1ft THR OMAHA DAILY KKKt SUNDAY , MAY 6 , ] 801-TWENTY PAGES.
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SYNOPSIS I'liicouiHNU
Chapter I. Tin ? op nln * Boeno of "IjOUnlcV' Is
In n crowilnd llilnl-rliiM ear at the "whllo
train. " which run lea tli - very nllk tillKrlms from
I'lirlg to I/jimlm. It li nt smirbe of n ml
AiiRUnt tiny. iiromlnlnK to mnUo the inuwy very
uncomfortolik- . Hint tltf trnln st.'irt * . The nick
nro propped up on the h-nohen or Htrctchpil on
mnttifsicii. The enr lookH like n hospital ward.
with Blstnrs of the Amniinpllon In each compart
ment nctltiK ni n r > . The window * are kept
clone. ! nml tinnlr U van' ' " ! Amonu tinpll -
Brims Is Mnrlc de auwmlnt , n pallidly liciullful
younn woman who for yrnrn hat h'ul to Ho In
n coinnllkc t > ox. Hho la accompanied hy her
father and the AM * I'lornKrumcnt , wonrlnif Urn
red croM < > ( n uln-tchcr Iwnror. HIster llyn-
olntho l In clmi-Re. Other pllurlni * In the com
partment Hre .Mtnf. Vincent , who li tnlln her
dying Inljy to If cured lit the miraculous grotto ;
Mme. Maze , who In JourneylriK to J-ourde. * to
lieseoch the Vlitfn to reform her Olmlpntitl hill-
J > and ; M. Hahathler , fonnerly n profi-wr In the
J-ycco ChnrlemnKiie , who hnx Intt the us" of nl
letfs ; a ninttrcM maker , FJI dovntte , Uylnu of
consumption. and iil/n : lUiiintint. with her faro
fruitfully illsllKiired In11 lupin. HIMer Ily.l-
clntho telli Htorlei of thein I men Ions cures ef
fected by IjOUrdi-K , and In Interrupted hy what
nil believe to l ! thu ilylne slrUBsloH of an un
known passenger.
Chapter II.The Alilw Pierre falls Into n
reverie and review * his own life. Hu wan the son
of a chemist who lived nt NVullly. nnd who wns
killed by an explosion In hH Inbornlnry. I'lerru'8
inolher , thinking the choniltit'H death to be a
punishment for lili sclenllllc rc nrch < > 8 , deill-
catca the Imy to thu priesthood. UvlnR next
them were M. ilu Ouer.ialnt. visionary archi
tect , and his family. I.lttlo Atnrln de Ouersnlnt
nnd Pierre plajed towtlier and finally fell In
love with eneli otlier an they rew up. Then
Marie foil off u home and received an Injury
which ballleil all the doctors and resulted In
nearly total paralysis. As she could never ho
) il wife , Pierre continued lili studies and be
came a prlesl. Meanwhile , after reading lili
father's l > ooks. he had rome to doubt sonic of the
tc.-ictilngfl of the church. Maile became very le-
llRlous , and dually Pierre consented to accom
pany her on the pllgrlmm,11 to I.ourdea ,
Chapter III. The HUlTerliij ? In the train N In
tense when It stops nt Poitiers. A doctor Is
found to examine the unknown man , who Is
supposed to lie dylnt , ' . The doctor proves to bean
an old friend of HIster Hynulnthu , whom slio
nursed when ho was a poor student. The man
la beyond his aid , nnd a priest with the holy oils
Is sent for.
Chapter IV. Just as the trnln starts Sophie
Couteau. n youtiK Klrl , cell In the car. She tells
the story of the miraculous cure accorded to lier |
diseased foot by simply dipping It In the water
nt I/ourdes. Her talc buoys up the faith of thu
pilgrim * , who nro now all sure of being cured.
Chapter V. TinAbbe rends nloud a book Klv-
Ing the history of Hernadcltc , the girl who Haw
the vision In the grotto. It was on February 11 ,
1X53 , that lleinndcttc , n shepherdess , was sent
out to gather wood. It was then she , by acci
dent. Strolled Into the grotto. The early history
of the girl wat also given , showing the ten
dency of her mind toward lellglouu subjects.
CHAPTER. V. ( CONTINUED. )
Ono whole winter the vigils wore held In
the church. The Vicar Ailer gave Ills permission - !
mission , and many families game there In I
order to save lights , without mentioning that I
It was much warmer to bo there altogether. I
The bible was read and then they prayed. !
The children usually ended by going to sleep. '
Bcrnadctto was the only one who struggled
to the last , so happy to bo there , In the nart t
vow nave whoso light beams were painted
rod and blue , at the end of the altar , likewise - >
wise painted and glided , whoso twisted
columns and rcrodos showed Mary with
Anna , thci beheading of St. John , somewhat
barbaric and of a tawny splendor. And the
child In a state ot drowsiness would then
fancy these mysterious sights to be almost
true , the brilliant pictures to be real , that
the bleeding wounds , the shining aureoles ac
tually existed , and through them would con
stantly appear the Virgin , gazing with her
blue and living eyes , whllo she seemed just
about to speak with those vermllllon lips. I
For months together Bernadette would live
ovpr such evenings , half asleep , opposite the *
rich and magnificent altar , commencing that
divine dream thai was finished In bed , sleep
ing without a sigh In the care of her guar
dian angel.
It was also In the old church that Dcrna-
dotto , simple and filled with ardent faith ,
commenced to learn her catechism. She was
nearly 14 , and was thinking about her first
communion. Her footer mother , who was
miserly , did not send her to school , but made
use of her at homo from morning till night.
The schoolmaster , M. Barbel , never saw her
In his class. But ono day when he took the
place of the vicar , who was Indisposed , and
heard the lesson In the catechism , he noticed
her piety and modesty. The priest was very
fond of Bernadette , and often spoke of her to
the schoolmaster , saying he never saw her
without being reminded of the children of
Salette , because they must have been llko
her , pure and simple to have the Holy Virgin
appear to them. Another day the two men ,
just outside tho- village , saw her In thei dis
tance with her little flock wandering under
the trees , and the priest looked back at her
several times , saying each time :
"I do not know why I should feel thus , but
every time I meet that child I seem to ECO
Melanlo , the little shepherdess , the com
panion ot Maxlmliis. "
Ho was certainly possessed by the peculiar
thought , which was prophetic. So one day
after the catechizing , or at least ono evening
at vigils In the church , did he not relate the
marvelous story , then twelve years old , dbout
the lady with the shining dress , who walked
on the grass without bending It , the Holy
Virgin , who had revealed herself lo Melanlo
nnd Maxlmlus , on the mountain , on the bank
of a stream , to confide tfi them a great se
cret and to announce to them the wrath of
her Lord. Kver since that day a spring
germinating from the tears of the Holy Vir
gin healed all Ills , whilst the secret , trans
mitted on a parchment sealed by three waxen
seals , was kept nt Home. Of course , Uorna-
dotte had listened attentively to this wonder
ful tale. In her dumb and half awakened way.
