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18 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SUNDAY. MAY 27. ISPt-TWENffY PAQEa
RESUME OF LOURDES.
llrlof Hyii ] i < lft " ' " ' " I'ortloii foln'g
Orriit Story \Vlilcli HUH llccn I'rlntnl
Chaptpr I. The opening scene of. "I/JunlcV la
In a crow dot ! tlilrd-climn cur of the whlto
train , " which entries the \cry silk pilgrims from
I'nrln to tounlt's. It In nt sunrise of a hot
AURust day , prumlirini ? to tnnko the Jouiney very
uncomfnrlnlili * . thnt the trtiln mart * . The ulclc
nre propped ni > on the benches or stretched on
mnttrpssPH. The tnr looks like n hospltiil wnrd ,
with Slalom of Amumptlon In each compnrt-
tnrnt nctlnir ns nurses. The windows nre kept
closed nnd Ilia nlr laery foul. Among the pll-
irrlmit H Mnrlo dp aucrsnlnt. a pallidly beiutiful
young woman who for ycnrs Imi h.id to He In
n colllnllka liox. flhi > In nccompnnled by her
father nnd th" AMic t'lerr.1'roinent. . wenrlnjy the
red cross uf u streteher bearer. Sinter llyn-
clnthe Is In ilnirKf. Other pllgrlmx In the coin-
iwrtnu-nl tinMine. . Vlneent. who It tnltlni ? her
clylrR tnby to bo cured nt the miraculous Krotto ;
Mme. Mnzc , ' who li Journeying tn I/jurdei to
ticsvech the Vlndn to reform her ill lpntmt hus-
luind , M. Hnliithler , formerly n prnfMior In the
I.yceo Chnrlemnmo. who Ims lost tli u e of hi *
legs , ' n mntlrvsii maker , ln Oo > ntte , djlnp of
consumption , nmi Rllu Il'iunurt , with her face
frightfully dlstlKurcd bv u Iupu4. HIMer llyn-
clntho tells stories of tin * inlrneiilous cures ef
fected by I urde , nnd Is Interrupted byli.it
nil believe to be tlu > djlns Btrugxlcs of an un
known pasKencer.
Chapter II. The Abbe Pierre fnlls Into n
ruerle nnd reviews his own life. He. was the son
of n chemist who Ihod ut Netillly. nnd who win
killed by n cxpliwlnn In his Inbonitorr. J'lerro's
mother , thinking the chemist's death to be a
punishment for Ills Kclentlllc rewnrclm , deal-
cnteil the boy to thu prlralhood. I.lvlnu next
them were M. de Gui-riMlnt , a visionary nrchl-
tcct , nnd his family Little Mnrlo de Ouersalnt
nnd Plerro plnjod together nnd Dnnlly fell In
love with each other n they srew up. Then
Marie fell off n horse nnd rccpUed an Injury
which turned nil the doctors nnd resulted In
neatly totnl paralysis. As she could never be
his wife , IMcrrii continued his otudtes nnd bc-
rnme n priest. Meanwhile , after reading his
father's book * , he Imd come to doubt some of the
teachings or the church. Mnrle became very n-
llRlous , nnd finally Pierre consented to accom
pany her on the pIlKrlmngi ! to I < mirdei.
Chapter III. The surfeilns In thu train Is In-
t no when It stops nt I'oltlers. A doctor Is
found to examine the unknown man. who Is
supposed to be ilylntr. The doctor proves to bs
an old frUnd of Bister Il.inclnttie , whom aha
nursed when lie was n poor Ktudcnt. The imn
Is beyonil Ills nlJ. und a priest with the holy oils
Is sent for.
Chapter IV. Just ns the trnln Blurts Sophlr *
Coutenu , young Rlrl , KCtM In the cir. Kile tells
the story of the miraculous cure accorded to her
llsensed foot by simply dipping U In the water
it Ixmrrtes. Her tnle buuys up the faith of tha
pilgrims , who nrc now all sure of being cured.
Chapter V. The Abbe rends aloud n book glv-
InfT the history of Ilernodctte , the mil who saw
the vision In the grotto. It was em February 11 ,
1S58 , that Hornadutto , n shepherdess , WUH sent
out to gather wood It was then she. by acci
dent , strolled Into the Krotto. Thfl early history
of the Klrl wns nlso Klven. showing the ten
dency of her mind toward religious subjects.
J'ho Abbe also irlvci bis version of the story ,
based on the extensive researches he has made.
Second Day , Ch.ipter 1 , Ton hospital train ar
rives In Loiirden. Reception and care of-the af
flicted detailed.
Chapter II. The procession to the grotto Is
formed nfter n brief rcit In the great hospital.
