The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-19

for guidance, for help! But it was
no time for protest or argument; the
burning eyes, the working lips, the
death damp on the brow, compelled
brief and kindly reply.
Death is the end of all pain, all
weakness, all sorrow, all suffering he
answered gravely.
DO you know that? How do you
know it," gasped the sick man
clutching his hand. That's what
comes troubling me in the darkness;
that's what burns in my brain, driv
ing me mad with-with- cold creep
ing fear! Do you know it's the end
Because if you do, I'll snap my fin
gers at Death. Look in my face, tel
me-a as man to man-do you know
that dying is the end of all do you
know?"
The professor, honest gentleman
that he was, could only reply:
My friend, answer you as think
as / believe. / cannot seeI do moi
know
He was unprepared for the awfu
outburst that greeted his reply.
Liar! Traitor!" We're the words
that with torrent of awful impreca
ton fell from the foaming lips. "Yor
have led me to the brink of hell anG
you do not know"
Shrek after shrek rent the air, as
the wretched man writhed in another
wild paroxysm of rage and pain and
fear.
Shocked beyond words at his owr
part in this scene of despair, the pro
fessor sat mute, bewildered, helpless
when slender white-clad figure
glided to the bedside
Leave him to me, Sister Angela,
warned the attendant; 'he may harm
you"
"Begone, woman, begone!" hoarse
ly cried the dying man, don't come
near me with your cant. 1t is toe
late! am lost!''
"Not yet, not yet" answered a low
voice, sweet, yet stern, in it's melody
you shall listen to me, Ward.
will not leave you. | am going tx
kneel here beside you and pray t.
the God of infinite goodness and love
before Whom you soon will appear
that He may have pity on your poo
soul, and in this last hour of Hi
mercy spare you and save you yet
And kneeling down, she prayed
aloud in simple, touching words tina
a child could have understood, TO
| mercy, for pity, for pardon.
1t was mighty prayer in its faith
unfaltering in it's hope; angelic il
! its tender charity. When it was over
the dying man was sobbing like
passion-weary child, his hand claspe
in that of the sweet saint beside him
Send Father Louis here; he wi
see him now" she whispered to tn
attendant. 80
| AS the man left the room, the pro
/ lessor followed him, cropping like on
dazzled after long darkness.
The calm pure eyes of the knee
! ing Sister had not turned to tn
stranger in the shadowy room, bu
worn, spiritualized as she was, tn
professor had recognized Sister Ar
gela at the first glance. She was tn
woman he had loved in the long age
Two days afterward a bulky pack
age was received at La Misericordie
directed to Sister Angela. She rea
the accompanying letter with amaze
ment:
My Dear Madame trust you vii
not consider this an intrusion of
forgotten pastsupon the noble dutie
of the present. | was a reluctant Wis
itor at your hospital last Thursday
summoned there by an unfortunat
youth, whose dying arraignment o
me and my Inexperienced teaching
can never forget. l recognized yo
at his bedside and in the light o
your life work, | saw mine. Year
ago | made you an offering whicl
you wisely refused; it was, as / Sc
now, beneath your acceptance. Tc
day / venture to make you another
The package l sent you is a worl