The Catholic bulletin., 1914-05-02

who seek the protection of the miracu-
lous Christ in their afflictions
One dark night, some three GEN.
turies or more ago, gallant might
have been seen, did the obscurity al
low, conversing with lady through
a grated easement in one of the mar
row and tortuous streets which at that
epoch formed the city of Barcelona.
The great bells of the Cathedral gave
out the midnight, with pauses between
its sonorous strokes; the easement
was closed, and the gallant, throwing
his mantle over his shoulders, de-
parted.
A muffled figure blocked his pas
sage. "Who dares stop me?" said
the gallant, letting fall his mantle
from before his face. "A nobleman
like yourself, Don Ramira." "Say
rather a villain, since he tells not his
name, whose shoulder shall feel the
weight of my scabbard." "That shall
never be-" replied the other, before
you have tried the temper of Don
Roderich de C.'s blade, vile nocturnal
lounger! "By heaven! you shall an
swer me for this" said the other,
drawing his sword; 'you are Dono
Alda's lover" "En garde!" roared
Don Roderich, and there and then in
the obscurity they crossed swords in
hot fury.
A moment later moan, as of dy-
ing person, was heard and the sound
Of body falling heavily to the ground
When quarter of an hour later the
watch came on it's round to the spot,
they found the body of a man who
seemed to be at the last gasp and sur
rounded by pool Of blood. His an
tagonist had disappeared. Several
months after the above occurred a
young nobleman was walking out in
the environs of Barcelona, followed by
his page. He was pale; it was easy
to see that he was recovering from ILL
ness and had quilted the town-to
breathe the fresh air of the country;
he was in the neighborhood of the
Monastery Of st. Paul. Suddenly he
preceived another caballero, and his
pale face became suffused with color
and his eyes lighted up. Quick as
thought he confronted the newcomer,
crying: "This time defend yourself,
scoundrel. Do you, perchance, wish
me to cut you down again as I did be-
fore, Don Ramira? Be it so, them"
And in this sequestered spot they
again fought with extraordinary rage.
This time, however, fortune favored
Don Ramiro, who by dexterous
movement disarmed his adversary and
the latter, foreseeing the lot which
awaited him, fed toward the temple
of st. Paul
Don Roderich made his way into
the temple, which was deserted, and
sought refuge by one of the affairs and
behind the crucifix above mentioned.
Life! in Gods name, life!" cried the
fugitive. But Don Ramira, in a trans
port of passion, made lunge with
the aim of transfixing his enemy, when
the image of the crucified Redeemer
suddenly moved forward, thus parry
ing the thrust.
Don Ramiro uttered cry of terror,
his sword fell from his grasp, and he
threw himself on his knees at the foot
of the crucifix, saying:
Pardon, o my Lord! Chastise me
not according to my Deserts" and he
poured out his soul in a fervent act
of contrition. "Come forth, Don Rod
erich,' he said; '1et me embrace thee
and beg thy forgiveness"
Don Roderich advanced, and the
two men embraced.
"Espouse Dono Alda,' said Don
Ramira," "for remain forever in this
monastery to weep for my SINS"
"No; I will not marry Dono Aida
either" responded Don Roderich. God
has spared me my life, and it belongs
to Him."
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