The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-05-24

| more pr1nceIy lee ODta1nable than the
| gratitude OF. deserving people and the
knowledge that one has aided one of
| Gods creatures"
| Mon PEREZ replied the professor
| coldly, "the calls upon my services
are extremely exigent at present and
my time is not my own. 1 regret that
| must decline, as l leave for Paris
tomorrow morning."
Then Pere Ribot drew his sword
| and threw away the scabbard. Have
care, Professor Maupin,' he said.
THE eminent abilities which you pos
sess are the gifts of God Beware
how you refuse to use those gifts in
| charity to one, of Gods creatures"
The professor shrugged his should
ers and continued his walk.
The following morning was very
cold, and when Pere Ribot arose at
five O'Clock to prepare for the six
o'clock Mass his teeth chartered He
descended the stairs by the light of a
candle, and when he reached the bot
tom there came knock at the door
"A sick CALL" he murmured, and
opened the door. When he saw his
visitor he came near dropping the
candle in his amazement
Professor Maupin stood on the
threshold
Pere Ribot made him enter and he
seated, at the same time apologizing
for the absence of heat in the room.
The professor cut him short.
Mon Perez" he said, and his words
and manner evidenced great pertur-
baton, Il have had a disturbed and
restless night | had a dream-no,
rather vision, as dream could not
have made such an impression on my
mind. There appeared to me a figure
which | recognized as Saint Anthony
His countenance was sorroWful and
the words he spoke reproachful. You
have refused the only request | have
made Of YOU were the words | heard
Now, mon Pere, the only request
made of me that l can recall is the
one you made last evening in behalf
of a young girl, and l shall obey it.
wish to have you hear my confess
sion, and then | will go to the sick
girl
Directly after Mass, Pere Ribot
called on Doctor Lebrun and with
him the professor visited Melanie.
Arrangements were made to have the
operation take place the next morn
ing and the professor felt very opti-
mistic as to the result
After the doctor and professor had
left, Melanie said to her mother: Il
shall get well. Saint Anthony has
sent this surgeon from Paris to cure
me. | am sure of it. Please say to
M. Sehrt that | would like to see him
this evening""
Late in the evening the infdeI en-
tered the room.
IN. Sehrt," said Melanie, Il want
to thank you for permitting me to
| carry away that figure of Saint An
thony you flung from the window. !
am very ill and | was to die, but Saint
Anthony has prayed for me and a
great surgeon has come from Paris to
cure me without it costing a franc
But, my dear child" cried NJ.
Sehrt, edo not thank me. | did not
give you the figure l threw it away"
IF you had not thrown it out of the
window that day." persisted Melanie,
Il would not have had it, and conse-
quently would not have had his help.
l must have died, and now l am to be
we'll. | must thank you, NJ. Sehrt."
The old man laid his gnarled and
discolored hand on Melanie's head.
| 81 wish | could think as you think, ~
he said sadly, "but | cannot can
not" And he walked out without
raising his eyes from the floor.
| Melanie had been removed to her
parents room as, being larger and
| lighter, it was better suited for the
operation.
Doctor Lebrun watched with in
tense enthusiasm the mastery man
ner with which Professor Maupin
| handled the knife. Precision, skill
| and forethought were all present.
| Every obstacle was met and every
complication foreseen and provided
| for. When it was completed, he ST.
lently grasped the surgeons hand.
LAS far as l can see she will re-
cover remarked the professor cool
| ly. ut was an interesting case"
They walked into Melanie's room,
| where her parents, rent by agonizing
suspense, awaited the verdict, both
on their knees
Professor Maupin declares that
there is every reason for believing
| that Melanie will be entirely WE'LL"
exclaimed Doctor Lebrun. rs it not
| so, professor"
The professor paid no attention to
the words of Doctor Lebrun nor to
the two old people, who approached
| him with tears of gratitude in their
| eyes at the good news. He was star
| ing with an expression of amazement
at the figure of Saint Anthony on the
shelf above Melanie's bed.
whence came that figure?" he de-
manded.
Madame Dourges explained how Me-
LAME had picked it up from a dust
heap after it had been thrown from a
window by M. Sehrt.
Wonderful" exclaimed the profess
sor, "most wonderful" and turning
to Doctor Lebrun he continued:
might before last l had dream, or
vision, in which Saint Anthony ap-
peared to me. The impression though