The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-10-11

valid. She was evidently wealthy, al
two attendants travelled with her, ont
an elderly nurse, the other a mar
whose duties consisted in having hel
carried on her stretcher, as required
The evidences of wealth were not OBJ
trusive, with the exception of one thai
was very conspicuous. This was q
curiously inlaid cross of gold and
ivory, suspended from gold neck
lace, and studded thickly with prec
ious stones, which flashed and scin.
tillated with her slightest movement
She was chatting pleasantly with a
new acquaintance, an American. gen
tleman, who, as he talked, kept watch.
ing the sparkling cross with lively
interest.
you are looking at my cross" she
said smilingly, my father purchased
it at a sale of antique jewelry in Lon.
don, and gave it to me on my birth
day But he never told me what it
cost"
Il have some knowledge of gems
as happen to be in that business in
New York." the American responded.
cat a casual inspection, I'm inclined
to say that it cost more than a few
thousand dollars, Miss"
II believe it did. 1t isn't any feel
ing of vanity that makes me wear it,
though" She smiled at his first
thought about it being connected with
it's cash value,-so like an American.
Il am going to present it to the shrine
of Our Lady when we reach Lourdes,
if they will accept it for an ornament.
/ have started on this pilgrimage
with strong hope that my prayers
will be heard, and that shall be
cured. That / shall at least be cured,
and become like other people,-well
and strong"
Faith can move mountains, l have
often heard" he said refectively.
''But I never saw so many evidences
of hope and faith among people whose
cases are apparently hopeless, as |
see now in the many afflicted people
like yourself, who are going on this
pilgrimage in the full belief that Our
Lady of Lourdes will help them"
This conversation did not attract
general attention in the compartment
as the other passengers were convers-
ing on various topics among them
selves. The rafting noise of the
train, and the general buzz of con-
versation, rendered the lady's conf
dences almost private. But there
were two persons, man and woman,
who were sitting near, and who over
heard the lady's expressed intention
of presenting the jeweled cross to the
Shrine of Our Lady at .Lourdes. They
had entered the train at Paris, but
not as members of any pilgrimage
party They were, indeed, two clever
continental thieves, who made fine
living by travelling with wealthy tour.
lists, staying at the same hotels en-
route and disappearing with any
money or jewelry they could lay their
hands upon.
On their arrival, the pilgrimage
party occupied rooms already re
served for them, and the pair of ad
venturers took apartments at the
same hotel.
It was morning of intense devo
tional fervour for all, when they made
their first acquaintance with the worlG
famed shrine, and when the sufferers
and stricken ones were conveyed there
by their friends. High Mass was cele
brated, and then began the applica
lions of the miraculous waters. AnC
when night arrived, the previous list
of cures at Lourdes had been added
to by a fresh remarkable case, au
thenticated so clearly as to silence
all doubters. Miss Agnew, the youn&
English lady, had been seized with {
convulsive fit, she had screamed wild
ly and then swooned When conveyed
back to the hotel, she began to fee
the return of physical movemen
where paralysis had hitherto kept he
helpless; the doctors had seen her
and had testified that she was OF
the way to recovery. Quiet, mean
time, was absolutely necessary; ant
when she fell asleep, even the nurst
left the room, lest the slightest sount
should interfere with the young lady
rest
On the following day, only few o
the many eager inquirers were pei
mitted to see her. They discovere,
that in the midst of her joy an
thanksgiving, she had met with on
great disappointment She had los
the jeweled cross which she had s
fondly hoped to present to the Shrin
of Our Lady.
i AS to how, when, or where she ha
lost it, she could form no idea. Neitf
er could the man nor the woman, VIII
were in attendance upon her. TIL
cross and necklace had been locke
away on her arrival in the hotel; anC
during her absence, at the shrine, tn
bag containing them, left in the loci
ed bedroom, and forgotten about i
the excitement, had been opened b
a duplicate or skeleton key, and tn
contents distracted. Suspicion poin
ed towards the man and woman VIII
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