Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-08-03


chapel of the holy sacrament-the
pope energies. The white figure. high
above the crowd, sways from side TO
side; the hand appraised gives the ben
ediction. Fragile, spiritual as is the
apparatiOn, the sunbeam refnes. sub
tilizes, spiritualizes it still more. It
hOvers like a dream above the vast
multitudes-surely no living mani
but thought. history, faith taking
shape; the passion of many hearts re-
vealed. Up rushes the roar towards
the tribunes.
Lucy-the alien and Puritan Lucy
surrenders herself completely. She
betrays nothing, save by the slightly
parted lips and the futter of the black
veil fastened on her breast; but it is
as though her whole inner being were
dissolving, melting away in the flame
of the moment.
IN proud timidity-as one who feels
herself an alien and on sufferance-
she hangs again upon the uncomfortable
scene.
This is st. Peters; there is the dome
of Michael Angelo, and here. advanc-
ing towards her amid the red OF the
cardinals, the clatter of the guards.
the tossing OF the habella, as though
looking at her alone-the two waxen
fingers raised for her alone-is the
white-rObed, triple-crOwned pope.
And august, unheeding, the great pa
geant swept on. Close, close to her
now! Down sink the crowd upon the
chairs; the heads fall like corn before
the wind. Lucy is bending, too The
paDal chair borne on the shoulders of
the guards is now but a few feet dis
tant; vaguely she wonders that the
old man keeps his balance as he clings
with one frail hand TO the arm OF the
chair, rises ncessantly-and blesses
with the other. She catches the very
look and meaning OF the eyes-the
sharp. long line of the closed and tooth
less jaw. Spirit and spectre-embody-
ing the past, bearing the clue to the fu-
ture.
The pope and his cortege disappear
ed behind the confession, behind the
high altar, and presently Lucy, craning
her neck to the right, could see dimly
in the farthest distance against the
apse, and under the chair of st. Peter,
the chair of Leo XIII, and the white
shadow, motionIess. erect within it,
amid a court Of cardinals and diplo-
mats.
One more moment, however, there
was-very different from the great mo-
ment of the entry, yet beautiful. The
mass is over and temporary platform
has been erected between the comics
sion and the nave. The pope has been
placed upon il. and is about to chant
the apostolic benediction.
The old man is within thirty feet of
Manisty, who sits nearest to the bar
reir. The red cardinal holding the
the group OF guards,
clergy and high Orncials. every detail
OF the pOpe's gorgeous dress, syepery-
line of the wrinkled face and ieshless
hands, Lucy's eyes command them all.
The quayering voice rises into the sud
den silence Of St. Peters. Fifty thou
sand people hush every movement,
strain their ears 10 listen.
Ah! how weak it is! Surely the ef-
fort is too great for a frame so en-
feebled. so ancient. 1t should not
have been e1acted-allOwed Lucy's
ears listen painfully for the inevitable
break. But no!-The pope draws a
long sigh-the sigh Of weakness-C'Ah!
says a woman close to
Lucy, in a transport OF pity)-then
once more attempts the chant-sighs
again-and sings. Lucy's face softens
and glows; her eyes fill with tears.
more touching, more tri-
umphant than this weakness and this
perseverance. Fragile, indOmitable
face beneath the papal crown. Under
the eyes of fifty thousand people tbs
pope signs like a child, because he is
weak and old, and the burden OF his OIL
fee is great; but in signing keeps
perfect simplicity, dignity, courage.
Not a trace of stoicaI concealmenL but
also not a trace Of 1inching. Ell sings
to the end, and ST. Peters listens in
tender hush.
Then there seems to be a moment OF
collapse. The long, straight lips close
as though with a snap, the upper jaw
protruding; the eyelids drop; the
emaciated form sinks upon itself.
But his guards raise the chaTf. anu
the pOpe's trance passes away, He
opens his eyes and braces himself for
the last effort Winter than the gor-
geous cope which falls about him, he
raise himself, clinging to the chair; he
lifts the skeleton fingers of his partly
glOved hand; his look searches the
crowd.