New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18

and when. after long weeks. sought her she
was gone. God, who had given me that great
gift OF her love. had taken her to Himself again.
knew il must be so. for if had failed TO find
her she would have found me. So. since knew
He must have her in His keepinG. sought Him,
| and after many days found Him"
The words died inaudihy away and long 81
lence followed Father Antoine fdgetcd noisily
and corghed 70 attract the Bishops attention.
At last he arose and going to little table
lighted two candles and placed them Oh il, to-
Gcthor with sundry other matters he had
brought with him. Then he came back TO the
, bed.
MY lord" he said in his low. unctuous tones,
God forbid that should disturb your lordships
plous m"ditations. Yet the sickness is gricvous
in this land, and there are many who wait my
coming If
With effort tie Bishop reused himself
81 am to blame. father, ne answered and
crave y-ur pardon. and still more the forgive
ness Of those from whom have kept you. am
ready"
He recied the usual prayers in voice which
grew feeblor each moment, with many pauses
from failing breath Then he went on.
And !, Louis Dc Ferol desire to confess and
10 ask forgiveness OF Almighty God through
the interccssion OF His Son. the Blessed Virgin.
and The Holy Saints. for grievous sin heretofore
unconfessed committed by me against Him, and
against His servant, Lucie Merlon now, trust,
a saint in paradise'--
The faltcring words came to sudden end, for
the monk had risen to his feet and was strug-
Cling to speak. All his indifference had dsap-
peared his face wore deep flush, the knotted
veins stood out on his forehead his hands were
convulsively claspcd together as if ne feared to
have them free and fierce hate blazed in tn.
eyes beneath the heavy eyebrows
You YOU YOU" he cried in a sifled voice.
Then as il his reason had at length handed
weapon to his hate-"A saint! "a saint in para
disc, your lordship says She lived in sin, she
died in sin and her guilty soul will lie III the
flames OF hell forever and ever''
you knew her." asked the Bishop II seemed
that in the presence of death the others
violence passed unnotiCed by him
"She was my sister after the flesh Father
Antoine answered: Il was AT my convent when
she came home to hear her child-your child. my
Lord Bishop that was to bo. While she was III
the pains Of labor there came a report that you
were dead. and il killed her. The child was born
dead-weM for it,-and she died the SAME day
They sent for me, ard brought the Host that
her sinful soul might be spared the greater dam
to his account without a priest. and SO will /
she said impiously. If h" has gone 10 suffer in
hell ne will need me all the more to comfort him.
and | know can do that would have
wrought earnestly with her for her souls wei
fare for she was dear to me. but the women
thrust me from the chamber. saving it was use
less She presently died with her dead baby IN
her arms VIII your lordship finish your con
fession@" he asked formally.
The Bishop shook his head.
Not now, father" he cad. Il am too weak.
and il is the hour for vespers Is 1t not
Come again when have rested a little
For moment the monk stood as if IN hesita-
ton. then ne turned sullcnly round and went
away
The dy ing man reached out his hand and with
infinite trouble drank "A few drops Of the cordial
Her brother.' he muttered, "Lucie's brother,
And that was how she died? Is il all real
wonder or the delirum that comes before the
end?"
He strove to replace the cordial on the table
but the effort was too much for his strength, his
arm fell heavily on the bed and the glass shat
tered on the floor.
1t is near at hand now ne murmured and
then shall know Have indeed confessed as
a sin that which for long years have kept in
my heart? Impute IT. o Lord, besetch Thee,
to the weakness of the body. How else could
have thrown Thy morcics in Thy face. how else
have asked pardon for that which brought me
TO Thy feet without which had not known
Thee?
And now o All-compassionate Father. deal
with the soul OF Thy servant as Thou didsi deal
with the soul of the woman he loved. Amen"