The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-01-13

S~AS ~ Z" WOAO o AAtVi0 0UCdW udb bClW-
med with wreath Of rose buds and
she mad removed her apron. and wore
. little shawl round her neck.
Her back was towards him. as she
knelt with hands and eyes raised to-
ward the statue Of our Lady; she was
evidently praying earnestly. Pres
emily q stifed sob reached Jeans
ears; then her shoulders began to
heave. her head sank on to her hands
and she sobbed wildly for some min
utes.
! Il was right; she does love me
after all; shall go and comfort herP
/ dare not; she would scorn me as she
has done SO often. Oh. if / were only
certain she loves me-if l could but
be sure" thought Jean.
Presently the sobs ceased, and, as
the clock chi.ned half past six. Marie
rose and came towards the con-
fessional.
As quick as the thought which &C.
Cured to him. Jean seated himself in
the priests place in the middle OF the
confessional closed the wooden doors
and drew the curtains. Marie was
coming to confession; he would hear
her and find out If she loved him.
Marie advanced to the confessional.
saw the curtains were drawn and
concluded the priest was sitting. so
she knelt down by the grating; after
amomenfs pause Jean drew back the
sliding shutter over the grating. NUT
tered the usual blessing in Latin. and
the unsuspeeting Marie began her
confession.
Mon pere. I am SO miserable
why. my childP" said Jean won
dering what on earth he should say
when she had finished.
Because I have driven Jean lis
sot to sea- He loves me. and have
served him as l served them all. I
laughed at him. I cannot help it.
father. am a coquette. 1t is my
nature [ want to make them love
me. l love to hear them say they
love me- and then I laugh at them
All! but you were right father. You
told me should do it once too often:
! have done it now. shall never
laugh again. said Marie with a sob.
did you love him then?' asked
that wicked Jean.
Love him? I am dying of love for
him. shall die unless he comes
back. I can not live without Jean.
On! father never loved any man
but Jean; he is my first and my last
Oh! what shall dop
What answer that rascal, Jean
would have made to this question
wrung from Marie's heart in the ago.
ny of her ren1orse will never be known.
for at that instant the sacristy door
opened and simultaneously Jean
jumped in, bolted out OF the confess
sional almost into the old priests
arms as he came towards it and down
the aisle as fast as his legs would car
ny him
The priest amazed at such extra
ordinary conduct pulled aside the
curtain to see If any one was kneeling
at the grating. saw Marie whom he
recognized, sobbing her heart out
and seating himself in his part asked
in establishment:
MY dear child. what does thi,
mean? Who is that man.
What man. father? I have seen
no one but YOU" sobbed Marie.
But have only just come into
church.
Haven't been conressing to YOU
fathers" said poor Marie in an agony
of terror.
mo. young man in blue jersey
rushed out of the confessional as l
came into church; it looked like Jean
Tissot" said the priest
''Oh. father! I shall die of shame
now. Oh! what will become of me-?
have been confessing to you. as /
thought that I loved him. Oh!
wish l were dead. I would have died
before l would have said what have
just been saying to any one but you"
.'Poor child. Tell me all about it. I"
said Pere Legrand.
So poor Marie made her confession
a second time feeling more shame
and modification than despair this
time.
What shall l do. fatherw she con-
Guided.
Nothing; leave it to Jean to act
But promise me you will forgive
him."
Marie gave the required promise.
and shortly after the priest dismissed
her. telling her to send Tissot to him
if she met him. as he had committed
a very grave sin.
There were several people in the
church now waiting for the service at
seven. but Jean was not amongst
them. Marie finished her devotions.
and then. not knowing whether she
most hoped or feared to meet Jean.
left the church.
It was getting dusk now. bat it
was light enough for her to distingu-
ish Jeans handsome face waiting for
her in the porch as she closed the
church door.
The hot blood rushed into her
J cheeks her heart beat violently; the
end of all things seemed at hand
would the ground open and swallow
her up?
The ground showed no such incli-
nation.
A mans arms opened and folded
her to his heart.
AT last Marie! You can never
deceive me again know the truth
now. No. you shall net stir from
here till you promise to be my wife !"
whispered Jean. kissing her passion