The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-07

to bend his head close to her lips to
hear what she had to say.
Edmond, am dying. VIII you do
something for me?"
Eyes, Jeanne. You know l would
not refuse you anything"
81 want priest. Go and call M. lie
Cure"
The man f1inched as though he had
been struck. He had been expecting
this ever since his wife fell i'll and he
could not make up his mind either to
agree or to refuse He thought of his
last interview with the priest, and of
what a splendid opportunity this
would be for the priest to pay him
back in his own coin. Probably he
would refuse to come, or, if he came,
he would charge dearly for it. On the
other hand, there was a pleading in
the big blue eyes, the only living
things in the still, white figure on
the bed. His wife, whom he loved so
dearly, was dying, and she asked him
this thing.
Edmond, please" she murmured.
He bent quickly and kissed her
brow
81 will go because l love you" he
said, and selling his cap, he hurried
down the sairs, wondering to himself
as he went on what chance there was
of the priest agreeing to come to his
wife.
A few moments later the workman
was standing before the old priest
whom he had so summarily elected
six months before, and, addressing
him now in very different tone of
voice, he begged of him to come and
visit his wife, who was dying of con-
sumption and who was asking for him.
"Wait one moment, my poor fell
low" said the priest, land I will be
ready to come with you"
AS they walked together there was
silence between the two men. The
priest asked few questions, to which
the workman gave evasive answers,
for he felt both astonished and
ashamed.
Silently they entered the sick room,
and the man took the children into
the kitchen whilst the priest ap-
preached the dying woman.
When they were summoned to re-
turn Edmond saw an expression OF
peace and happiness upon his wife's
face that he had never seen on it be-
fore
"I see,' said the old priest gently
''there is no immediate danger, so
will come after Mass tomorrow morn.
ing and bring her Holy Communion
Will you have a white cloth on the
little table there and Crucifix, as
we'll as a candle upon it?"
That was ALL There was, no refer
ence to his last visit no mention OF
payment.
Next morning Edmond had every.
thing in order, and even the Crucifix
had been borrowed from a neighbor
whilst the children and Edmond him
self were dressed in their Sunday
best. ...--.......-.-. ......s.
The priest came at the hour he had
named, and before administering the
Holy Viaticum he said few words to
the dying woman that touched the
hearts of those who stood around
Then, as he raised the Sacred Host
even Edmond fell upon his knees.
For a week longer the poor woman
fingered, and the priest visited he1
every day, comforting her with
thoughts of the mercy of God and the
peace and happiness to come, and try
ing to help the father and children to
bear the sorrow of their approaching
loss. Then the end came in peace
and so the priests visits to the house
were ended.
The doctor sent his bill for attend
ance on the dead woman. 1t was rea
sonable enough, considering all he had
done for her, but it totaled nearly a
months earnings, and could only be
paid in weekly instruments.
But nothing came from the priest
for what he had done Yet it was the
priest and not the doctor of whom
Edmond kept continually thinking
and the words his wife had said the
day he had turned him from theil
door echoed in his ears: 'Why die
you send him away? Perhaps it viii
bring us i'll luck"
He did not believe in luck, but he
knew that God does sometimes punish
us on earth for our ill doings, and he
recognized now that it was very il
done to insult Gods minister Fo
some weeks he kept thinking of thi'
and turning over in his mind the com
fort and joy that had come to his wifi,