The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-21
Continued from Page 81
DUTY'S VICTORY.

discovery of poor Henri's plight,
Jeanne thought of Kelvin. It was now
almost three o'clock-it would be i'm
possible to fetch Pere Bardet, and be
home in time to catch Kelvin. Stand
ing as she was, in the middle of the
woods, far from living creature,
there was no one she could send.
What would Kelvin think if she were
not there? What would her parents
think? They would come to the con-
clusion that she wished to avoid the
young Irishman, that she wished to be
spared the pain of refusing his offer
of marriage. Both her mother and
father feared she cared nothing. How
easy for them to give him this impress
sion! He would go away broken
hearted, and two lives might be ruin
ed.
Surely Henri will live till l reach
Mermont, and send someone for the
cure" she tried to persuade herself,
still hesitating. "He has shown every
sign of contrition-surely this is
enough" And then her cheeks col
ored with feeling of shame. Henri
was dying-it was evident that he
had only few hours to live. He had
asked for the priest. 1t was terrible
to think that he might die without
Viaticum-through her fault Would
she not be held responsible if Henri
died unshriven?
mo! MOI" she cried out, tearfully,
Il must go for Pere Bardet-it is the
least l can do"
The struggle had been sharp, but it
was soon over. Fortunately, the train
ing and instincts of lifetime do not
desert us at critical moments. Jeanne
had not been taught in vain the worth
of a human soul, and she tried, poor
girl, to forget her own suffering, in
the fulflment of what was obviously
her duty-to help old Henri.
Running as fast as her feet would
carry her through the thick woods,
she made for Vivet. The distance
seemed interminable, but she knew
that if she followed the path to the
right, it would bring her out close to
the little town.
She persevered bravely, in spite of
her increasing fatigue, and at last she
arrived at the outskirts of the village,
in a state of pitiable exhaustion If
she delayed, however, she knew it
might be too late to help the dying
man, and she went on breathlessly till
she reached the presbytery door, and
rang the bell.
Mile. Jeanne, whatever is the mat
ter?" gasped Marie, the loquacious
housekeeper, as she opened the door.
why, you are i'll, cherie! Come in,
and let me give you something" AS
she spoke, she took hold of the girls
hand and drew her into the house.
Jeanne suffered the old woman to re-
fresh her with wine, and then she
said, still hot and painting, 'It is a
case for the Last Sacraments. Marie,
please tell Pere Bardet He is here,
1 know. 1t is old Heinrich! do be
quick she added impatiently, as
Marie stared at her open-mouthed. He
is dying, tell you'll" She sank back
in her chair, while Marie left the
room, muttering words of astonish-
ment on her way.
A moment later, Pere Bardet and
his host appeared on the scene.
Jeanne, my child, is this really
! true?" said the Cure, in an anxious
voice, as he came forward.
"Only too true, Father; he is dying.
l will tell you about it after, but there
is no time to be lost now" Gasping
out the words, she leaned back with
white face.
Pere Bardet spoke few hurried
words to his host, and the next minute
he had disappeared into the church
for the Blessed Sacrament When he
returned, Jules, the faithful sacristan,
took his lantern and bell, and started
off with the Cure for the house of
the man who was soon to meet his
God.
The other priest, who had observed
Jeanne's troubled face, remained be-
hind.
you are upset with it all, my
child" he said, kindly. Let me call
Marie: she will look after you-or. if
you should prefer it, I will drive you
home"
1T is too late, Father" she said.
tearfully. And then, realizing that he
could scarcely understand what she
meant, she continued: Il was expect