The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-08-12

will. Finally the preacher ended his
glowing appeal to the sinner with
these words of Our Lord: There is
joy in Heaven over one sinner doing
penance more than over ninety-nine
just"
l was so interested, that forgot the
presence of my companion, but when
turned, l saw him, leaning forward
with his face buried in his hands; he
looked up for moment and perceiv-
ed the signs of anguish on his face
had left. During the benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament which followed
the sermon, he knelt with the rest, but
not raising his head.
The people were leaving, except
those who remained near the confess
sional boxes. l touched my friend on
the arm and asked him if he was ready
to return to the hotel. Without look
ing up he answered in steady voice,
Leave me here. | will return later"
The tone of his voice told me it would
be better for me to go. Upon my ar
rival at the hotel was presented with
telegram that called me home imme-
diately. My father was very sick. /
just had time to leave a few lines of
explanation with the clerk for Mr.. Nor
man, pack my valise and get to the
depot in time for the 1910 p. m. ex-
press. In the note l left for my friend
gave the reason for my hurried de-
parture and as my business in b
was about finished and consequently
as l would not return again for some
time, invited Mr.. Norman to pay me
visit at his earliest convenience.
About week or ten Gays after | ar
rived home, received letter from
Mr.. Norman. 1t ran thus:
Dear Friend: l am now on my
death-bed in st. Vincent's hospital,
b and if am not asking too
much of you, | would like very much
to see you again. Once you told me
you would do anything in your power
to help me; now you can do some
thing by coming to me before I leave
this world of sorrow"
took the first train for B and
on arrival there cab soon brought
me to the hospital. When the Sister
who came to the door learned whom
wished to see she said, 81 am SO glad
you have come as Mr.. Norman has
been calling for you necessarily, and
we feared you would be too late"
rs there no hope them" l asked.
"No, it would be useless to say 9th
erwise. Internal hemorrhage has set
in and the doctor says he won't last
the day out"
This is indeed sad. l left him
about a week ago apparently in very
good health. How could he become so
sick in so short time? l can't under
stand it."
ooh, have you not heard how he was
hurt? l thought you knew all about
it. One night last week, returning
from the Cathedral, he was thinking of
the sermon he heard and unconscious
ly stepped before an electric car,
which struck him and then crushed
him in frightful manner. He was
taken up for dead and brought here in
the ambulance. For several days he
lowered between life and death, until
few days ago he regained conscious
ness; then we showed him your letter;
it must have been yours for he called
for pen and paper and Immediately
wrote you the letter which brought
you here. Since then he has been con-
tinually asking if you have come. Will
you go to him now?"
was taken to one of the rest rooms
and the Sister went in first to prepare
my friend for the interview. She
came out soon, and with her a priest,
and she said to me, "You may go in
now. he expects you"
1t was a small but Hastily and COM
fortably furnished room. On the bed,
with his eyes fastened eagerly upon
the door, was Mr.. Norman, the dews of
death already upon his placid face. AS
approached the bed, a smile lit up
his features and he said in a voice low
and weak:
''You have come. I knew you would.
felt it; yet feared. l am dying, but
death has no terrors for me now. l
have last request to make of you
and if you grant it shall die happy"
He gasped moment and then asked
for little brandy to strengthen him.
Holding my hand he said, looking at
me, with an expression in his eyes so
full of pleading that it amounted al
most to anguish.
Can you forgive me for great in
jury | have done you. Do not answer
too soon, as may ask too much
''Oh, John, it grieves me to see you
thus. l know of nothing in which you
have ever offended me, but rest assur-
ed whatever you ask is already grant
ed. Do not tire yourself by talking
too much"
you had brother named Mark. |
knew him we'll and often heard him
speak of you. He was shot; he was
murdered and am the murderer. All,
| thought | would ask too much" as l
involuntarily started up. "My punish.
ment is to die without your pardon,
but can't blame YOU"
The memory of my brother rushed
back to me like dream. 1 saw him
again, the pride of his mothers heart
the hope of the family, and here was
the man who cut him off in the prime
of life, and for no cause but a petty
jealousy. i wept like a child. But the
recollection of nv surroundings and