The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-11

frzysd froa loag usage. steel frames foe
limbs crippled frO@ th1Gh 70 ankle. iron
boats for misshaDen Feet. stesi c0rests and
hands for spinal deformffies, knee rests.
p.liowA bardagss. even ear trvmpets-an
kinds and every character Of mechanical
conrrfvancea for human sufferers. Thsa.
and diamonds ana j<weiry Of the rich. have
been left behind by rejoicing pilgrims -
yotive offerings 70 the good Ste. Anne.
But ATong - the faith Of the crecent
and imaginative Trench-Canadisn II. and
strange - many q the stories Of the
miracles pefsermsd By 0ts. Anne may BE-.
there sometimes comes . pilgrim 10
Beaupre whom al the prayers Of the priest
and all the venera:son Of the SACRED relics
and piteous incarnation Of the saint and
kissing OF the potent finger bone viii no.
and cannot heal. Seldom y this darker sice
OF the coin showed to the world. though
often enough among the everyday comedy
OF BeAupse there falls the shadow Of
tragedy. A couple OF summers ago. when
was lettering about the village ] re-
member how the arrival Of two pilgrims
from . little village near Montreal threw
the pension IN a nuttsr OF excitement. One
Of the pilgrims was Q girl. and she Vas
dying, the villagers said. and had been
brought 10 Beaupre AZ the last chance.
She WAS tell. psis-facsd girl. with two
crimson spots burning significantly o. her
hollow cheeks. Her dark eyes were lumi-
nous and unnaturaily large. but for all her
eYnaciAted appearance. she vas stIll beau
tifuI woman. The morning that she was
taken 70 the shrine IN q wheeled chair .
number Of slghtssers gathered In the big
church 10 witness the expected miracle.
A the two strangers entered and walked
slowly up the wide aisle. the sightssers
could see that the woman was suffering In
tenseIy, for she leaned heavily on the
swarthy- skinned robust-looking French.
man, who II was claimed on different aides.
was either her husband or her father. The
woman was too weak 10 walk or stand
alone, 90 q chair was brought and placed
before the statue Of the saint, Just at the
upper end OF the main aisle. The hollow
checked woman sank YEARLY into the
seat. Then the officiating priest. who was
by no means 4 paIe-faced and visionary
recIusc. stepped forward from the altar.
where he had to AL appearances been en-
gagged IN silent prayer. and hurriedly quss-
his companion. In very much the same way
that practicing physicion would question
patisnt While this conversation was
going on ! could see the glowing eyes OF
the unfortunate woman fixed piteously on
the priest. Only too well she seemed TO
know that this Was her last chance, that
the saint who stood above her. holding
child In one arm and In the otherO branch
at lilies. was her last earthly refuge.
When the priest turned TO her. and In
low, quiet voice questioned her regarding
her illness (for with him II was an old.
old storyD the way in which she placed
her long. thin hand on her sunaen bosom
told eioQuently enough Of the wasting dis
ease that burned within. There was an
uneasy movement among the Whispering
sIghtseers at the back Of the church. and
q sudden crowaing OF the more curious
closer I'D to the crowded aisles. Several
times the woman seemed to b. on the point
OF fainting from sheer weakness. but each
time she closed her trembling lips and
turned her eyee stSadfastiy ON the face Of
the saint Then tho priest bgan read
Ing In q deep. slow voice from n printed
card In his hand. frequently making the
sign Of the cross When he had ceased
chanting he handed TO the woman tie
large ring In which IL carefully preserved
the finger hone Of the mother Of tho Vir-
gin. The sacred relic was protected BY =
glass covering. The suffering woman took
II feverfahiy and passed the holy treasure
rapidly across her chest. then touched II
to her burning forehead and her dry lips.
Then came the supreme moment.
How DO you feel now?" asked the priest,
kindly.
Better. father came the low response.
To complete tho miracle II In deemed
necessary for the suppiiant 70 walk un-
aided 20 the foot Of tho sta.ue Of Ste. Anne
and there touch the sacred relic with the
lips. painful hush fell on tho crowded
church. The statue was some eight or
ten PAGES away. and. as the woman slowly
and painfully rose to her feet her thin
face WAS a. white a. the marble of the
statue itself Her shining eyes were turn
ed up with a pitiful appeal to the stone
face OF the saint. for 10 her life or death
hung upon her strength during that NOM
ent. She took three tottering steps for
ward. wavered and with little gasp fell
forward on her face.
There was q teii-tais bioodssain on the
stone noor 81 the church: and tho audi.
ence shusfed noisily out. There was TO
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