The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-11-20

4 X
as man that you will not permit
this man to say word to you except
| in making his confession, and IL ne
does that you will never mention 1t
to anyone. You must promise me
also, that you will not say a word
about this sick call to any one for ten
days. / am sorry that unless you so
promise 1 cannot let you see the sick
man." Father G. gave the promise;
and so they went into the room,
which had no other light save that
which came from wood fire on the
hearth.
In the corner there was bed, and
on it lay man, whose face Father
! C. could not see. The masked man
went over to the bed and said: Il
promised you that | would have a
priest for you if one could be found.
Well, we have found one, and here he
! is. Remember what you have prom
ised U.S." AS Father c. sat down by
the mans bed to hear his confession,
he happened to lean against the side
of the bed and his arm slipping he
instinctively reached out his hand to
the floor to support himself; and as
he drew it back, he was shocked to
find it covered with blood! When he
went to anoint the man he found that
his clothes were saturated with blood
coming from a wound in his side just
under his right arm. While he had
been hearing the mans confession
the masked man had stood outside
the door, but far enough away to
avoid hearing what was said; but
when he was giving the Holy Viaticum
he came into the room, and he stood
in rather reverent position at the
foot of the bed. When Father G. pre-
pared to give Extreme Unction the
masked man said: Father, is this a
part of your duty? Must you see any
more of this mans body?" Father G..
told him that all that was requisite
was to uncover his hands and fleets
and this the masked man did. The
priest had a great difficulty in read
ing the prayers as there was no light
save that which came from the fire.
|
went out and came back with cam
: die which he held near the Ritual,
and it was by the aid of this light
that Father C. saw the blood on the
) mans clothing.
When he had finished he went down
stairs, where he found a cup of coffee
; awaiting him. There was a clock on
the mantel, and Father G. looking at
it saw that it was quarter to twelve
o'clock: so allowing an hour for the
railroad trip to M, and three-quarters
to the station at -, he had been on
the road more than two hours. The
masked man said to him: 81 am very
sorry, Father, that we have no means
of extending any kind of hospitality
to you. You have been exceedingly
, kind, and | hope you will forgive what
may seem to you rather rough treat
ment tonight; / can assure you that
it has been unavoidable. And may
further add that it is not always safe
. to Jump to conclusions. | cannot say
anything more. 1t is not at all likely
|, that you will ever see me again,
though l may have a chance of seeing
: you once more. But l would like to
!, say to you tonight that though ap'
:. pearances are very much against me-
l | have committed no crime, nor has
there been any crime committed by
anyone against that man whom you
have attended. II you will wait a
half hour / will have the buggy
> hitched up and you will be driven tC
T. where you can catch the early
morning train home" Father G. must
tell the rest of the story.
! "In half an hour he came to the
room again and said: Father, the
= buggy is at the door, and again
wish to thank you for what you have
/ done tonight The same driver was
6 i'll the buggy, and / must confess
G was hardly prepared for the mex
v announcement from my masked
: friend: L am very sorry, Father, but
!. | must ask you to let us blindfolt
+ you once more OF course, knew
! that they were afraid that l would
n recognize some of the country through
! which l was being driven, as l haC
1 been for several years on that mis-
y sion; so | made no objection, anG
! once more the drivers Handkerchief
was tied over my eyes. 1t was hal
+ past twelve at night when we left the
: house; and when we stopped at length
+ and the driver told me he was goins
4 to take off the bandage from my
i. eyes, / asked him il we were at thu
end of our journey; and he said tina
4. it would be best for me to get out o.
q the buggy and stand on the GROUND
$ as he could get at the Handkerchief
v better that way. He helped me dowr
\ and before removing the handker
o chief he got back into the buggy
+ leaned over and took off the handker
!. chief and suddenly whipping his horse
o drove away rapidly, leaving me
. standing in side street at T., ant
II about two squares from the depot.
I looked at my watch, and by the ait
4 of street lamp l found that it was
Il half past three. | walked to the sta
r ton and was told that train fol
/ home was due at 3:45. l got my
i ticket, and got on the train; an(
t then for the first time began to study
q over my strange adventure. /