The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-27

asked with a face as white as death. and
she had replied Yes" Then he turned
and walked out Of the tOuse-"my house
she mad called it--and she had never seen
him since. "Ah," she cried. ''lf only some
miracle could give me back my lost faith
and happinessi" and then with hurryiRg
fingers she fastened on her hai. and
scarcely knowing what she did. found
herself on her way 10 the little miracle
chapel that hoyeTs like a gray winged
dove on the edge OF the marsh
Ii Is a piteous and quaint little place,
scarcely larger than an ordinary room. In
the corners are piled the crutches and
canes Of those who have found strength
and health. as IL TO perpetually remind
one OF how close death is to life. Black
robed figures ccme and go before the hum
bic altar. and the MANNED, the halt. and
the blind, finding no other healing. come
here to the Great Physician. At the gate
way there was little boy. blind from
childhood, fumbling for a few pennies tied
mp in tie corner OF his handkerchief with
which TO buy candle lie was led by his
brother, hardly bigger than himself. and
their pinehed and wizzened faces and
their ragged clothes bore mute witness to
the deprivatIons and bitter economy BY
which :fey had scraped together their lit
tie hoard
The candle purchased of the sacristan,
they moved forward and knelt before the
altar. From her place near the door she
watched ;he blind boys face lii up by the
radiance of perfect faith. and as they left
she accosted them and CLEANED from them
heir story. Little enough 1t was in good
1ruth-just two waits homeless and
friendless in a great city. one Of them
shut up in the dark prison house Of blind
ness.
"If only Jean could see, madame" ex-
planned the older one, we would be rich.
He could take one route with the papers
and / another But il will be all right
now The good st. Roch viii assuredly
give him his sight. Is it not so?''
"Assuredly." she answered, with some
thing like sob rising in her throat. IL
seemed TO ler as il for the first time in all
her rich. easy, prOtracted existence she
was really touching life. Day after day.
she met the curious and pathetic little
procession at the old chapel. and then one
afternoon a strange thing happened in the
shabby little street where the boys lived.
A carriage drove up TO the door OF the
house in which they lodged. and the
greatest oculist in all the South climbed
up 10 their attic, and when he came down
he led the blind child by the hand
A week later beautiful woman with
hair like FURNISHED gold sat by a white
cot at the Hotel Dieu, holding child :
hands in hers, and on her face a look OF
| eentIeness and peace that none had ever
seen before on the proud face of Alicia
Maitland.
"Ah, madame" the little occupant OF
the cot was saying, "the blessed st. Roch
did hear my prayer after all, and the doc
tor says that tomorrow | am to see" He
was silent for a minute, and then a wist-
| ful look came across his face. Madame
Victor says that your face is like that of
the blessed Virgin. If only l might see
! your face the first"'
For reply, Mrs. Maitland stopped and
| kissed the childish lips Dear little LAD,
| it shall be as you wish, and there are to
/ be no more hard and bitter days for you
/ and Victor" she whispered. and then as
The child drifted off into dreams, he muir
/ INJURED something, and she bent low to
/ listen.
1T is a miracle" he said, "the blind
have been made to see, an
| And the wounded heart made whole
! For me. too, the miracle has been
wrought" she added through her happy
! fears. for hidden under the laces on her
/ breast was a telegram that said that
night, Jack. forgiving and forgiven, was
| to be with her once more.