Then she had thought It ever during her
solitary rambles In the woods , to Hvn It oneo
more while watching her lambs , while her
rosary , bead after bead , slipped through her
benumbed fingers.
"Thus passed her childhood at Dartres.
Bornadctte. otherwise lean and poor.possesscd
ecstatic eyes the beautiful eyes of the vi
sionary over which , llko birds in a clear
sky , passed n flight of dreams. Her mouth
was largo nnd wide. Indicating goodness.
Her square head , with straight brow and
thick , black hair , would have seemed common
without her look ot soft obstinacy. Hut un
less one caught her eye It was never no
ticed. She seemed only an ordinary child
a waysldo beggar , an overgrown girl of ab
ject humility. But It must have been that
same look that gave rise to the forebodings
which. Abbe Ader felt for her future the
hidden uneasiness caused by her wandering
naturs , thu polltmto of the green fields where
pho had passed her days , the gentle bleating
nt the lambs , the angelic salutation that
filled the heavens oven to hallucination and
the wonderful stories heard at her foster
mother's , the vigils passed garlng at the liv
ing reredoa of the church , together with the
surroundings of the primitive faith she had
Imbibed In that far off land , hemmed In by
mountains , On the 7th of January Uerna-
( lotto was fourteen , und her parents , the
Soublrona. resolved to fetch her home de
finitely to Lourdoa , that ho might Iparn her
catechism there properly , In a way lo pre
pare scrloiiBly for her first communion. She
had therefore , been at gourdes about n fort-
nliiht cr thrco weeks when , ono cold , frosty
day , ono Thursday , the llth of Fobruary11-
Ilut hare Plerro was obliged to stop , for
Slater Hynclnlho had stood up , nnd , clap-
plnff her hands loudly , sum :
"Sty children , It 13 after 0 o'clock. SI-
° ' ? they had Just pasned Lamothe.
The train was going through n sea of dark-
he83. with Ita dull , grinding Bound , across
the endless plains of Laudes , submerged
They ought to have been quite still ten
minutes ago In the carrlago , either to sleeper
or suffer , but still no uolae. Hut there
came an outcry.
"Oh Blstr , " said Marie , whoso eyes were
nwrkUnK. "Just Mteen minutes longer ! Wo
Se in the mldUlo or the most Interesting
en , twenty voices wore raised.
"OhJ yea. please ; Just a quarter ol an
hour more. " They all wluhod to hear tha
rest , burning with curiosity , as jf they did
not know the tola , so greatly wftre they
moved by the llfellke > detals given by the
atory toller. All eyes were flxert on him ;
heads were bent forward to where ho wan
vlehlly vlslblfi by the light of the swinging
lamp. And not only the Invalids , but tlioso
ten ladles In the last compartment , they ,
too , were deeply Interested , turning tliulr
poor , ugly faces , rnado beautiful by their
Innocent belief , happy not to lese a word.
"No , I cannot , " Sinter Hyaclntho declared
at first. "The program Is strict. You must'
bo silent. "
She hesitated , however , being so deeply
Interested herself that her heart was beatIng -
Ing violently under her shirt. Marie ngaln
begged , supplicated , while her father , M. do
OiiorHalnt. who was listening with an
amtiBcd look , declared ho would be made
III If they did not go on , and as Mine , do
Jonqulore save an Indulgent smile , the
sister ended by agreeing , too.
"Let us see now ; only a short fifteen
minutes no moro than n tiuartor of an
hour , because I shall bo strict. "
Pierre had waited quietly without inter
rupting , and he kept on In the same dis
tinct voice , wherein doubt was melted bv
pity for those who suffered nnd who hoped.
Now the tale went bark to Lourdes , Kin-
do Petlts Posses , a narrow , tortuous nnd
mournful street that runs between poor-
looking houses and roughly plastered walls.
On the ground floor of ono of these sad
dwellings at the end of a dark alleyway the
Soublrons occupied bill a single room , wherp
seven persons were huddled the father ,
mother and flvo cliirdrcn. One could scarcely
see. The Inside courtyard , damp nnd small ,
had a greenish light. There they slept In
n heap ; there they ate when there wast
food. For norno tlmo the father , a mlll-T
by trade , found It difficult to nnd work.
And It was from this obscure hole , this
base misery , on that cold Thursday mom
Ing In February , that Bernadette , the eldest ,
went to pick up dead wood with Marie ,
younger sister , and Jeanne , a little friend
from the neighborhood.
Then the beautiful tale went on at length
how the three girls went dov/n the banks
of the Gave , on thu other side of the chal-
teau ; how they had finally got to the Island
of the Chatelet , opposite to the rock of
Massablelle , that only separated them from
the narrow channel of the mills of Savoy. It
was a wild spot , where ordinary shepherd1 !
often pastured the country pigs , who In
sudden showers would seek shelter under
the rock of Massablelle , that was dug out
in a sort ot shallow grotto at the base ,
hidden by sweetbrlor and blackberry bushes.
Dead wood was scarce.
Marie and Jeanne crossed the channel ,
when they saw on the other side a whole
lot of branches , carried down nnd left there
by the freshet , while Bernadette , more dell-
cato and somewhat retiring , waited on the
edge In despair , not wishing to wet h r
feet. She had a cold In her head , and her
mother had charged her to wrap herself well
In her hood a large , whlto hood that wis :
distinctly outlined on her old black woollen
dress. When she found her companloni
would not help her over 9he sat down to
take off her sabots and stockings.
It was about noon ; the three strokes of
the Angelas striking from the parish church
were wafted toward the va't , calm winter
sky that was veiled with a soft down of
cloud ? . And then It was she felt a strange
sensation ringing In her ears like the noise
of a tempest so much so that she thought
she hoard a hurricane from the mountains.
She looked at the trees. She was astounded ,
for not a leaf was moving. Then , thinking
she must be mistaken , she was about to
pick up her sabots , when again the mighty
wind overpowered her. But this tlmo the
difficulty In her cars reached her eyes. She-
no longer saw the trees. She was dazzled by
n whiteness , a kind of living- light , that
seemed to fix Itself against the rock above
the grotto In a high nnd narrow nave , like
the splro In n cathedral.
Terrified , she fell on her knees. What was
It , O God ? Formerly , In old times , when
her asthma oppressed her greatly , she had
passed bad nights , with endless dreams
often distressing dreams of which she could
feel the choking sensation when she nuoko ,
even If she could not remember the sub
jects.
Had she thus dreamed the night before ?
