The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-03-08

~~~~~~f
that is all; keep quiet, my friend" he
said, bending over the bed, Marie
shall make you a cup of strong
bouillon; you are quite safe here"
All that afternoon, and through the
long hours of the night, the two men
took it in turns to watch by the bed
side; now and then Jules fell into an
easy slumber, to start up suddenly
with wild eyes and gasping breath;
he did not seem content with his
nurse, although their forethought and
attention left nothing to be desired
At last, when dawn broke over the
near hills, he fell asleep; Paul sat
watching him for quarter of an hour;
then he rose and tiptoed out of the
room; his friend Marcel was on the
threshold.
81 think we can leave him safely
for Bit said Paul, che will sleep
for the present, and Marie can let us
know directly he wakes"
rs she to be trusted?" asked the
other.
Absolutely. Marie, Marie!"
Here l am" replied the woman
coming swiftly along the passage.
GO in and watch Jules" said her
husband; ''let us know Immediately he
wakes, Immediately tell you, and re
member no conversation with him;
forbid it, and he fixed his dark eyes
meaningly on her.
Cali right" she said sullenly, and
went off into the sickroom.
| For over an hour Jules slept; some.
times moaning or turning his head to
and fro, while his features contracted
from the sharp pain in his legs, which
the village surgeon had set more
speedily than skillfully. Then he sud
denly opened his eyes and looked fur
lively round the room. Marie rose
from her post at the foot of the bed
and offered him some water to drink.
He shook his head, his eyes still row
| ing anxiously.
care we alone?" he whispered.
EYES," replied Marie, 'but you must
not talk"
st WILL" he cried excitedly, bend
over me, now at once!"
The woman hesitated, mindful OF
her husbands stern injunction, but if
only to pacify the sick man, she
must do what he wanted.
flush" she said, leaning over the
painting figure, what is it,"
"a priest" he gasped, "a priest, by
all that you love best on earth, send
for the priest!"
Her whole face changed, and fear
crept into her eyes.
81 dare not" she whispered. paul
would never permit me; and you are
one of them What do you want
with priest?" but the man seemed
not to hear her. "a priest" he
moaned, my death will be on your
shoulders if you refuse"
The womans face paled; the bull
wark of anti-Christian Masonic teach
ing, which her husband had so care
fully erected in her mind, fell into
ruins before the direct appeal of the
dying man to the heart, which free
thought is powerless to destroy; q
great fear of death came over her
death that was waiting with it's sum
mons at the bedside before her. The
old faith of her forgotten childhood
was the only thing that could do any
good there.
ct will try" she said, "but keeI
quiet, they must never know that you
have been talking to me-"
The news of the schoolmaster's ex
traordinary accident had naturally
only added to the excitement in the
village, which Philippe's ineXplicable
death had already wrought to fever
pitch.
Monsieur lie Cure was in his study
on the following morning, when g
little girl came in and said that he was
wanted to go to Paul Delarey's house
"But have already been there three
times" replied the priest; ''two mer
brought me news of the accident las
night; and the door was shut in my
face"
Monsieur Michelet is asking fol
you," persisted the child.
Monsieur Michelet?" cried the
Cure, knowing well that the school
master was an avowed unbeliever
The little girl nodded.
docs Paul Delarey know you have
come for me?"
mo-" answered the child, "yor
won't tell him will you, Monsieur IL
Cure, or he would be ready to xii
me?"
mo, no, you are quite safe little
one," answered the priest, laying his
hand reassuringly on her head.
Half an hour later the Cure wa:
knocking at the door of the Delarey's
house; Marie answered him, and was
almost rough in her curt refusal t
let him in. AS he turned away, {
mans figure crept across the end o.
the passage; he had evidently wit
messed the interview. 1t was certain
ly very disheartening; three times al
Intervals of an hour the priest returned
to the house, only to receive the same
response; on the third occasion hi
was about to turn away in despair
when Marie suddenly reopened thu
door.
eco round to the back" she whis
pered, 'the first window to the right
he is crying out for you" and the mex
second the door was closed.
The Cures face frightened, ant
with quickened steps he hurried rounC
| arpr