The times., 1898-12-25
IN ExTREMIS.


town, that he might die in his own pal
this little village in Guienne, and with
Deaths cold hand on his heart the bishop
knew he would never see another sun
rise.
He did not fear death. The physician
had often acted as herald to the King of
Terrors, but never had his summons been
more calmly received. He had believed
1t would be SO, for from the hour, now
some forty years ago, when Louis de
Feron, the wild mousquetaire, with the
the stormy past, had knelt to receive
deacon's orders in the cathedral of which
he was now bishop, his life had been
stainless. Kindly wise, gently austere,
meekly unselfish, men pointed to him as
a shining light among the greed and
worldliness of the churchmen OF the day.
1t was mean little room TO which he
had been carried to draw his last breath,
the ceiling low and blackened the rot
ting plaster dropping from the walls, the
furniture broken and scanty. The rich
cushions on the bed, taken from the
travelling carriage, and the purple SOU
tame flung over a chair. did but accent
uate its air of sordid poverty OF his
servants, some had been left behind that
their horses might be used for the car
riage, others had been sent on ahead to
prepare for his arrival
There was knock on the door, and
the physician passed around the bed and
opened 1t. Then he came back.
The parish priest Is himself at the point
of DEATH he said, but there is STAYING
with him a regular priest, one Father An
toine. Dominican from Aries, and he
has come in his stead. VIII your lordship
have him admitted?'
Arln
of the dying man, from Arles!' The
name seemed TO bring back some memory
with 1t, and he was silent so long that 1t
was not until the physician had repeated
MS question that he bade him admit the
monk, begging him at the same time TO
offer his own services TO the parish priest
After opening the door the physician
came back to pour some cordial into
glass and place II within easy reach of
ms patient. Then as he turned TO quit
the room he saw the cowled figure sink
on its knees beside the bed. the great ruby
In the episcopal ring flashing In the cam
delight as the bishop raised hfs wasted
hand in benediction.
AS the door closed the monk raised his
head and waited for the bishop to sneak.
His cowl had fallen back, and his features
coarsely sensual without being vicious.
contrasted strangely with the thin. intel
ieSiuai lace OF the SICK man.
The mercy of God said the bishop,
softly, is boundless Is II not, father?''
Surely, my lord" was the smooth re-
ply, 'and for us whom the intercession
OF the Blessed Virgin can scarce keep
from sin II Is indeed a comfortable
thought, but for saint like your lord
ship
A faint smile fiickered over the white
race whittier far than the coarse linen of
the pillow which supported it.
"A saint! Wait, father, until you hear
my confession. You call me saint be-
cause L have not lived in open sin, vet
listen.
Before L left the world loved. after
its fashion, many women. 1 say after its
fashion, for in truth that is not love. AT
last / met one who taught me what love
meant. You have never loved. Father
Antoine?"
Only the Blessed Virgin. my lord an
swered the monk promptly
"Ah, said the bishop slowly, you can
not understond. 1t is almost {, pity"
he was silent for some time, his hands
crossed on his breast When he spoke
again 1t was in so low a voice that Faith
er Antoine saw he was musing and i'm
patiently set himself to value the ruby
OF his ring and the cross of brilliants
which hung from his neck.
Earthly love, the love of the creature
Far lower than the dim beauty of the
beatiiic vision when the struggling soul
seeks communion with the God 1t must
love and yet scarcely dares TO. Yet by
that path came to know Him, for ere
l trod 1t l scarce believed He was.
SO i was brought" he went on after A
short pause, 80 l was brought. 1t was
one evening in the quiet twilight when
she first told me how I was loved. I had
told her long before-an easy thing for A
man-how hard for a woman, Until then
/ had but loved her for her beauty and
her ever-varying woman's nature but thai
night she barred to me her soul; a pure
soul. though she lived In sin with me, and
i saw the white clear flame of love so
intense that it burnt out the grossness of
the passion whence it sprang Then I
knew what love was. and for the first
time since childhood knelt to thank oGd
for His priceless gift. l was so happy /
must needs thank some one and whom
else could l thank? ! had no need to ask
Him for aught, for / had all. Then came
the summons TO my fathers deathbed;
and as / was Fastening back to love and
her / was attacked by thieves and left
for dead, and when, after long weeks, I
sought her. she was gone. God, who had
her to Himself again. / knew 1t must be
SO, for If l had failed to find her she would
have found me. So, since l knew He must
have her in His keeping. 1 sought Him,
and after many days / found Him.
The words died inaudibly away and a
long silence followed Father Antoine
fidgeted noisily and coughed to attract
the bishops attention. At last he arose.
and, going to a little table. lighted two
candles and placed them on 1t. together
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 pious meditations. Yet
the sickness is grievous in this land and
there are many who wait my coming.
If"
With an effort the bishop reused him
self
Il am to blame, father" he answered,
land / crave your pardon. and still more
the forgiveness of those from whom i
have kept YOU. / am ready"
He recited the usual prayers in voice
which grew feebler each moment. with
pauses from failing health. Then he
went on:
And /, Louis de Feron, desire to con-
fess and to as forgiveness of Almighty
God, through the intercession 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,
1 trust, saint in paradise"
The faltering words came TO a sudden
end, for the monk had risen to his eet and
was struggling to speak. All his indiffer-
ence had disappeared; his face wore a
deep flush. the knotted veins stood out on
his forehead. his hands were convulsively
ciasped together as if he feared to have