Was this the continuation of some forgotten
dream ? Then , little by little , a figure be
came apparent , and she thought she saw a
face that the bright light made quite white.
In the fear that It might be the devil , her
brain haunted by the stories ot witches , she
of primitive races ? In what book of pictures
I belonging to the brother of her foster
, mother ? the priest who read nuch splendid
tultB ? In what ntatue ? In what picture ?
In what stained glass window of the church
had she grown ? Above all , those golden
roses on the naked feet , the delicious Imagln-
I ntlon of luve , that combined blossom of the
flesh of a woman from what romance of
chivalry did BIO ! come ? From what story
told at the catoch.'slng by the Abbe Ader ? In
what unconscious dream developed under the
shades of Bartres ? as she repeated over nnd
over the besetting score of the Angelic Salu
tation.
Plerro was greatly moved In the recitation
of all thess things to those simple souls , who
listened , and the human solution created by
his own doubt tempted him to give an ac
count of these proillgUa that would thrill his
hearers with fratern.il sympathy. He loved
Bernadotto nil the moro for the charm of her
hallucination that Laily of gracious access ,
perfectly amiable , full ot suavity. In appear
ing and disappearing. First , the shining
light , then the vision appearing going , com
ing , bonding , moving In an Insensible nnd
airy Irresolution , And when she faded away
the light still remained a moment longer ,
then went out like n falling star. No lady In
this sphere could possess so pink and white
a face , ns lovely In Its childish beauty as
pictures given nt one's first communion.
And the briers In the grotto did not oven
wound those naked feet , that blossomed like
gold.
gold.And at once Plerro told of further appari
tions. The fourth and fifth took place on
Friday and Saturday , but the Lady of sudden
brightness , who ns yet had never told her
name , was content to smile and bow , without
saying ono word. On Sunday she wept and
said to Bernadet'e :
"Pray for all sinners. "
On Monday , wishing no doubt to test the
child , she did not appear.
Hut on Tuesday she confided to her a per
sonal secret that must never bo divulged ;
then finally indicated thu mission with which
she was charged :
"Go and tell the priests to build a chapel
here. "
On Wednesday she murmured at Intervals
the word "Penitence , penitence , penitence , "
that the child repeated while kissing the
ground.
On Thursday she said , "Go and drink from
.the fountain , wash In It and eat some of the
grass that grows beside It. " Words that
were finally comprehended by the seeress , as
a spring leaped forth through her fingers , at
the bottom of the grotto , and. thus was per
formed Hie mlraclo of the enchanted foun
tain.
tain.After
After that passed the second week ; she did
not appear on Friday , but she was most
punctual on the five following days , repeat
ing her commands nnd contemplating with
her smile the humble girl of her cholc ? , who ,
at each apparition , told her beads , kissed the
ground nnd walked on her knees up to the
spring to drink and wash herself.
Finally , on Thursday , March 11 , the last
day of the mystic meetings , she insisted
more specially upon the construction of a
chapel , where the people from all quarters
of the globe might come in processions. Up
to that time , however , she had refused all
Bernadette's requests that she would tell
who she was , and It was only on Thursday ,
March 25 , three weeks later , that the Lady ,
clasping her hands and raising her eyes to
heaven , said :
"I am the Immaculate Conception. "
Twlco moro , at fairly long Intervals
April 7 and July 10 she appeared. The
first time to perform the mlraclo of the
candle that candle over which the child
held her hand by an oversight for a long
tlmo without burning It , the second tlmo to
bid falrwell , give a final smile and a last
bow of sweet complacency.
That made eighteen apparitions In all and
she never showed herself again.
Plerro was torn by conflicting emotions.
Whllo ho continued the rosy hued tale so
comforting to those wretches In the car
rlago , no conjured up to himself a Berna-
detto so dear , yet so greatly to be pitied ,
whoso sufferings had given birth to such
flowers of romance. According to the brutal
opinion of a doctor this young girl of four
teen , tortured by a tardy puberty , already
n prey to asthma , was nothing more than
a subject for Irregular hysteria , most
certainly aenemlc and childish. If
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THE GHOTTO AT LOUHDES.
began to say her rosary. And when the
light had faded , llttlo by little , nnd she had
rejoined' Marie and Jeanne , after crossing
the channel , she was surprised that neither
of them had seen anything while picking up
wood In front pf tho..grotto.
As they went back to Lourdes the three
girls chatted. Had she really Been some
thing ? But she would not answer. Uneasy
and rather ashamed , finally nlio said she had
seen something white.
From then the rumor grow and spread.
The Soublrons , Informed , were nnnoyed by
such childishness , and forbade their daugh
ter to go back to the rock of Massablelle.
But nil the children In the neighborhood
were already telling the story , nnd the
parents were forced on Sunday to permit Ber
nadotto to go to the grotto with a bottle of
holy wnter to find out U watt really bomi-
thlng diabolical.
Again she saw the brightness , the fure
that smiled , not fearing the holy water.
And the following Thursday she again re
turned , accompanied by several people , and
It was on that day only that the Lady of tbo
sudden light condescended at last to address
her In tlicso words ;
"Do mo the favor to conic hero for fittest !
days. "
Lltllo by llttlci the Lady became more , de
fined. The thing dressed In whlto was a
lady moro beautiful than a queen , such as
are only seen In pictures.
At first Benmiiotte- hesitated when piled
with the questions from nil about her. over
come by scruples. Then It appeared that by
these very questions the figure took on a
dctlntto lite , became moro distinct , with linns
and colors , that the child In all her descrip
tions never varied. The eyps were blue and
very soft , the mouth pink and suilllng , the
oval of the face showed at the same tlmo a
grace of youth nnd of maternity , One could
only see from under the edge of the long veil
that covered her hnul and hung to her heels
the ringlets of lovely blonde hair. The dress ,
all whlto , shining , must bo of some stuff
unknown on earth , shot with sunlight. The
gcnrf , Bky blue , loosely knotted , hung down
In two long floating cuds , with the lightness
of tbo morning breeze. The rosary , held In
the right arm , wax of milk whlto bqads ,
whllo Hie links nnd the croug were of gold.
And on the naked feet , on those odorabh
feet of virgin snow , were placed two golden
roses , the mystlo roses ot that Immaculate
flesh ot the Divine Mother.
Where , then , could Ilernadotlo have soon
this Holy Virgin , so traditional In her simple
composition , without a jewel , with the grace
there existed no violent crises , If In her fits
she did not become perfectly rigid , If she re
tained the exact recollection of her dreams ,
It simply meant that hers was a most un
usual case ; nnd the Inexplicable alone consti
tutes the miracle , for science knows as yet
so llttlo. according to the world , In the midst
of the Infinite variety of phenomena ! Have
not many shepherdesses daring such a child
hood ns Bernadette's thus seen the Virgin ?
