The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-11-10
cruple came to her for her dreams OF

that she never felt obliged to accuse her.
self to her ccnfessor.
Thus five years rolled by without a
trouble, without a storm. Did the pos
sibility of recovering Emilien ever pre-
sent itself to her spirit? Dreamed she
at moments that it was Emilien and not
the church that she had really espoused,
and that she whom he had espoused was
in very feeble health? AS nothing that
passed in the little town was unknown
in the convent, she knew that Anna and
Emilien had two little girls. Did EN-
mas heart never whisper to her, "Thou
shalt be their mother some day?"
Anna had q sister in the convent. One
day, according to the custom at such
times, prayers were requested by the
women of the community for a relative
of their number, who was dying. The
name of this dying person was repeated
that evening to Emma. She was Anna.
The two little girls, who o had no
mother, were confided to the cart of
their aunt, the nun. Emma assisted her
in attending to them. From this time
Emma experienced a change. She could
scarcely pray. She tried to reclothe her.
self in her haircloth, and she found it
insupportable. The austerities which
were familiar to her became revolving.
She denied herself the communion for
eight days. Her peace was at an end;
her profound piety extinguished. She
believed herself morbid, selfsh-almost
wicked.
At this time she felt obliged to tell all
to her confessor, the chaplain of the con-
vent. He was not a great man, but he
was very sensible. He advised at first
that she should wait; then he saw the
gravity of the evil. After all, Emma
had pronounced no VOWS. She had not
worn the whole costume of the order.
The veil had not Swallowed her forehead.
The chaplain had a benevolent heart.
The sacredness of the confessional for
babe him from consulting his bishop.
He formed his opinion from his own
~reasonings. Convinced that it was for
the salvation of Emma, he confded the
two little daughters of Anna to her per-
sonal care. He hoped also to give an
outlet to the restlessness which began to
disturb her. On these orphans she might
outpour the fullness of her heart.
The father calne to see his little girls,
and Emma conducted them to the parlor.
The shock of seeing him again was ter
rible. She burst into tears. He was just
the same as she had always seen him in
her dreams. AS for her, she was sadly
emaciated. Her excessive weeping de-
prived her of what little strength she
had. Her self control entirely forsook her.
Gazing into her tear dimmed eyes, Emil
len discovered there her love. The good
man, commonplace as he was, at last
comprehended the situation. He had a
very tender heart, and he was profound
ly touched.
Some months after Emma and Emilien
were united in marriage. What no one
had suspected all the world now saw.
The entire community married them.
For the rest Of her life Emma tasted
without a moments intermission the
most perfect felicity that one can dream
of. During 40 years she drifted, as it
were, in a Pacific ocean Of happiness and
love.
Emma and Emilien had eight children.
from whom they never separated the two
daughters CT poor Anna. They brought
them all up well.
Some speak of the storms of love-"
What childishness! Passion has it's in
equalities, but true love has no storms.
The happiness of Emma after she had
won her lover was as a full sea without
tides. Even death was hardly for her.
Life went out because the hour of fin
ishing had come. She died at the age of
70 years, without sickness.
My sister found this a perfect example
of love as she comprehended it. She es-
teemed Emilien the happiest of men.
For him an excellent woman had con-
demned herself to a life of austerity,
giving to him the most complete guaran-
tee of the exclusiveness of her love.
During five years she saw not a single
man. She had accepted with innocent
joy the expectation of an external exclu-
sion. In all battles that come in life
there is a recompense for those alone
who dare. Happiness is like glory. To
obtain it, it is necessary to play high.
One day I hazarded the observation to
my sister, "It was a great deal of devo-
ton to bestow upon a mediocre man."
"Oh, that was no matter" she re-
sponded. "Emilien certainly did not
merit so much happiness, but who does?
See the false idea Of the Partisan men of
letters, who assume that great men only
are worthy of being loved. What child
ishness! You will see some day the
righteousness of all that. All, the heroes
who have saved their country-Iacknowl-
edge they may reward affection, but the
daubers Of canvas, the blotters of paper,
what have they for the heart? What is
a husband who belongs to every one?"-
Translated From the French of Ernest
Renan For Romance.
The Conscience Fund.