The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-27

SO he accompanied her to the gate of her
home, on the way talking in such charm
ing manner that he had completely won the
daring Bessie.
At the gate he asked permission to enter
the house Bessie demuiTed to this, saying
it was too late, and all her folks were abed
But you are not,s replied the young
man. and Bessie, becoming somewhat scared,
and the young man persisting, escorted him
into the parlor. Here he made himself quite
comfortable. He seemed anxious to talk,
and Bessie seemed unable to rebuff him
further. At last she reused herself and or
dered him politely to leave.
sit is late now,n she told him, land l am
afraid you will arouse my parents. You
may call again, and shall be pleased to see
you.n
At this the young man arose and walked
out apparently offended, for he did not bid
good night
Bessie saw him to the door, and imme-
diately he reached the stoop closed it and
bolted it, making sure everything was Sc
cure The experience had somewhat fright
ened her, and when she began to think of
the actions of the young man she became
greatly disturbed.
She feared to call her parents, lest they
upbraid her for her indiscretion
Not once during the evening had the threat
| OF the old hag crossed her mind.
SEATED AT HER BEDSIDE.
At last summoning courage she hastened
to her own ROOM 1t was only when she
reached the door that she realized that some
thing extraordinary had occurred. Seated
| on the side of her bed was the very young
man whom but few minutes before she had
| seen leave the house. This was too much
for her, and, with scream, she fell to the
floor in faint.
The household was aroused. The mother,
with a mothers instinct, seemed to realize
her daughters danger, for she was the first
| to reach the room Bessie had fallen outside
! the door, so that the mother did not at first
see the man seated on the bedside, but as
she stopped over her daughter Bessie opened
her eyes and, pointing to the bed, ex-
| claimed
Mother, drive that man away"
| The mother looked towards where her
| daughter had pointed and then arose as if to
| enter the ROOM As she turned she uttered
a most unearthly yell, and falling upon her
daughter and clasping her to her breast,
cried OUT
THE cLovEN FEET
"My God. my child, it's the devil. See the
| cloven feet"
At this Bessie became hysterical The
| father had come upstairs, but the mother
forbade him entering the room.
run for the priest. Go bring Father
Kelly" cried the excited mother, and the
husband obeyed her. Bessie had become
almost crazed. She writhed in agony. Her
countenance became contorted. The fond
mother kept a firm clasp of the girl, but it
| was only with mighty effort that she was
| able to keep her from dashing her brains out
on the floor The devil, or man, whatever
he was quietly sat on the bedside, calmly
| looking at the mother and daughter, smiling
as if he was pleased at his work. Bessie
screamed and writhed in her mothers arms.
The mother prayed aloud, holding the girl
as best she could.
1t was some minutes before the father re-
turned with Father Kelly, SO the story goes,
and the sight which met their eyes was
something terrible.
Bessie's countenance was most horribly
contorted She screamed and tore at her
face and doubled herself up almost into a
roll. The mother, breathing heavily and
nearly exhausted, prayed aloud, calling
upon God to end her daughters agony, and
beseeching him to drive the devil from her
home.
POWER TO EXERCISE.
The Catholic Church claims the power to
exercise evil spirits from possessed persons.
In the Roman ritual form of ceremony is
prescribed A priest has to get the consent
of the Bishop before he can perform the
office. In this case it was doubtful whether
the girl was possessed of the evil spirit or
not Father Kelly. the story runs, was not
able to judge, or at least did not like to be-
lieve that such was the case. He fell on his
knees and prayed aloud for the suffering
girl. She became somewhat quiet, but the
horrible contortions of her face continued
Father and mother, kneeling beside the
priest, joined in the prayer. They rected
the Litany repeatedly, but one hour passed
and there was no change in Bessie's con-
dition.
The devil still sat quietly at the bedside.
Another hour the good priest and the
loving father and mother poured out their
supplica tions to God, ilnploring the inter-
nf hQ ircrit1 fba Soin
of Heaven.
At the end of the second hour, no change
being noticeable in the girls condition
Father Kelly, SO the story is told, sent the
father for Mgr. de Concilio. He could judge
whether the girl was possessed OF not
Father Kelly and the mother continued their
prayers.
MGR. DE CONCILIO ARRIVES.
When Mgr. de Concilio arrived he found
sad condition The girl had become some
what quieter, but still continued those hor-
rible contortions of the face
The devil set at the bedside and seemed
careless of all surroundings.
All feared to approach him. After care
fully noticing the girls condition, Mgr.sde
Concilio concluded she was possessed of the
evil spirit, and Immediately began the ser
vice of exorcism. For thirty minutes the
responses This formula of exorcism was
repeated many times
PRAYER
II exercise thee, most impure spirit, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to uproot
thyself and fly from this creature of God
He Himself commands thee Who from the
highest parts of heaven to the lowest parts
of the earth caused thee to be cast down He
Himself commands thee Who commanded
the sea, the winds and the tempest. Hear,
therefore, and fear, Satan, foe of the faith,
enemy of the human race, producer of death,
ravisher of life, warper of justice, root of
evils, kinder of vices seducer of men, be-
trayer of mankind inciter of hatred direc-
tor of avarice, cause of discord, EXETER of
griefs; why do you stand and re-
sist when you know Christ the
Lord will bring your ways to naught!
Fear Him Who inundated Himself
in Isaac, who was sold to Joseph, killed in
the Lamb, crucified in man, finally conquer
or of hell. Depart, therefore, in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit Give place to the Holy Spirit
through this sign of the Holy Cross of Jesus
Christ. who with the Father and the same
Holy Spirit, lives, world without end.n
BESSIE BECAME QUIET.
Other prayers were said, and at last
Bessie became quiet. She seemed as if in a
sleep, only occasionally showing signs of
suffering
The devil still sat at the bedside, but he no
longer appeared unconcerned Instead he
seemed intently gazing at Mgr de Concilio,
and in such position that seemed to lndi-
cate that he wanted to spring at the throat
of the good Monsignor.
Priests and father and mother continued
flntrs rrlo min