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


TO reach his cathedral town that he might die in
his own palace. but Death had overtakcn him in
this little village in Guicnnc and with Deaths
cold hand on his heart the Bishop knew he
would never see another sunrise
He did not fear death The physician had Of
Ten acted as herald to the King OF Terrors but
never had his summons been more calmly re-
ceiVed lie had believed it would be So for from
the hour now some forty years ago. when Louis
de Feron the Wild mousquetaire with the stormy
past had knel to receive deaoon's orders in the
cathedral OF which he was now Bishop his life
rad been stainless. Kindly wise, gently austcre,
meekiy unsefsh, men pointed to him as shin
Ing light among the greed and wor dliness of the
churchmen Of the day.
1t was a mean little room to which ne had
been carried to draw his last breath the ceiling
low and blackened, the rotting plaster dropping
from the walls the furniture broken and scanty.
The rich cushions on the bed. taken from the
travelling carriage, and the purple soutanc flung
over chair did but accentuate It's air Of sordid
poverty. OF his servants. some had been left
behind that their horses Dlrh he used for the
carriage others had been sent on ahead to pre-
pare for his arrival.
There was knock on the door. and tho physi-
clan passed around the bed and opened it. Then
he came beck.
'The parish priest is himself at the point Of
death" he said. but there is staying with him
a regular priest one Father Antoine. Domini-
from Aries. and ne has come in his stead.
Will your lordship have him admitted"
From Arles," repeated the feeble voice Of
the dying man, from Arlesi' The name seemed
to bring back some memory with il. and ne was
silent long that il not until the physi-
elan had repeated his question tn IT ne iade him
admit the monk. begging him at the time
to hasten 10 oher his own services to the parish
priest. After opening the door the ply stefan
back to pour some cordial into glass and
place it within easy reach of his patient. Then
as he turned to quit the room he the cowled
figure sink on ts knees beside the bed the great
ruby in the episcopal ring flashing in the candle
light as tho Bishop raised his wasted hand in
bcnediction.
As the door closed the monk raised his head
and waited for the Bisnop t. speak His cowl
had fallen back and his features coarsely SEN
sual without being vicious Contrasted strangely
with the thin. intellectual face Of the sick man.
The mercy Of God said the Bishop softly,
81. boundless. Is il not. father"
Surely my lord was the smooth reply. and
for US whom the inter ccsson OF the Blessed
Virgin can scarce keep from sin ii is indeed
comfortab bic thought. but for saint like your
lordship''-
A faint smile hickered over the white face
whittier far than the coarse linen Of the pillow
which supported il.
"a faint, Wait. father until you hear my
confession. You call me saint because nave
not lived in open sin, yet listen!
before left the world loved after its fash
Ion. many women. say after its fashion Tor III
truth that is not love. AT last ! met one VINO
taught me what love meant You have never
loved Father Antoine"
"Onlv the Blessed Virgin. my lord, answered
the monk promptly.
An" said the Bishop slowly you cannot u''-
crrstand 1t is amos, pity"
He was silent for SOM time, his hands crossed
On his breast When he spoke again II was III
60 low a voice that Father Antoine saw he was
,nusinp and impationtly set himself 10 value
the ruby Of his ring and the cross Of briliiants
which hung from his neck.
"Earthly love the love Of the creature. Far
lower than the dim beauty Of the tcalIhc VISION
when the struggling soul seeks communion with
the God it must love and yet scarcely dafes to
Yet nv that path | came to know him Tor ere
I trod il | scarce believed He was
$50 was brought" lac went on AFTER SNORT
pause 80 ] brought. II was one evening
In the quiet twilight when she first tolo me now
I was loved. | mad told her long befoit-an easy
thing for a man-hOW hard for a woman rntil
then | had but loved her for her beauty and her
VARYING womans nature but that night
she barred 10 me her soul; pure soul. though
she lived in sin with me. AL saw the white
.,oar flame Of love SO intense thai il burnt out
the grossness Of the passion wher ce II sprung.