Is It not nlways the snme story , the lady
clothed In light , the secret confided , the
bounding spring , the mission to fulfil , the
miracles whoso power Is to convert the popu
lace ?
It was always the dream of a poor child ,
the samti parochial teachings , an Ideal formed
by traditional beauty , gentleness nnd kindly
mannerd , the Innocence of the means , but an
Identical aim In view that of delivering the
world , the building of churches , the proces
sions of the faithful ! Then Invariably the
same words fell from heaven appeals for
penitence , promises of divine help , and In this
case their only difference came In the extra
ordinary declaration , "I am the Immacu
late Conception. " that seemed to express
the real recognizance by the Holy Virgin
of the doctrine promulgated In convention
at Rome three years before.
It was not the Immaculate Virgin that
appeared , but the Immaculate Conception ,
the thing , the dogma , so that ono could only
question If the Virgin had really spoken
thus. The remaining words might pos
sibly have been heard by Bornadette and
unconsciously stored In a corner ot her
brntn.
But this last ono , whence did she
come , to give to the still much discussed
dogma the prodigious support of the testi
mony of the Mother conceived without sin ?
So Plerro , fully convinced of Bernadetto's
absolutely good faith , who refused to believe
her to Uo the Instrument of fraud , ran on ,
full ot trouble , as he felt truth wavering
within his mind.
At Lourdes the excitement was tremen
dous. Crowds rushed thither , miracles Were
being parformed , whllo the Inevitable perse
cutions that nssuro the triumph of new re
ligion were taking place. And Abbe Poyra-
male , the vicar of Lourdes , a thoroughly
honest man ot upright and1 vigorous mind ,
could only say with truth that ho did not
know this child , had not oven seen her at
the cathochlzlng. Where , then , existed tha
Impression ? Where had the lesson been
FearnedT
There had only betn tha childhood spent
at Ilnrtres. The c.irly teachings of Abbo
Ader , . perhaps conversation with htm , the
religious ceremonies In honor of the late
doftnin , or simply the gift of ono of those
mcdallons thnt hnd been scattered abroad
In such profusion. In nil this Abbo Ader
never npponred , ho who hnd prophesied the
mission of the seeress. Ho was left out
of the history of llernadelle , nftcr having
bean the first to feel this little soul awaken
under his godly guidance. Yet nil the for
gotten forces of the sequestered village , of
that confined and superstitious nook , Btlll
continued to whisper everywhere , torment-
IIIR brains nnd spreading the contagion of
lho mystery.
They now remembered Hint a shepherd
from Argatcs , in spenklng of the Hock of
Mnssnblolle , had predicted that great things
would come to pass there. Other children
fell Into ccslaslas , with wide open eyes ,
their limbs shake'ti py convulsions , but they
only saw lho devu , , ' . A wave of folly seemed
to Inundate the neighborhood. At Lourdes
nn old woman dedlaied thnt Bornadetto was
n witch , nnd thnt ahe had seen the toad's
claw In her eye. . , ,1 ,
To the rest , Oik. thousands of pilgrims
who had assemblejrh she was n saint , whoso
garments were klMed , Sobs broke forth , n
frenzy carried LUiin nwny whenever she
knelt In front oftho grotto , a lighted tnper
In her right hnnJ , holding her rosary In the
loft ono. She .became very pale , very
beautiful , OH If transfigured. Her features
gradually changed , expanding1 Into nn ex
pression of cxtrnordlnnry beatitude , whllo
her eyes bocnuio liquid , clenr , nnd the half
opened lips moved ns though she were
speaking unheard sentences. And It was
quite certain that she had no longer any
will of her own overpowered by her rovory ,
so completely overcome by It , thnt she con
tinued oven when awake , In her limited ,
narrow existence , nnd thnt she believed In
It na the only Inscrutable reality of her
life , rendy to confess It even at the price
of her blood , repeating It ever nnd over
with obstinacy , with the same details. She
did not lie , for she neither wished to know ,
did know , nor was able to believe anything
else.
else.Pierre
Pierre then went on to draw a charming
picture of nnclent Lourdes , n quiet llttlo
town nestling nt the foot of the Pyrenees.
Formerly the chateau , perched on n rock nt
the crossroads of the seven valleys of
Lavdan , was the key to the mountains. But
nowadays only a heap of dismantled ruins
was left nt the entrance of the pass. Against
the formidable rampart of the great snow-
clad peaks modern llfo battered In vain ,
and only a trans-Pyrenaen railway , had It
ever beun built , could have established an
active Intercourse with the social world In
this out-of-the-way corner , where life was
llko ' .i stagnant k > ool. Quito forgotten ,
Lourdes. slept on , happy and serene In the
midst of secular pence , with her narrow
streets paved 'wltlr cobblestones , her dark
houses framed In marble. All the old
houses were built to the cast of the chateau ;
the R.UO do la Grotto , then called the Hue
des Hols , was nothing but n deserted road ,
impassable ; there was no house ns far
down as the Gave , tha In those days rushed
with foaming waters through the absolute
silence of willow trees nnd tall weeds. In
the place du Mnrcadal occasional passers by
were to be seen on a week day house
keepers hastening home or small
merchants taking their time and It
was only on Sunday or nt fair times
that mlgnt be found in the market place the
people in holiday at"-i , the crowds of sheep
breeders coming with their animals from dis
tant plains. During the summer season the
passing through of persons who went to take
the baths nt Canterlls and Baguere also gave
somu animation to the town ; diligences
crossed the town twice a day , but they came
from Pan over nn abominable road and were
obliged to ford the Lapaca , that frequently
overflowed its banks ; then , coming up the
steep hill In the Hue Basse , one could see
the terrace In front of the ohurch , shaded by
enormous elms. What peace reigned about
that old church that old church , half Span
ish , filled with ancient statues , columns ,
sculptures , reredos , peopled by visions of
gold nnd painted flesh , mellowed by time , as
though seen by the light of mystic lamps !
The whole population came there to pray ,
filling their nyes with this dream of the mys
terious. There were no faithless ones , for
they were n primitive people. Each corpora
tion inarched under the banner of Its own
saint ; societies of all kinds were united to
gether on saints' days from the entire town
ns ono family , and n great purlty of qus-
toms , like an exquisite flower grown In a
special pot , ruled over all ; the young men
were unable oven to ' find any place for dissi
pation , all the youn'g girls developed In the
beauty nnd perfume of Innocence under the
eyes of the Holy Virgin , the tower of Ivory
and throne of wisdom.
