The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1902-03-14

dorm
of feeling too intense for utterance.
The first information of the woman's
voice had thrilled and dazed him. At
first he discredited his senses: but
slowly and painfully the fact forced
itself upon him that he was listening
to the drama of his own life-that the
woman kneeling before him was she
for whom, nearly ten years ago. he
had renowned the life of pleasure and
ambition and sought the seclusion of
the priesthood, and whose face he
never expected to look upon again.
And now an inscrutable fate had
brought her to him, and he had heard
from her own lips that she had loved
him, and loved him yet.
Like one in trance he went through
the formula of absolution; and not un-
til she rose to leave the chapel did he
come to himself. Then the full sig
nificance of the situation flashed upon
him, and with it the alternatives:
should he let her 60 unspoken and
live on as he had, or should he speak
to her and reawaken in his heart the
old struggle which he had sought so
long to quell?
But, nO-there was no choice. The
mischief had already been done, and
he must speak to her, come what may.
He followed her from the confessional
and spoke her name Emile" She
turned quickly, and, lifting her veil,
looked him full in the face.
"Good God" she gasped. cit is you
-Fabrice!" Her face went white. and
she reeled slightly, one hand extended,
as if to ward off a threatening horror.
'Yes, it is I-Fabrice" He grew
more self-contained as he saw her agi-
tatiOn.
"But-but I thought you dead-ten
years ago" She passed her hand over
her eyes, as if to clear away the mys-
terry that impended
''No, there is no mistake. 1t is I. the
man whose life youtried to ruin, whom
you - but pardon Il have no re-
prOaches-now. l have, through the
grace of God, both forgiven and for
gotten.
"But tell me, Emelie." He went close
to her and looked deep into her eyes,
wide with awe. "Tell me, is it true.
what you said-you loved me, and not
this other man?"
Her eyes dropped before his and she
turned half away-then, with an impa-
tient gesture, she faced him and spoke
impassionately
True, yes, every word of it is true
God knows loved you then-and-love
you-yet."
A new light had illuminated her
eyes, the light of yearning love, and
the hope of happiness.
"And you, Fabrice,' she said, softly,
"have you forgotten?"
''Forgotten?" He replied confusedIy.
WHY hardly know-it is so long
ten long years.
eyes, it is long" she answered, eager
ly, "but true love knows no time. All,
Fabrice," her voice was vibrant with
pleading, els it too late? May we not
yet be hRppy?"
'But your husband-he is living,
and
Eyes, but he is a broken-dOwn old
man now, and we have never loved each
other. Such union as ours is not true
marriage-besides, a separation may
be easily arranged am rich"
But it is impossible. No, no! How
can you tempt me! Think am a
priest-my vows"
'What does it matter? You took
them because you thought you had lost
me. Now, see! 1 give myself to you"
AS she spoke she threw back her
long mantle and slowly held out her
arms to him. She was doing all in her
woman's power to win him to her. Her
half-pursed lips, her Iustrous eyes, her
Outstretched arms, every line of her
figure was wooing him back to the love
of his youth.
The man fairly writhed under the
agony Of the conflict that was rife
within him. On the one hand lay the
world, pleasures, love, life, all that he
had sehooled himself to despise. On
the other hand, the church, duty, and
that peace which passeth understand
ing" In the midst of the struggle
there came from a distant alcove the
information of mighty organ and
boy choir singing "Te Deum." Ashe
heard, the crisis seemed to resolve it
self-the way was clear before his feet.
The hollow world and its life of tinsel
and vanity lost its glamour. And the
wOman-whO was she with her shallow
beauty and slender passion to tempt
him from his duty? She seemed to
shrink and shrivel away from him. 1t
was as if a great light had been let into
his soul.
With the decision look OF holy calm
came into his face. The woman saw it,
and knew that she had lost. With a
choking sob she stopped and kissed his
hand, then drew her cloak about her
and swiftly left the cathedral. There
was the click of a closing door, a word
of command, and then the rattle of tie
vehicle, and the hoofbeats, which were
soon swallowed lin the eddy of street
noises.
Within, the priest stood before the