The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-07

band and wife were alike astonished
doctor, but tall stranger in clerical
and took Aubrey's hand.
IT heard that you were seriously
ill, and thought that you would like
to see me-"
Aubrey motioned to. his wife and
she left the room Then he turned
almost fiercely on the young priest:
Father Vogt, do you know the pen
atty you will have to pay for this
visit?"
81 do" was the quiet answer.
Aubrey regarded him some moments
in silence, then with slow emphasis on
each word asked, do you know that
you have signed your death warrant?"
There was no wavering the blue
eyes that looked into the brown ones
of the artist. There was no tremor
in the firm voice that answered, ST am
absolutely certain of it.
Aubrey fell back among the pillows
and covered his face with his hands.
He seemed to forget the others pres
ence. 1t was some minutes before he
again looked at the priest.
What is your object in making this
this awful sacrifice?"
II want an opportunity to earn the
aureole which you gave me in your
portrait of st. Anthony" smilingly
rejoined the priest.
"Supposing that I should die as
| lived?"
even then should not consider my
visit useless. You told me once that
| you were baptised Catholic, and
consider it simply duty to try to
reconcile you to the Church from
which you have wandered. If do not
succeed, my visit will not be in vain,
| for my duty will have been accom-
plished"
"Could you not have sent someone
| for whom the visit would not have
such fatal consequence"
Possibly, did not learn from the
doctor that you had expressed dis
tinct wish to see me-
! 81 don't understand can't-let me
think few minutes, please. I am con-
siderably upset.
| Father Vogt withdrew to recess in
the window where he occupied him
self with his breviary. The light of a
new understanding began to dawn on
Aubrey, and in the illumination it
afforded he was forced to admit that
here was something which his sophis-
try did not dare challenge con-
crete, tangible proof of the supernat-
ural against which his cherished ma
terialistic idols were shattered into
fragments.
He looked at the kneeling figure,
and marked again the features which
had first attracted him-the bold,
white forehead, the thin, straight nose,
the chiselled lips and chin. Such a
face and form combined with his
talents might have won him an en-
viable place among his fellowmen. Do
nestle happiness, wealth, renown,
might have been his portion, but he
had rejected those glittering possibili-
ties, and had chosen instead an oh.
scure corner in Norman Square, there
to minister to the wants of the poor
and wretched.
When the priest knelt, like some
medieval saint" the artist thought
the morning sunlight lent an added
CLINT of gold to the yellow head bowed
4 in silent prayer for the return Of the
lost sheep for whose ransom he had
4 forfeited his young life.
"Father!"
The priest came quickly to the bed.
side.
Father, my emotions are beyond
expression. I can only say that your
devotion has uprooted my lifelong con.
victions, leaving in their place an in
tense longing to know and love the
Master for Whom you have given UP
ALL"
This was the moment for which
Father Vogt had prayed. Taking the
two hands of the sufferer in his own
he spoke SO feelingly of the divine
. mercy and compassion, that Aubrey
wept, as men weep only when they are
intensely moved. The sacrifice was
complete; it's end attained; and
Heaven rejoiced in awarding another
penitent's crown, another martyrs
} palm.
In the center of the Catholic GENE
terry at Norman Square there is a
beautiful marble cross, which marks
!; the last resting place of Father Felix
Vogt. Tt is the tribute of a grateful
people to a beloved priest.
The Christian symbol casts its
shadow on the surrounding graves as
, if in benediction, but caressingly, pro
tectingly, it seems to linger on one
!. particular grave whose modest head
stone bears the inscription:
LESTER AUBREY,
Aged 20 years.
Requiescat in pace.
| IT r Rant in Catholic