Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-09-06

memories. but she loved it because there
She had known mothers love, there
had made a mothers grave.
In her solitary musings, during her
long hours of toll, the resolution ma
tured with her. Viterbo seemed IN her
recollection Of the long journey from
II UNNECESSARILY far off; far as the very
moon itself. But from shepherds and
cattle drivers she learned the way to
take out of the woods and northWard
to Join the great high-road.
She walked nine miles. over hills and
across streams. 20 meet the public We
hlcle as it passed Roncigiione, and
thence went to Viterbo itself. She had
only a few coins in her pocket, for 1t
was only when she sold little piece of
hempen cloth of her own making that
she got a trife But she had some black
bread in her pocket, and she was used
to meagrn food.
After the green shade OF the forest.
| the cloud Of dust upon the roads and
the gray deso,ate streets seemed to her
very dreary: the city she remembered
with its dancing waters and its glanc-
ing spires seemed to have vanished.
Was the Spirit Of God here more truly
than in the aisles Of pine and smileX? II
vas twelve years since she had been
in these stony places, and her bare
| feet. used TO the moss and the turf,
ached as they trod the granite OF the
streets. But the Ducmo was there, the
temp;e dedicated 70 ST. Laurence,
where she had kne!t when a little child
OF her mothers side whilst the music
OF the Kyr,e Eleison poured overhead.
in sounds winged like birds, which
noated 10 the roof and passed out hea-
vcnward
The great church was silent as she
pushed aside the leathern curtain OF
side door. The day was almost done;
here and there on the pavement kneit
lonely figure; a sacristan moved
no'selessly. lighting the lamps in the
nave. She went to a side chapel, which
she remembered whittier her mother
had always gone: and she knelt there,
q tired dusty. unnoticeable woman. and
she prayed with all the force or her
spirit. Il might be no good. There
might come no answer. But she "ouiu
have done what she could.
tha prayed as women pray FOR tne-r
sick at Loretta and LOurdes.
There was q silver lamp above the al
ta~. Il swaved slowly 10 and fro. She
bowed her head down upon the stones,
and covered her face with her hands.
"Holv ones. take the only thing
have " she murmurad. 81 am poor and
of no account, but hearken unto me.
give Won all I have. Grant HIM MS
hearts desire
And she loosened from her throat
r-tie agate heart. 1t had been her
mothers and it was hung round her
neck by a plated tress Of gray halr.
She laid Il down under the silver lamp
uDon the altar: 1t was her only treas
ure In all the world she had nothing
else Il looked very small, very poor,
very valueess as it lay. dark and worn,
In the light OF the lamp. But she
thought they would not despise = or re-
iect II. They would know it was all
she had.
In little while the church was fully
lighted: the services Of vespers began.
She got up from her knees and walked
away down the SIDE aisle, leaving the
agate heart and the braid OF her moth
er's hair behind her Her throat ached
with silent. hidden weeping.
She slept that night in @ poor place
IN the town that she knew. and left the
gates at daybreak in the public vehicle.
4 hacked close between other women and
screech.ng fowls, and waiting babes.