New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-07


rounded 10y gar
dens, and spoke
to few people.
THIS is the story Of his abrupt transformation
from an active into a wreck That the active
miserable that the wreck was happy and
Is happy still-this may seem strange Possibly
the story wlll make II clear TO some.
Father Sebastian, the rector OF the Passionst
community established al Creighton ST. Marv's,
one OF the loyeIest villages III the midland counties
OF England, his barely furnished cell his
writing table one dull misty morning OF November.
The mail had Just come in. and he Was opening his
letters slowly. His kind grave face changed little
in expression he glanced through their contents.
until he took up the last envelop, which bore for
eign rostrnark. Then he smiled If with pleasant
anticipation. - she has written already he SAID
halt aloud.
Father Sebastian was hall Italian by birth and
had lived long abroad. He loved the sun, and
missed il terribly IN England. But this letter was
from a dear friend, Engshwoman whose spr-
itual director he had been and whom he had re-
Gently married 10 the she loved. They had
gone 70 the south on their honeymoon, and here
already news OF her. But when he looked at
the letter his face changed. Amusement, grief,
chased away the smile that had 1T 1t up he
letter was dated FIVE days before from the Hotel
Royal al Naples and was short:
Ny DEAR FATHER.-I coming back to Creighton
s.. Mary s-alone. When see you VIII tell you why.
don't think you wiz blame YOU understand people
and things 50 well You can't comfort ne-ndeed. IN
deed you can do me no good now And yet long 70 see
YOU speak with YOU. The idea Of being with anyone else
Is horrible TO me am desperately miserable Haveyou
Today feel as / couldn't look anyone IN the face
Y. q.
That day Father Sebastian found it difficult TO
attend to his duties, TO fix his attention upon
his devotions. Familiar as he with human
tragedies, he had been amazed by this letter What
could have occurred between the newly made wife
and husband TO bring about this abrupt return
this tiight-Of the woman he had made wife only
three weeks before, whose passionate love he had
c0usecrated. whose life he had mingled with the
life Of the who loved her,
That night he prayed Tor them both. The fol
lowing Nening he received a summons from the
writer Of the letter. She had arrived at neighbor
ing own and was staying at the inn there. Can
you come 10 me here?" she wrote in pencil. After
all ] ana ashamed TO go to Creighton St. Marys.
Father Sebastian ordered the unclipped and
venerable horse Of the passionsts to he put into
their roughly built country cart, and drove him
self away in the gathering darkness TO the Bull
Inn al Hammersfeld.
When he reached the inn he was shown at once
into UP stairs sitting room, IN which by wood
FIRE woman was standing leaning her forehead
against her hand, which was holding the high oak
maatel shelf. As he came in. she turned round
and her white face flooded with a scarlet that
seemed the scarlet OF shame He took her hand
IN silence When the servant had gone out and
shut the door. she said
Sit down father. Il tell YOU; but don't look
Al me. If you look at me, don't believe, She