One could easily , understand how Berna-
detto , born In this land of holiness , should
have flourished ) lko , a natural rose , opening
amid the sweetbrlers on the road. She was
In fact the blossom of this ancient land of
belief nnd honesty. She certainly could not
have grown elsewhere , could not have been
produced nor developed other than * In the
midst of that backward race , In the slum
bering peace of a primitive people , under the
moral discipline cf religion. And what love
had at once sprung up about her ! What
blind faith In her mission , what Immense
consolation nnd hope , from the very first
miracles ! A long cry of relief greeted the
cures of old Bourrlette , when ho received his
sight , nnd of llttlo Justin Bonhohorts , resus
citated In the Icy water of the fountain. At
last the Holy Virgin Interceded In favor of
the hopeless , and had forced that hard
hearted mother , Nature , to be Just nnd char
itable. It was the new reign * of divine om
nipotence that overthrew the laws of this
world for the happiness of the poor and suf
fering. The miracles Increased. Each day
something moro marvelous transpired , as
though they were proofs cf Bcrnadetto's trust
that could not be denied. She was indeed
the rose of the heavenly garden , who was
sweetened by Us work , and who saw flourish
ing about her all the other-flowers of grace
and salvation.
Pierre had gone on thus far , speaking
again about the miracles , and was about to
continue by tolliag the prodigious triumphs
of the grotto , when Sister Hyaclnthe , sud
denly rousing herself from the fascination
with vrtilch she had been held by the tale
stood up quickly.
"Heally , there Is no sense In this. It will
soon be 11 o'clock. "
It was true. They hnd passed Morcoux
and were getting near Mont do Marson. So
she clapped her hands.
"Silence , my children ; silence. "
This tlmo no one dared remonstrate , for
she wns right. It would not be wise. But
whnt regrets not to hear the rest , to be
thus left In the middle of the story ! The
ten women in the compartment at the end
oven allowed their murmurs of disappoint
ment to be heard , while the Invalids , still
with relaxed features , and eyes wide open
on the light of hope that was shining be
yond , appeared to be listening. Those
miracles coming without end finished by
haunting them with a great and supernatural
joy."And.
"And. " added the nun gayly , "do not let
mo henr oven n whisper , otherwise I shall
Impose a penance ! "
Madame do Jonqulere fairly laughed from
good nature.
"Obey , my children ; obey. Sleep , sleep
quietly , so that tomorrow you may have
strength to pray with all your hearts at the
grotto. "
They were then silent. No ono spoke , and
there could be heard only the rumbling of
the wheels and the shaking of the train run
ning along at full speed through the black
Plerro could not sleep. At his side Mon
sieur l > le Guersalnt was already snoring ,
with ff-Tinppy look , notwithstanding the hard
ness of the bench. For a long time the
priest had scon that Marie's eyes were wide
open , still filled with the splendor of the
wonders of which he had told. She had first
fixed them ardently upon hlim Then she
hdd shut them , but he could not toll whether
she was asleep or whether she was living
over with closed wypllds the continual
miracle. . Now 'and ngaln the Invnllds
were dreaming ; , sometimes laughing ,
then agntn moaning unconsciously. Per-
hana they were Witnessing the archangels
an they melted away all fleshly Ills to take
out their dlscastf. 4' Others , sleepless , turned
and twisted , strangled a sob or looked Into
space. And Pierre , shuddering ns he
thought of such .mystery , felt upset and
could not comppfco 'himself ' ot this delirious
center of suffering ; brotherhood , ended by
loathing his owrt reasoning power , tried to
bo In close comnlunlan with these humble
ones nnd resolvefl'tp bellovo as they. What
availed his physiological Inquiries regarding
Bernadotte , so complicated and so filled
with gaps ! Why" hot accept her as a divine
messenger from above , an elect of an un
known heaven ? Doctor * were only Ignorant
men with brutal ways , whereas U would ha
ao pleasant to ululnber off In the faith ot a
I
' llttlo child to the realms of Impossibility.
So he gnvo himself up finally to a delicious
period , no longer seeking to explain , nc
cepttng the secrets with her glorious cortege
of miracles , placing himself entirely In God's
hnnds to hnvo nml to du with him ns Ho
wished. So ho looked out through the
window , that they were nfrnld to open on
nccount of consumptives , nnd ho saw the
great darkness covering ever the land
through which the train wns rushing , The
storm hnd passed over , The sky In Its
lovely purity looked ns If fresh wnahed by
H mighty wnve. Large stnrs were shining
over the dark vnlley , lighting with a mys
terious glenm the refreshed nnd silent fields
thnt stretched Indefinitely In the dark
silence of slumber. Across the pining ,
ncross the vnllcys , over the hills still rolled
HIP carriage load of misery and suffering ;
still rolled , overheated , Inmontnblo , Infested
nnd walling , through thu serenity of thnt
beautiful nnd peaceful August night.
At 1 In the morning they went by Ulscle.
The sllonco continued , painfully nnd with
mental suffering nmld the Jolting , i At 2
'
o'clock , nt Vic de Blgorre , there were henrd
muffled groans ; the wretched condition of
the mil shook the Invnllds bick nnd forth
In n most Insupportable movement. H
wns only nt Tnrbes , nt 2:30 : , thnt the
silence wns finally broken nnd morning
prayers were said , whllo It was yet dark
The paters nnd nves , the creed nml appeals
to God , to nsk for the happiness of a glori
ous dny. Oh , my God ! give mo enough
strength to forego nil evil , to do only what
Is right , to suffer nil Ills.
There would now bo no stop until Lourdes ,
Hcarcoly three-quarters of nn hour moro ; nnd
Lourdes stood out with Its great hope In the
midst of this long nnd cruel night. The
painful waking wa rendered feverish by
tills thought , a Innt , ngitatlon wns created
throughout the morning's discomfort , the
abominable suffering that hnd to begin
ngaln ,
But Sister Hynclntho was troubled most of
all about the mnn , whose face , covered with
sweat , she had not ceased to sponge. Ho had
lived till then. She hnd watched him , not
having closed her eyes for a second , listening
to his faint breath with the engrossing de-
biro to get him nt least as far ns the grotto.
Suddenly she was afraid , nnd addressing
Mine , de Jonqulere said :
"I beg you , please to pass mo the bottle
of vinegar quickly ; I do not hear him breathe
any longer. "
In fact , for a moment past the man had nut
made his faint sigh. Ills eyes were still
closed , his mouth half open ; but his pallor
could not have Increased , because he was
already cold , ashen hued. And the railway
carriage , ns It rolled over the rattling rails ,
seemed to go faster nnd faster.
"I will rub his tempi's again , " said Sister
Hyaclnthe. "Help me. "
As a violent jolt shook the carrlago the
man suddenly fell , with his face downward ,
against the partition. He remained straight
up , with rigid body , otify at each Jolt his
head made n slight motion. The train bore
him on with the same thundering noise ,
while the locomotive whistled shrill and
sharp , n whole fanfare of screaming joy ,
happy , no doubt to nrrlve. on this calm night.
