The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-07-03
PERE SEVERN WAS sILENcED.
The Tender Story Of . Good Man and .
Weak Woman.

The Tender Story Of . Good Man and .
I weak woman.
The rustic of the crisp skiats and q
subdued murmur Of voices from the
cool shadows of the cathedral corridors
announced that some of the worshipers
still fingered. A few women we're
grouped near the vestibule that led to
the confessional. AS from time to time
thew turned their eyes towar DIS the gid
ed grille an odor of white rose and
geranium was diffused from their gar
ments and mingled with the oder of in
cense that still fingered in the air.
They had been standing thus for half
an hour with ill concealed Impotence
women of the better class one might
imagine from the ivory and amber ros-
aries they carried and velvet prayer
books with old silver clasps,
The duty of confession to-day had a spe-
cial interest. They were curious to have
an interview with 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 for barely three years. In
that short time he had labOred among
| the wild tribes of Algeria and twice
narrowly escaped martyrdom at the
hands of the Amazons and Dahomey.
| They smoke at home of a scarlet hat for
him. II,
A lutter among the skirts, a gust OF
worldly perfume-Pere SEVERN awaited
another penitent She came forth tim
! idly from the shadows OF one OF the
futed pillars. The other ladies had
not noticed her presence. She was so
SLIGHT and the corridor was dim. They
looked at her frowningly as an intruder.
She advanced slowly toward the con-
fessional with faltering steps, sobbing
softly, her face hidden in awhile batiste
handkerchief. She was all in black,
vet the natural coquetry of woman OF
the world was displayed in the arrange
ment OF her curling brown hafr ana
touue of China crepe,
| The short dress permitted view OF
| two small feet in morocco shoes, with
high Louis Quinze heels. 1t was evil
| IDENTIFY her first visit to the confessor,
and she had made some concessions In
her costumes to suit the occasion.
| Arrived before the confessional, she
hesitated and locked around, as If seek
ing way to escape. She raised her DIM
med eyes and saw through the gllded
bars the shaved head oil the priest bent
in prayer. A yellow shaft OF light fell
upon he figure of Christ on the wall
above him. She bowed her head and
! entered.
| The priest slowly raised his face and
his soft eyes fell on the penitent kneel-
ing before him. She did not look up;
she was too ashamed. Here face was
still hidden in her handkerchief-the
sobs shook her slender form.
Speak, my daughter" he said, gent
". Lay the burden of your sins at the
feet OF God. His mercy and love are
eternal, he will dry your tears.speak "
Then with her fBce still hidden In
her handkerchief she spoke, so low he
had to bend his head to listen.
Il know l cannot hope for mercy now.
1t is too late. But will tell you all.
And you shall judge. God shail-h
years of penitence can atone for such a
sin as mine"
go on"
1.-THE story is a long one"
81 will listen"
She began in quivering voice, bro
ken with sobs.
81 was the only daughter of good
man now dead. From child L have
been petted, humored, spoiled. When
. grew to be a woman | was silly, vain,
extravagant, fond of admiration and
dress. My lovers were many, they
amused me. Most OF them had no
hearts to break. They were men OF the
world who soon forget their old wounds
in whirl of pleasure. But one-one-''
she covered her eyes with her hand
kerchief again and wept.
But one you loved" he added, gen.
tly.
Eyes, yes" eagerly. Zone really
loved.
He was so different, so different from
| the rest, his face was so pale and sad
like-like priests"
| Pere SEVERN drew nearer the graf
! ing. He could hear himself breathing
HE hated the CAV world in which
moved " She went on. He said 1 was
worthy of better things. That | had in
me the making of a good woman, but
| that was building upon sand; that my
heart was hardening against all good
| things. He wanted to marry me-to
|
was too late. Ny soul was in danger:
he wished to save it." She paused and
| hid her face for a moment. The priests
head was on his breast, the cross above
his throat quivered with his heavy
! breathing.
Il knew it-oh, I knew it too we'll
that was unworthy to be his wife. He
only saw me on the surface. He did
| - ~ 10
did not know how shallow and false l
could be. Time prssed. The old low
ers went away, tired of being trified
with, of being the creatures OF my cp-
price. But he still fingered. He was
always near to comfort me when .! was
sad, to counsel me with good advice.
saw them all leave my side and go to
seek new pleasures in the world. My
court deserted-I married him"
And did you love him?" asked the
priest in an underline.
"Yes-God knows how much-and
yet"
"And yet?"
"And yet in a moment of madness, in
an hour when the evil angel in me was
triumphant threw my life's happi-
ness away trampled on his heart-1
DeCdne y mlSeraOle losI WOludn'
She bowed her head on the cushions.
She wept as if her heart would break.
Pere SEVERN raised his face. 1t was
cold and stern. His eyes, unmoved at
first, kindled with pitying glow as
they fell on the quivering figure before
him. He spoke and mis- voice was dry
and husky.
What then, what then ?" he muir
INJURED. "You married a good man,
you betrayed him-how-confess all!
My, my daughter, that you may be for
given"
She grew more composed, as if the
h,,r Oh h LON u-ae onc;ar-