Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-04-09

But then he remembered something
else; he called to mind horrible suffer.
ing which had been caused him by
this same friend. He had supposed
that his wife and his friend were de-
ceiying him, and he had spent years
tortured by frightful jealousy. After,
when they were both dead, he had
learned that his suspicious were
groundless, and in the joy of his dis
covery had forgotten the previous mis-.
cry. But now he remembered it all.
Must all this happen again? This
was not the delight he had expected.
Could he not alter anything. but must
everything be gone through precisely
as 1t had gone through before, and
must he make two lives miserable
again by his cursed stupidity? He
cursed himself for the unhappiness
that he had caused; he groaned as he
thought thct 1t must be all gone
through again; nd it would be ten
times verse, for all the time he would
know that the pain was fruitless, and
yet must be endured: that he was act
ing wrongly, wickedly, ed yet must
act so. oh, what had he don> N thus
begging for his youth?
And when late at night he left the
Burgomaster's house he strobe
through the silent streets thinking all
this time, one by one the events stood
out clearly in his mind. and he re.
membered now exactly what the fu.
Ny,r no. L. CO IT,, -
would quarrel with his brother. and
there would be bitter enmity between
them; true, at last they would come
together, and the reconciliation Hugh
had always looked upon as one Of the
happiest incidents of his life, but so
much pain had to be gone through to
give that moments happiness! And
as he went over each successive step
of his manhood, the joys and pleas
ures of 1t dwindled to nothingness,
and the woes and miseries grew into
mighty things. terrifying to think of.
He laughted at himself; this was not
blessing that the Virgin had given
him, but a curse-a CHASTITY curse.
And as he pictured 1t all he worked
himself into a frenzy of despair, and
in agony he cried aloud.
He ran to the cathedral, and went
into the dark aisle to the chapel in
which was the image of the Virgin. He
fell on his knees at the altar and
opened his mouth to cry out, but there
came from 1t only the dead words of
the passwords of praise and graft.
tude. He struggled against the power
within him, plteously he touched the
hem of the Virgins damask cloak, he
struggled with all his might. and at
last his soul won the battle and his
agony burst the bonds of the flesh.
mo. no." he cried. II win not
have my youth again. Oh, Blessed
Virgin, take back thy gift--I cannot
bear it, am afraid"
why. son. twelve hours have not
passed since | gave thee thy youth.
which thou hadst so greatly desired"
"Ah. Mother, did not know what
asked. Oh, Blessed Virgin, give me
back my age, my old age. with its
hopelessness. its solitude, its GOODNESS.
its weakness, pray thee-as have
ever been a good and loyal servitor
to thee, for thy dear Sons sake, who
rose again this day"
yet didst thou enjoy great happi-
ness, my son. Who tastes great hap
piness in this world tastes also bitter
woe"
Il cannos bear it,"
"And thy life was indeed happier
than most men's-yet II was not hap.
by. But as thou hast ever been 9
good and loyal servitor to me. and for
my dear Sons sake. who rose this
day. I will take back my gift. and
will give thee the only happiness Of
this world. which is unalloyed."
Then he felt a gentle hand pass
over his eyes. and suddenly he knew
that his youth had left him. He sank
on the marble pavement. A strange
voluptuous feeling came upon him.