For ono Interminable half hour the jour
ney" was brought to n close with the dead
man. Two great tears rolled down Sister
Hyaclnthe's cheeks , then with clasped hands
she commenced to pray. The. occupants of
the whole carriage shuddered , terrified by the
presence of this awful companion , whom they
were taking too late to the Holy Virgin. But
hope was stronger than sorrow , and though
all the Ills that were crowded there together
should revive , Increase and be renewed un
der the overpowering fatigue , none the less
did a hymn of praise announce their trl-
uinphal entrance to the land of miracles.
The Invnllds finished singing the Ave Marls
Stella , although tears were ( lowing on nc
count of their pains , and tears and cries
were blended In a growing clamor where
the moans changed Into songs of hope.
Marie again took Pierre's hand In her own
little feverish fingers.
"O God , that mnn Is dead , and I feared so
that I might dlo before we could arrive. And
now wo are there : wo are there at last ! "
The priest trembled with Infinite emotion :
"You will be cured , Marie , and I too shnll
bo cured It you pray for me. " s
The locomotive whistled louder than ever
through the bluish darkness. They were ar
riving. The lights of Lourdes were seen on
tha horizon , and once again the whole train
sang the canticle , the history of Bernadette ,
the long compline of sixty verses. In which
the angelic salutation returns without ceas
ing as a refrain , soothing , possessing , openIng -
Ing the sky with Its ccstacy.
SECOND DAY.
Chapter I.
It was twenty minutes past three by the
station clock , whoso dial was lighted by n
reflector , nnd the shadows of those who were
waiting patiently might be seen moving
up and down under the shed thnt covered
the platform for nbout a hundred yards.
In the distance In the blackness outside
could only bo distinguished the red light of
a
Two of the persons walking stopped. The
larger , n priest of the Assumption , the
reverend Fnthor Fourcndo , the director of
the national pilgrimage , who had arrived
the day before , was a man of 00 , fine lookIng -
Ing In his black cloak with Its long hood.
Ills handsome head , with Its bright and
dominating eyes and thick , gray beard , was
that of a general whoso determined mind
Is bent on conquests. But he drugged ono
leg nlong , having been suddenly seized with
nn attack of gout , nnd ho leaned on the
shoulder of his companion , Dr , Bonamy ,
the physician attached to the Bureau of
Verification of Miracles , a small , short mnn ,
with n square clean shaven face and dull
eyes that looked stupidly out of a peaceful
countenance.
Father Fourcade had Interpellated the sta
tion master , who had just run out of his
offlco ;
"Ploaso , air , Is the white train much be
hind ? "
"No , reverend father , about ten minutes.
It will bo hero on the halt hour. But
what troubles me la the train from Bayonno.
That should have gone by already. "
And ho run on to give nn order ; then
cnrno back , thin and nervous , agitated , In
the state of feverish anxiety that kept him
on the stretch for days and nights during
the season of these grent pllgrlmnges. That
day ho expected , outside the ordinary service
ot the road , eighteen trains , containing moro
tlinn 15,000 travelers. The gray train nnd
the blue trnln that had loft Paris first had
already arrived on tlmo. Hut the whlto
trnln being behind tlmo hnd disarranged
everything , , nil the moro because the Bay-
OIUIOH express had not been signaled , and
ono could understand the continual personal
supervision nnd momcntnry nlertness thnt
was required from the station master him
self.
self."In ten minutes , then ? " repeated Father
Fourcade. "Yes , In ten minutes , unless I
am obliged to close the line , " said the sta
tion master , running to the telegraph office.
The priest and the doctor began ngaln to
walk slowly. They were only surprised that
ns yet no accident should hnvo happened In
so great a crowd. Formerly there existed
the most Incredible confusion. The father
could enslly remember the first pltgrlmago
that he had organized and conducted In 1875 ;
the' terrible Interminable Journey , without
pillows , mattresses ; Invalids half dead that
were nlmoat Impossible to revive ; then the
arrival at Lourdes ; getting out of the train
pellmell ; not the slightest material prepara
tions ; neither ( races , litters nor carriages.
Today there existed a powerful organization ;
an hospital was ready for the Invalids , and
one was no longer reduced to He on straw
under a * hed. What a shock for those
wretches ! What will power In the mnn of
faith hnd then brought thorn to the mlrnclel
And the father smiled softly ns ho thought
of the work ho hnd accomplished.
Ho now questioned the doctor , on whose
shoulder he was still leaning :
"How ninny pilgrims did you have last
year ? "
"About 100,000. Thnt U nbout the average.
The year of the Coronation of the Virgin the
number mounted lip to fiOO.OOO. Hut that
wns nn exceptional occasion. A considerable
effort on the pnrt of the Propngnnda. Nat
urally such crowds rarely cotno ngnln. "
There ensued n silence , then the priest
murmured : "Of course. The work Is blessed.
It prospers from day to dny. Wo hnvo col
lected more than 200,000 francs for this trip ,
nnd God wilt bo with us. You will have n
great number of cures to certify tomorrow ,
I am sure. " Then , speaking once more :
"Hns not Father Dargeles come ? "
Dr. Bonnmy mndo n vnguc gesture , as
much ns to say ho did not know. Thu
Father Dargolcs was employed as the editor
of the Journal of the Grotto. He belonged
to the order of the fathers of the Immaculntu
Conception , who were Installed nt Lourdes
by the bishop nnd who were absolute mas
ters there. But when the fathers of the As
sumption conducted the national pilgrimage
from 1'nrlf ) thnt was joined by the faithful
from Cnmbrnl , Arms , Clmrtrcs , Troyes ,
lUiolms , Sens , Orleans , lllols , Poitiers , they
affected to dlsnppcnr from It completely ,
their omnipotence wns neither felt ut the
grotto nor In the cathedral. They appeared
to have handed over nil responsibility when
delivering the keys of these places. The
superior. Father Cnpdcbarthe , whoso frame
was loosely knit nnd whose largo head looked
ns though carved by n pruning knife , n kind
of defaced peasant's face thnt retnlncd the
dull nnd reddish reflection of thu soil , did
not oven show up. There wns only Father
Dargeles , small and Insinuating , to be met
everywhere In search of notes for th < ? news
paper. Hut If lho fathers of the Immaculate
Conception were lost to Bight they were felt
r ? swLi :
' / % . $ " - g fro * - ;
BERNADKTTE'S BIRTHPLACE.
j all the same behind this vast decoration ,
j as being the hidden , yet sovereign power ,
who coined money , who worked without ceas
ing for the triumphal prosperity of the
house. They even made uso'of their hu
mility.
"It Is true , " said Father Fourcado , gayly ;
"one has had to get up very early at 2
o'clock but I wished to bo on hand. What
would my poor children have said ? "
It was thus ho designated the Invalids the
i llesh to be miraculously treated , and he
never failed to be at the station , at no mat
ter what hour , to meet the white train , that
pitiful train with Its burden of suffering.
