El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-11
TWo Miracles
A short Story.

n HOTHER BATHORA mounted the
M steep path leading to the church
of the village of Bitti The
image OF the holy virgin in this church
was famous all over Sardinia, and hun
dreds of people hoping for a miracle
were hUrTying to Bitti today.
Mother BathOra herself every week
went up to the church and PRAYED fer
vently before the image begging that
the mother would make her only daugh-
ter. SadUrra. who against her parents
viii had married poverty-stric6en PeppO
Nicglla. come to her senses and break
with him. for mother Bathora belonged
to one of the richest families in Sar-
DINA She had hoped to see Sadurra
the wife of a rich noble husband, and
her disappointment was so bitter that
she had so far stUbbornIy refused to
give the young couple her maternal
blessing.
Mother Bathora entered the crowded
church yard. Everybody WAS greatly
excited. Something unusual must have
happened.
what Is the matter2" mother Ba-
thora asked her neighbOr.
a young girl has been possessed of
the devil she answered. After mass
the priest viii read over her. Perhaps
the virgin viii work miracle"
And the woman told mother BathOra
all about it. The evil spirit that had
taken possession of the young girl had
not been able to find a place in heaven,
in the EurgatOTy, nor even in hell, and
it had now taken possession Of the
Young girls soul, making her yell and
howl night and day.
Mother BathOra Shuddered and looked
around for the unfortunate young girl.
suddenly she turned as pale as a sheet
IN pew only a few yards away from
her q young, poorly dressed woman was
sitting with a baby in her arms. 1t was
her own daughter Sadurra.
The mass began Mother BathOra
felt strangely moved and looked fur
lively at her daughter. How beautiful
the baby looked and how she lOnEed to
take il into her arms But no, Sadurra
had tramDcd upon the honor Of her
family and for such a sin there was no
forgiveness. She must not think OF
] cancellation. though Sadurra's eyes
VERT fun of tears
Mass was over The silence IN the
church was oppressive suddenly
mUrmur went up from the crowd. 1t
was the yOEnE girl who was possessed
of the devil who was led towards the
altar The woman turned pale and fell
back. The girl was indeed terrible to
look at She cried ana hOWled in
deep voice like that of a man. spoke
Latin and SAID the most nCrrl Die Things
At the altar an old woman was
kneelinE with her head buried in her
hands her whole body shaking with
sobbinE. Mother BathOra looked at this
poor woman and her heat filled with
pity How she must love her daugh-
term spite of all
The young girl was led to the altar.
The priest read over her but she hOwled
worse than ever and burst the ropes
that held her The priest continued and
held the CrucifiX towards her.
Thes mother BathOra suddenly saw
the girls mother arise. She cried no
longer. but with a sudden impulse she
held the Crucifix to her daughters
lips.
And then something strange and
stirring happened. The girl kissed the
crucifiX, threw her arms about the old
woman and began to weep quietly.
A miracle had happened. The whole
kneeled and thanked the
Holy Virgin.
When Mother Bathora left the church
she carried Sadurra's baby in her arms.
Her daughter walked at her side. And
the people of Batti. who were proud Of
their Madonna, said:
To-day our holy virgin has worked
two miracles"