Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-06-10


"Was that q punishment when ! los
my soul? don't see how 1t can be
Furnishing Is hurting. isn't III 40"
can be punished when nothing hurts
mer'
But 1t ought to- You must feel 1t"
"But | can't. Don't you see? | am
dead. The candles are lighted for me.
| don't know where my soul IL. | lost
It when died If you do that you
can never find 1t again. There was the
forest. and followed him and found
him there. And | loved him very
much. That Is why died. | think
~ the time. you see. and ! have
found out that If you love any one
very much you must lose your soul
for it and die"
Mile. de valette shook her head SLOW
ly. Tears came to her eyes.
Broken wings! murmured the
priest.
"Why do you cry?" the empty voice
asked. That's only one Of Gods ways.
isn't itT'
Gods ways!" cried Mile. de Valette
Gods punishment Of sin"
The priest turned upon her.
Goods wayi" he cried vehemently.
"Do you think worm In the dust can
understand why man rides by? Do
you think that because we can see the
beginning Of one of Gods thoughts our
little minds can follow to the end OF
what he is thinking? Down here in the
dust we call them Gods ways, but
they are only mans mistakes. Down
the river there were men-God's crea-
lures, brothers they should have been
killing each other! And they killed
this boy! There's one old man over
yonder so filed with phantoms and
cobwebs and the ghosts of things that
shouldn't have been that he lets his
pride murder the father In him. And
the two crimes together are destroy
ing this child. You call that Gods
wayY he demanded almost fercely
I'll tell you one thing ! know about
Gods way, by faith! That he never
punished the good love. and say to
you this was good love! 1t came to
her Just as a rose comes to Its bush
in spring; she had right to II as
much as the tree to its blossoms, and.
like them. 1t was good. l tell you there
was no fault In her that will offend
God. and In the end he will give her
peace"
Now 1t came to pass that Crawley.
the recruit Of the shock hair and the
nerveless spine. had lied. The massa
ere that he said he had seen had been
no massacre. The defeat had been a
victory. While the others had fought
shoulder to shoulder. he had lain jowl
by jowl with Fear deep In the forest
And that Fear had breathed into his
ear the things that he had come back
to tell-breathed SO insistently that he
who listened had come to believe them
almost as so.
Gilbert Steele came back from the
battle. for the blow that struck him
was not deadly-came back with joj
In his heart and gladness In his eyes
came back to Madelene-Madeleine DE-
Valette. In the village they told hin
where she was. They would have told
him more. but he would not wait, and
wonder was buried under anticipation
Going. be met the gypsy woman who
had wrought the administrations
She had come with the news. 1t was
In her to do what little she might III
atonement Stopping him. she said /
"M'sieur Gilbert, you must go to tn"
chapel Of valette and pray for her."
"She is not deadv' be cried hoarscly |
She shook her head. "No." she said
Then, tensely: Listen! I know this
The old people taught me when ! wa
a child that when soul Is lost the
one who loved 1t most shall go to the
place where it was lost and pray for
1t to come back. Go to the chapel at
valette. There you will see the can
dies that her father keeps burning for
her There she lost her soul. You
loved her most. Pray for her there" |
He cried, in the petuance Of fear:
what fOolishness are you talkingT"
ut is true" she replied. IF you are
the one who loved her most pray for
her there. and the miracle will be
granted. Oh. beg you to do it, pas
sionately. my own soul will not rest
until you have! Go to Valette-to her
and pray"
So Gilbert went He found her
there In the great room Of Valette. !
OMara was there. and her father, but
of them he took little heed. for When |
he saw her he started forward, arms
outstretched.
"Madeleiner' he cried chokiI ely.
She looked at him.
"Yes?" she said
He said hoarsely:
"You're angry with me-"
She shook her head
But" he persisted eagerly, yet pus-
zled, you aren't glad to see me-"
no"
He drew back a little. white, stun
ned.
"You-you don't love me?' he whis-
pered. Then. "You changed so quick
ly."
Empty voice said slowly:
"Yes; l think that Is 1t. rye
changed-l changed when Gilbert
died" His face went yet more white.
She went on: II lost my soul then.
1t went away from me at the altar.
l think it must have gone with Gill
bert's."