Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-17

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 absoution; and not ,in-
til she rose to leave the chapel did he
come to himself. Then the full sig
nficance of the situation flashed upon
him, and with it the alternatives.
should he let her 90 unspoken anil
live on as he had. or should he sneak
to her and reawaken in his heart the
old struggle which he had sought so
long to quell?
But. no-therc was no choice. Tho
mischief had already been done. and
he must speak to her, come what NAV.
He followed her from the confessional
and spoke her name, "Emilie." She
turned quickly, and, lifting her VEIL
looked him fun in the face.
Good Cod" she gasped. at 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 api-
tation.
"But-but 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. It is r. the
man whose life you tried TO ruin. whom
you - but pardon Il have no re-
proaches-now. 7 have. through the
grace of God, both forgiven and for
gotten.
But tell me. Emelic." 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 n impa-
tient gesture, she faced him and spoke
impassionately.
True, yes, every word Of IL is true.
God knows loved you nd-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 confusedlv.
"Why--I hardly know-it is SO long
ten long years"
Eyes, il is long" she answered, eager
! ly, "but true love knows no time. All,
Fabrice," her voice was vibrant with
pleading, sis it too late? May we not
yet be happy?"
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 a union as ours is not true
marriage-besides. a separation may
be easily arranged-I am rich"
But it is impossible. No, no! How
can you tempt me! Think am a
priest-my vows"
"What does IL matter? You took
them because you thought you had lost
me. Now, see! 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 lustrous 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
mad schooled himself to despise. On
the other hand. the church, duty, and
that peace which passeth understan nd
ing" In the midst Of the struggle
there came from a distant alcove the
boy choir singing tie Deum." As he
heard, the crisis seemed to resolve IL
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 10
shrink and shrivel away from him. II
was as if great light had been let into
ms soul.
With the decision look Of holy calm
came into his face. The woman saw il,
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 tAe
~,
soon swallowed up in the eddy of street
noises.
Within. the priest stood before the
figure of the dying Christ, his hands
clasped and his face TRANSPORTED with
a holy triumph.-Pacidc Monthly.
Must Recover.
Elabarty-Oi hear MOnahan's tax en-