penltence can atom
1Or SuCn Il SIN It's llliLe.
go on"
! She began in a quivcring voice
j. broken with sobs.
, II was the only daughter of goo
!. man, now dead. From a child hay
{ been pettcd, hundred, spoiled. Whe
| grew to be woman | was silly vain
8 extravaganza, fond of admiration an
dress. My lovers were many; the
4 amused me. Most of them had Il
!. hearts to break. They were men
h the world who soon forgot their oil
r wounds in the whirl OF pleasure. BIZ
i one-One-"
She covered her eyes with her hant
- kcrchief again and wept
h but one you loved" he added
;, gently. >,
g "Yes-yes, eagerly. Zone reail
! loved. He was so different, so ditfel
ent. from the rest, his face was pal
and sad. like-like priests.
Pere SEVERN drew nearer the gra
. ing. He could hear himself breathing
: He hated the gay world in which
moved" she went on. He said W:
worthy of better things: that ! had
me the making of a good woman p'
that was building upon sand; that N
heart was hardening against all GOO
things. He wanted to marry me
take me out of the whirlpool before
was too late. My soul was in DANCE
he wished to save it."
She paused and hid her face Tor
moment. The priests head was
his breast, the cross above his thro
ouivered with his heavy breathing.
II saw them all leave my side al
90 to seek new pleasures in the worl
NV court Deserted married him. "
"And did you love him?" asked Il
priest in an undertone.
"Yes-GOd knows how much-al
yet" a.o.
.And yet in moment OF madnes
h. n