The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-04-28
CONTINUED from page 3D.
MARY MAGDALEN'S FUNERAL
TEARS.

ASAJ ASk WdIu. fOIp q IL ShS AoJ
stunned, hearing as in a ream the
sound OF ~splintering wood and the
crash of breaking glass, mingled with
shr1eks of pain and fright. Then she
rose to her feet, dizzy and beWlldered,
but unhurt. A scene of horror met
her gaze. Mr.. Courtney had been
hurled som distance and lay upon the
foor unconscious. Mr.. Forbes was
trying to staunch the blood streaming
from a deep cash in his head, and
Vivian lay pale and faint, her right
arm hanging bruised and broken at
her side.
Everyone in the, coach was more or
less injured. The accident had been
caused by a broken rail, and a scene
OF confusion ensued. Fortunately, it
was near a town and the injured were
conveyed to places where they could
be cared for. Geraldine found rooms
for the members of her party in a
hotel. After Mr.. Forbes's wound had
received medical attention, he was
able to conduct the suffering Vivian
to her mothers home, only a few
miles further on. Geraldine remain
ed beside Mr.. Courtney, who was still
unconscious. Vivian had promised to
send Mrs. Courtney back as soon as
possible.
The injured man was in a very
dangerous condition. Indeed, when
the physicians left that night, they
had little hope of his recovery. With
face as white as the one upon which
her tears fell, Geraldine bent over
him. The doctors words, The may
not live until morning." still rung
in her ears.
1T cannot be-" she moaned, wiring
ing her hands. $50 young, SO strong,
and stricken down to .die!"'
Her mental suffering was intense.
She thought of him dying in his sins
and standing before the God Whose
existence he had dared to deny. She
fell upon her knees and tried to pray,
but an awful fear and despair seized
her. She arose, ~shuddering when the
voice of the tempter seemed to say,
What right have you a renegade to
your faith, to pray?" Up and down
the DON she paced, bending occasion.
ally to look, with suspended breath,
at the still, white face lying on the
pillow. YEARLY the time dragged on.
Somewhere in the distance a clock
tolled out the hour. 1t was 3 o'clock.
She had not noticed it strike before,
Like an inspiration the thought flash
ed into her mind: 'The night of
agony is nearly passed." and then the
words: There is no sorrow like unto
My sorrow"
AS a sudden burst of light across
an inky sky came a ray of hope thai
illumined the black despair of hel
soul. The compassionate Saviour, suf
fering in the Garden of Gethsemane
would hear the prayer of the repent
ant sinner. She thought again Of
| Mary Magdalen, who went forth il
the beauty of heaven from the feast
Then she sank upon her knees ant
prayed.
Good Friday dawned. A darl
cloud obscured the rising SUI as i
nature mourned for mans ingratitude
There seemed to be a slight change
in Mr.. Courtney's condition. Eagerl!
Geraldine awaited the doctors coming
Before his arrival the injured MAJ
regained consciousness. Never were
| tidings more welcome. With care
the physician said, the patient woult
recover. ri
Then, in the privacy of her owl
room, Geraldine thanked God TO.
granting the unspoken prayer of he
heart. Her mind was made up. Sh'
would leave all to follow Christ. Sh'
had rejected His teachings. Fo
wealth and worldly honours she hat
forsaken Him, and in her heart hat
been enshrined an earthly idol. |
deaths cold hand had been laid upol
him, her punishment would have beef
justly deserved. But God had merci
fully spared him. Her remuneration
was complete. She reserved but on
privilege, that of praying as long a
she lived for his conversion.
Mrs. Courtney came on the mornini
train. At noon Chester asked to Sc
Geraldine. When she stood besid
him, to her surprise he asked
Where is that book you had yestel
day."
81 have it still. Why do you ask?
81 would like to read it, if | may.
Certainly. AS soon as you ar
able.
That afternoon, greatly wearieo
Geraldine fell asleep in her chall
She was awakened by the ringing @
a bell. The deep, sonorous tone re
minded her of the bell that was chris
tened "St. Mary" in the Easter
church where she and her mother ha
worshipped in her girlhood days. On
day when the bell was ringing, sh
remembered hearing her mother say
Listen to the voice of Mary.
seems to be saying: Come! Come
Comet"
She thought the bell was repeatin
the same message now Come
Come! Gomez" She rose, dressed 70
the street, and quietly left the hote
A few minutes later she was ascene
ing the steps of the church dedicate
to the Queen of the Most Holy Rosa
ry. She made the Stations OF tn
Cross, and once more knelt an