"Thrco twenty-flvo , live minutes more , "
said Dr. Bonamy , suppressing a yawn , aa
he ISoltcd at the clock , feeling really very
cross , notwithstanding his obsequious nlr at
having left his bed so early In the morn-
Ing.
Their sauntering was continued on the
platform that resembled a covered walk. In
the midst of the darkness , lighted only by
gas Jets that looked like little yellow rings.
Various persons in small groups priests ,
men In top coats , an officer of dragoons
came and went without stopping , talking
In low tones. Others , seated on the benches
that were agiinst the wall , chatted or
waited patiently , looking out vacantly Into
the dim country. The offices and waiting
rooms , brilliantly lighted , were opening
their doors , and already everything was il
luminated In the eating room , where one
could see the marble topped tables and the
counter filled with platters of bread nnd
fruit , bottles and glasses.
But , above all , to the right , at the end
of the shed , there was a confusion and
crowd. It was yonder , by means of n car
riageway , that the Invalids were taken out.
Obstructions In the form of litters , small
carriages , heaps of cushions nnd mattresses
filled the sidewalk. Three companies of
litter bearers wore also there , men from
all walks of life , especially young men of
high society , all wearing on their clothes
the red cross , outlined with yellow , and the
yellow leather strap. Many had adopted
the beret , the comfortable headgear of the
land. A few , dressed as It for a long moun
tain climb , were handsome gaiters reaching
to the knee. Some smoked , whllo others ,
seated In their little carriages , slept or read
a newspaper by the light of the nearest gas
jet. A little apart a group stood discussing
some question of service. Suddenly the lit
ter bearers saluted. A paternal looking man
had come , very white haired , with a heavy ,
good Matured face , with big blue eyes , like
those of a credulous child. It was Baron
Sulrc , a man possessing ono of the largest
fortunes and best positions In Toulouse , anil
the president of the Hospitality of Our Lady
of Salvation. .
"Where Is Dorthaud ? " he Inquired of each
with an Important manner. "Whero Is
llerthaud ? I must speak to him. "
Each ono answered , giving different In
formation. Bortlmud was the director of
the litter bearers. This ono hud Just seen
the director with Rev. Father Brancard ;
that ono said ho must-bo in the court yard
of the station , Inspecting the ambulances.
"If the president wishes wo will go and
find the director "
"No , no , thanks ; I can easily find him
myself. "
All this time Bortlmud , who was sitting
on a bench at thq pUorcnd | of the station
waiting for the trol'n ttp , arrive , was talking
to his young friend , Gerard Oo Pcyrclongue.
Ho was a man of about 40 , of largo and
regular features , and still wore a mustacha
as ho had done when a magistrate ) . He be
longed to an Influential legitimist family , and
had hlniRolf most arbitrary opinions. Ho
had been since. May 21 counsel for the re
public In n town In the Interior , when on
the day following tlie decree agulntt congre
gations ho had been obstreperously dis
missed by an Insulting letter addressed to
the minister of Justice. Ho hud not been
disarmed , but by way of protestation he
had joined the Hospitality of Our Lady of
Salvation , coming each year to Lourdes ,
convinced that tlicso pilgrimages were dis
agreeable and annoying to the republic , and
that God alone could re-establish a mon-
arcy by ono of those miracles Ho worked In
the grotto. In the meantime ho possessed
great common sense , laughed heartily ,
showed a jovial charity for the poor Invalid ! )
whoso transportation he supervised during
the throe days ot the national pilgrimage.
"Then , my dear Gerard , " he was saying
to the young man seated near him , "your
marriage will surely come off this year ? "
"Of course , If I can find the wlfo I want , "
answered the other , "Come , cousin , ad-
vlso mo. "
Gerard do Poyrclonguo , small , thin , red
haired , with a turned up nose and sharp
cheek bones , came from Tarbes , where his
father and mother had just died , leaving him
an Income of at the most 7,000 or 8,000 francs.
Very ambltloun , ho had been unable to find
In his own country such a wlfo as ho wished ,
well born and a ble to push him onward
and upwerd. So ho joined the Hospi
tality and came each year to Lourdes with
the vague hope that ho mfght amidst the
crowds of the faithful or In the throng of
ladles and nold | young girls discover the
family that he needed to ( iclp him on In the
journey through this mortal life ,
He was now rather perplexed , for although
ho had several young girls In view , ono ono
of them completely satisfied him.
"Now , cousin you who are n man of ex
perience , advise mo , There U Mile. Lemor-
cler , who comes hero with her aunt , She Is
Tory rich , moro than n million , they say ,
But oho Is not of our sot nml I fancy she lo
very Imlrbralnod. "
Ilerthatiil shook his head.
"I have told you I would tnko little Ilny-
momle. Mlt ! . tie Jonqulero ,
"Hut she has not got a penny. "
"That Is true hardly enough to pay for
her living- Hut she Is stilllcontly ploaslnc
ns regards looks , well brought up nnd cer-
tnnlnly has no expensive tastes , nnd surely
what Is the nan of marrying n rich wlfo If
she spends everything nho brings ? And , fur
ther , you see , I l < now the Indies well. I hnvu
mot them diirliiK the entire winter In thu
wealthiest circles In Purls. Thru do not for
get the uncle the diplomat who 1ms had the
sad courage to remain In the service of tha
republic nnd who can do for his nephew
whatever ho wishes. "
Startled for a moment Gerard once moro
fell Into his musings :
"Not n penny ; not n penny ; It Is too stiff ,
I will think It over again ; but really I nut
too much nfrnld. "
This time llcrthnud Intlghcd loudly.
"Come , come ; you nru nmbltlous. One must
play boldly. I tell you you can bo secretary
nt tin embassy before two years nro p.-tst.
Tin ) Indies nro In the whlto trnln that wo
nw.nlU Decide. Begin nt once to mnkn lovO. "
"No , no ; by nnd by. I must think U
ovor. "
At this moment they were Interrupted.
Baron Sulro. who hud passed them once
without seeing them In tholr lonely comer ,
hnd recognized the Jolly laugh of the former
counsel for the republic , and nt once , with
I he volubility of a man who loses his hcnd
easily , he gave several orders about the car
riage and the means of transportation , de
ploring that they could not taku the Invalids
Immediately upon arriving to the grotto-
bill , of course the hour was too early. They
were to bo Installed at the Hospital ot Our
Lady of Sorrow , whore they would bo nblo
to rrst after such n severe journey.
Whllo the baron nnd the head litter bearer
were thus deciding what was to bo done ,
Gciurd was shaking hands with u priest who
hnd sat down beside him on the bench.
