The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-05-02

lance. Only the memory or Wondrous
voice remained to haunt my waking,
sleepless moments.
When we passed out into the air again
Mere Angelo grasped my arm.
you were fortunate that was Mere Ce-
leste who sang. She has a marvellous
voice. Is IL not so? And she has his
tory too, poor soul.
she sighed, for she had a sympathetic
heart. this dear little Mere Angelo.
"A history" l repeated. with delight for
I have worldly mind and like to hear
these fragments of personal recollection.
All yes" she went on. dreamily, as we
walked II remember hearing the story at
! the time when she made her confession. 1t
was very sad" And she shook her head
sorrowfuy. Mere Angelo is easily touch
ed by the woes of others. She lives her
placid. kindly life amongst her pupils and
goes in and out among her neighbors
freely, for she has a light hand and a
slxillful manner. and can do many a deed
of kindness here and there for the Ur-
sulines have marched with the time,
and permit good deal of liberty to the
sisterhood
you see how they live. said Mere An
gee. waving her hand backward in the di-
rection OF the convent we had just left.
Mere Celeste was a brght-eyed girl be-
fore she joined these sisters. She was the
center of circle distinguished by birth
breeding and gayety. And she was favor
ed too. for she not only loved but was be-
loved in return. I have seen her lover
myself He WIS a very handsome man.
with an air of distinction about him which
drew everyone s attention. as a matter OF
course. Then he was a soldier. an officer
of the kaiser's. and | suppose that was
/ charm of it's own for some eyes. It had
/ for Mere Celeste. only she was not Mere
| Celeste in those days, you know. oh, she
was very happy. and so full of joy that II
4 did you good to look at her. Then, my
! friend. the war broke out, and the next
news we had was that he was ordered
| away to the front. 1t was sad, of course,
and it gave her great sorrow. For my
part do not know If men are worth the
tears we shed over them or the agony we
! feel on their behalf"
l knew Mere Angeles opinion of old, so
| smiled in reply and shook my head
"Ah Mere Angelo, thoughts differ on
this subject"
True. they do. We do not all think
alike. For my part, agree with ST. Paul;
! others do not share my views My friend
in the past wept and moaned. but her lover
went with his men and she was left
alone"
She paused so long that wondered.
Did he ever return? Was he killed.
Mere Angele?"
"Oh, no. He neither came back, nor was
he killed He was wounded. however,
and taken to the hospital"
poor fellowl
Il uOn I Know ABOUT that. she looked
grave. ''tIe is not to be pitied. There was
a certain young lady who had volunteered
to nurse the wounded, and she tended him.
Oh. my dear, men are curious"
What did this one do?"
He transferred his affections-it seemed
an easy affair in his case and he forgot
my friend the girl who loved him. and
who was waiting and praying for him
daily before the shrine of Our Lady of Sor-
rows He forgot her. for. when he was
well enough, he married this young lady
who had nursed him. and returned no
more to the town where he had left his
old love"
And she?" I asked breathlessly. 1 was
young-and to the young the sorrow OF
loving is ever dear. They win tear lol
tear aud sigh for sigh.
Afterward the thoughtful ones among
us grow into cynics. We see so much life
we cease to he enamored of human nature
pure and simple We seek, like Mere An
gele. to disparage the race when it runs
counter to our wishes or our plans
l was young; therefore l was disposed tC
lament.
And She" I asked. my voice quivernf
over the sad history of Mere Celeste
short-lived spell of happiness.
"She nearly broke her heart" said Mer,
Angelo shortly He was not worth it,
know, but what will you? These girls
these girls, they do not understand. 1t il
the way of some men. out of sight out o
mind oh, the pity and the shame of it!
! saw her soon afterward. and il was as #
2 great storm OF sorrow and anguish ha'
{ passed over her soul, bending it-bOwing i
even as reed by some inland lake f.
bent by the passing of some bitter tenn
t pest of wind and rain.
, when the pain had done its work sh
S came TO the White Sisters, and haN
never seen her since. You would obserV
/ that none of their faces was visible. w
/ know and discern them by their voice
r alone. and how they sing II is beclus
I of the silence of their lives.
S They never speak. or chat about trihes
as even we do sometimes, I greatly feal
! ! But they sing And who can forget thei
singing, Poor Mere Celeste"
Poor Mere Celeste"
e "Ah. you say that nowl Yes. 7 agree
] | But she is doubtless happy. With the stie
r. malta of a deep sorrow stamped upon bot
e piness or contentment to be found in TN
Y services of the church. beneath tn
r. shadow of the cross. and there Mere Ce
G leste has found it. My friend, it will b
e a glad day for her when she eXchang'
this existence for the freedom and perfeC
n love of heaven"
- And then Mere Angelo and turned
n at the peaceful gate Of the Ursuline cor
+ vent. and left the glare of the streets an
T the noise and dust of the city behind.
u Il shall say prayer for Mere Celeste,
o she whispered, ere we parted.
And l. as I steal into the shades of S
p Ursule's chapel lneel also to ask for
Y measure Of peace for the troubled sou
l. The haunting echoes of the song of prais
q are I'm my ears still 1 seem once more
hear the rise and fan of that gloriol
% voice. and the slender FORM with whit
l. hooded head appraised, rises before me
% pray. The passion history of a soul. WI