The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-18
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
of HISTORY
BY Albert Payson Terhune
Abelard and HelOise
Copyright. ~ the AItaor.}

to surround the lecture platform or
rather homely. thickset young man.
hanging breathlessly on his every
word, applauding him to the skies.
The lecturer who commanded such
hattering attention was Pierre Abel
ard, son of a Breton nobleman. Abel
ard was the foremost philosopher and
religious orator of the century. While
mere lad he had upset many of the
older theories and dogmas and had
routed in debate the greatest logicians
of France. At last, in the height of
his fame, he established a school OF
philosophy in Paris. His reputation
had spread throughout all Europe.
Students from every land locked to
hear him.
Il came" he wrote later. Ito think I
was the only philosopher in the
world"
Abelard at that time had lodgings
at the house of one Fulbert. canon
of Notre Dame cathedral. Fuibert had
a niece, Heloise by name. She was
not only beautiful, but was one OF the
best educated women in Paris. Abe
lard was induced to give her lessons
in phil o ophy.
ING Se anu Eeloise when she
wv o''' first met him, was
barely fifteen, but already had the
mature mental powers of a grown
woman. Abelard. who had hitherto
been too much absorbed in study to
think much about women or love
making, was attracted by the girls
wonderful mind, and soon by her
charm of face and manner. He fell
hopelessly in love with her. Ills love
was abundantly returned by Heloise.
to whom the homely young lecturer
seemed the embodiment of all that
was wise, good and beautiful. Her de-
votion to him was boundless and
amounted to blind alteration.
To be near the girl he loved. Abe
lard remained in Fulbert's home and
became regular tutor to the canon S
niece. Wise as the lecturer was in
matters of philosophy. he was a nov.
ice in love affairs, and had scant Skill
in concealing his sentiments. Soon all
Paris was talking of his romantic at
tachment. Pa-tly to silence such
gossip he turned his back on the great
possibilities that lay before him in
the French capital and fed with Hell
Disc to Brittany. His idea was &c
marry her and to settle down with her
to quiet life of seclUsion. Bat the
devoted girl would not at first hear OF
this. She knew how such a course
would hamper his prospects and in
jure his career
At length she WAS prevailed upon
to marry him, but only on condition
that the marriage be kept secret and
that Abelard continue his lectures
etc, as before, unchecked by home
ties She dreaded TO become his
wife, having a vague rresentimen;
that ill-luck would follow. Her fore
bodinGs were destined to come true
Fulbert was informed of the wedding
and was asked to respect its secrecy
Instead (tiattered that his niece should
have won 50 rcGOWned a hus1andl he
at once made tie story public. This
revelation threatened tn defeat Hell
discs purpose Of preventing the mar
riage from interfering with Abelard' 5
husbands interests. she publicly de
MED that she was Abelard's wife
Fulbert was furious at this act Of self
sacrifice and made the poor girls If,
a burden. To escape her uncle's per
secution, as well as to free Abelard
from any care or responsibility fol
her, She ran away from Paris and shut
herseii up in a convent at Argenteuil
Fulbert misunderstood the wife's
noble motive He thought her hus
band had baseiy deserted her. In re
venGe he and some of his relatives
broke into Abe
lards room one
'9S' night, where the.
so wounded and mutilated the unlucky
philosopher that he lay for days al
the point Of death. This catastrophe
changed Abelards whole future
Partly recovering his health, he gave
up his public life and lectures and, t
forget his disgrace and misfortunes
became a monk.
In the monastery he won new reput'
as a writer on philosophical and reli
gious topics. His letters to Heloist
are preserved to this day and are mar
wells of literary skill But. firing o
monastic discipline, he fed to the will
derness, built a hut and lived as
hermit. Even here he was not left il
peace. Students by the hundred cam,
to the wilderness. pitched tents Their,
and induced him to act as thei
teacher
Abe:ard, exerting what influence b,
had with the clergy, succeeded ii
placing Heloise at the head of a con
vent. He had already persuaded he
that she must look on him hencefortl
merely as beloved brother. Obedien,
as ever, to his lightest wish, she cor
sented to this last great sacrifice
From place to place the wretched maj
wandered. until, in 1142, he died
Heloise at once came forward L
claim his body. Soon afterward she
too. died. The lovers so tragicall
parted in life were buried side by side
They still rest in the same tomb a
Pere Lachaise cemetery. in Paris.
Enormous Mushroom