Abbe dos llermolses , who was scnrcply 3S
years old , had the superb physique of n
worldly priest , well Groomed , sweet smelling
and adored by women. Most amiable , verv
distinguished , he came to Lourdes with no
duties of a priest , but ns many came there ,
for their own pleasure , and he retained. In
the depths of his beautiful eyes , the bright
sparkle , the skeptical smile , superior to nil
Idolatry. To bo sure , he believed , he vowed ;
but the church had not yet pronounced her
flat on the miracles , and ho seemed rcidy to
discuss them. He had lived at Tartes , ami
knew Gerard.
"Well , " said he , "this is sulflclontly Im
pressing , this waiting for the trains nt night ,
I am meeting a lady , onu of my former peni
tents ut Paris , but I am not sure by which
train she will come. So , you see , I remain.
It all interests me GO much. "
Then another priest , nn old country priest ,
also came and hat down , beginning to chat
with him , speaking about the beauty of lho
country about Lourdes and of the "coup do
theater" a moment ago , when the mountains
appeared ns the Min was rising.
Hut once moro a sudden commotion was
heard. The station master ran , giving or
ders , and Father Fourcado , oven with his
gouty leg , did not wait to lean on Dr. Bella
my's shoulder , but came along fast.
"Ah ! It Is the Bayoimo express that Is In
trouble , " the station master answered to nil
the questions. "I wish I had further news.
I am not at all easy. "
At that moment some ringing was heard ,
a trnln hand disappeared Into the dnrknefc *
swinging a lantern , while n signal worked
In the distance. And the stntlonmaster
added :
"Ah ! This time It Is the white train. Let
us hope we shall have time to land our In
valids before the express passes. " He went
his way and disappeared. Berthand called
Gerard , who was thu head ot one tquail of
litter bearers , and both of them hastened ,
each to Join his own company , of which the
Baron Sulre was already making use. The
litter bearers were pouring in on all sides
were running and pulling their little car
riages across the rails up to the landing
platform , an uncovered platform In full ob- ,
Bcurlty. There soon was a heap ot cushions ,
mattresses and litters waiting , while Father
Fourcade , Dr. Bonamy , the priests , the
gentlemen und the officer of tliagoons were
also croslng over to aid In helping the In
valids to get out , and far off , nt the end
of the dark lane , nothing could yet bu seen
but the headlight of the locomotive , like a
red star , that got bigger and bigger. The
whistle shrieked wildly through the night
air. When It had stopped there could only
bo heard the hissing steam , the slow
rumbling ot the wheels as they went , slower
and slower. Then , distinctly might l-o
heard the canticle , the complaint of Hernnr-
delte , sung by the entire train , with the re
curring Aves of the refrain. And that trnln
of sintering and faith , that train , groaning
and singing , thus making Its entrance Into
Lourdes , stopped.
Instantly all the doots were opened. T no
crowd of well pilgrims and the 111 ones who
could walk got down and Illled the platform.
The occasional gas Jots lighted but feebly
that poor crowd , with Its neutral tinted gar
ments , hampered by packages of nil sorts
by baskets , valises nnd wooden boxes. Aim
In the midst of shoving and pushing , among
the frightened flock Unit did not know which
way to turn to get out. might bo heard ex
planations , calls from members of families
who had got separated , the embraces of thos *
who had been met by relations or friends.
air of benign
Ono woman declared with an
satisfaction : "I have slept well. " A vicar
I-oiiig off with his vallso said to a crippled
woman. "Good luck. " Almost nil had the
astounded , fatigued , yet Joyous nppenranco
of people whom n special train has an , cd
the bustle became
In an unknown station. And
came such , the confusion became so aggra
vated In the midst of the dim 1 slit , that
the travelers could not even hear he direc
tions of the employes , who cried : Ilia
way this way , " In order to hasten the
c earanco of U o platform. Sister Hyacinth *
jumped quickly out of the railway cnrrl BO ,
leaving the dead man In charge of Slstoi
Olaho des Augt-s ; nnd losing her Hen , some ,
canteen van. thinking " '
what , ran to the
Porrand would help her. Fortunatuly sh
found Father Fourcado In the van , to who it
[ H low ono she told the lory.l" 'a'1 '
, called the are
n motion ot displeasure
Sulre who was passing , and spoke In hlj
car For several seconds they whispered
touether then Haron Sulro lushed on , dl-
with two Utter beareii
vhHiiK the crowd ,
' <
! ' ed him mrantlmo > ' '
| , , 'J&
thn casira
behind
houses ,
, , f the carriage
blonde son of .
little ,
One of the two , n
nnornl remained w tli the body.
Sister Ilync ntho had mennwhllo returned
after asking Sis ei
railway
, he watt tether
Korrand to gn nnd
Kranco s and
q
her oSthlS ? the Htatlon , where a rnrrlag.
them to the ho -
ml hpon engaged to tnko
nltnl of Our lS y f Sorrows. She though
, would before going , help BOIIIO of the
fnvnl is out , but Marie would not allow
nl > ° " 1 ° " ' "A01" '
-NO no uo IKJI > m. '
1 Rhal'l remain until the last. My fa tier
to Jeluh my
and Abbo Krornont hnvo gonu
wheels from the luggage van , an. . I am
wnltlng for them , as they know just how
To adjust them. | They will take care of
§
"lNollh0pllTarHediii. Sabathlor nor Brother
Isidore anxious to be ' 'iimoved uoforo the
crowd had dispersed ' a little. Mine. d
Sonqule o. charge of U. . Orlvo to ,
promised that ahe would also HOB that Mmo.
Vetu wa taken away In an , ambulaneo.
Sister Hynclntho therefore ducldod to Htnrt
In readiness at
at once to have ovorythlng
the hospital. She took with her llttlo
Sophie coutoau , nnd Kllso Ilouguot. wboia
face nho herself carefully covered. Mine.
Maze wont on ahead , while Mine. Vincent
struggled through the ciowd carrying on
her shoulders her child , fainting and white ,
with but cno fixed Idoa-that of going to
deposit the girl In the grotto at the feet
of the Holy Virgin. The rush now poured
out of the floor of exit , nnd It bccnmo * necos-
snry to open the doors of the luggage room
to facilitate the movements of * o many poo-
nle The employes , hardly knowing how to
? ak'o so many tickets , nnnlly held their
cops-caps that were quickly filled by th
rain of llttlo whlto pasteboards. And out
In the courtynrd , a largo courtyard that
surrounded three nldc of lho lower part ot
the station , there also existed nn ox *
traordlnary confusion , a pellmcll of every
kind of vehicle. Hotel omnibuses , bucked
up against the edge of the Bldewalk , were
designated by large placards , each bearing
a saintly title such ns tlio names of Maria
and of Jnstis , of Saint Mlchaol , of the Honary
and of the Sacred Heart. Then followed
rows of ambulances , landaus , cabs , light