A bright , cloudless August mornlnpr reflects the
buoyant anticipations of the mulcted , who mani
fest almnit superhuman strength on the inarcli.
I'ather rourcnnlo exhorts the suffering to pray
with ardor sufficient to reach hem on.
Chapter III. The abbo meets hit old friend ,
Dr. Chniwlgne. The crowd forces the abbo to
the pools , where the men are bathed. The hand
ling of the Invalids Is such n revolting task that
It makes the .ilihi * faint. The dead man Is
brought In nnd Immersed. No miracle occurs.
On Kolng- out the nbbo llmls that Marie has been
bathed nml no cure effected.
Chapter IV. Dr. ChnsvilKne accompanies the
nnbe to the nureail of Certlllcufes. where com
mittee of physicians fiom nil over Franco exam
ine the pH rinm who chiliii to be cuicd nnd keep
records of nil the cns.s. Dr. Ilonnmy U In charge
and shows an earnest doslie to have every cose
carefully Investigated. He expl ilns the method
of conducting the bureau. Sometimes , he said , a
thousand cases were examined In a morning.
The visiting physicians nsked very few riuestlons
nnd showed no desire to Interfere. Sophie Cou-
tenu , the girl whose foot wnn cured , H brought
tn nnd trlumph.mtlv i-\lilblted. Ullza Itouiiuct ,
vhose face was made hideout by n lupui , conies
li nnd declares thnt the lupui Is steadily drying
ip , after repented applications of the water.
Kven to I'len-L-'a eyes the sore does seem to be
healing. L i Qrlvotte , who had ben In the last
stages of consumption , comes rus'ilng In. shout-
Intr , "I nm uiredl" A prent change lilt cer-
tiinly come over hrr. She looks well nnd rplrlted.
The iloctan examine her. Home llnd but slight
t- . rr | u- . , / < --i. ntho-H it'no at ellnd
Btlll others dechire she never had consumption.
It Is so hot and uncomfortable In the rudely con
structed olllce that Pierre pushes his way out
and joins Marie.
CHAPTER V.
After leaving M. Guersalnt In his room nt
the Hotel des Apparitions at about 11 o'clock
that evening Plerro thought that before goIng -
Ing to bed himself he would look In at the
Hospital of Our Lady of Sorrows. He had
loft Marie In such a desperate state , dumb
In. her angry rage , that ho had a feeling of
great uneasiness concerning her. And the
moment that he had asked for Mine. dt >
Jonqutere at the door of St. Honorlne's ward
lie was still more troubled , for ho heard bad
news. The directress Informed him that the
young girl had not yet opened her lips ,
would answer no one , even refusing to cat.
She was most anxious to have Plerro come
in. The women's wards were , Indeed , for
bidden to any man's entrance at night , but
a priest was not a man.
"Sho only cares for you. She will only
listen to you. I bese'och you to go and sit
bcsldo her bed and wait until Abbo Judalne
comes at about 1 In the morning to adminis
ter the communion to the very 111 , those
who cannot move and must cat In the morn-
Ing. Perhaps you can help her. "
So Plerro followed Mme. do Jonqulere ,
who made a place for him beside Marie's
bed.
bed."I
"I bring you some one whom you love ,
dear child. Now , you will talk to him and
bo reasonable , will you not ? "
Iut recognizing Plorro the sick girl only
gazed at him with an air of exasperated
Buffering , with a dark and rebellious look.
"Would you like him to read to you one of
those lovely talcs such as ho read to us In
the railway carriage ? Of course , It will not
auiuso you , because you bare not heart
enough Just now , but perhaps it may. I
leave him with you. I am sure that very
soon you will be better. "
But all tn vain. Plerro talked to her In a
law voice , saying all he could Imagine that
was caressing and kind , begging her not to
allow harsolf to fall thus Into despair. If the
Holy Virgin had not cured her the very first
day It was because she was reserving that
euro for some marvelous miracle. Hut she
only turned aw. ay her head and did not appear -
pear to hear him , her mouth sot and her an
gry eyes looked only Into space. So ho ceased
talking and looked about htm In the ward. t
U was an awful sight. Never had he I
experienced such a nausea of pity nnd terror.
Dinner was long since over ; however , trays
carried from the kitchen were still on many
of the beila , and throughout'tho entire night
some of the Invalids wore eating , while
others moaned restlessly , begging to bo
turned over or to be placed on the night
tool. As night advanced a sort of de
lirium seemed to Influence them nil , for few
really slept at all ; some were undressed between -
twoon the ulieets , but the greater number
were simply stretched outside , being so
hard to undress that they could not oven
change their linen during the five day * oi'
thepilgrimage. . And In the dim light the
encumbrances In the ward appeared to hnva
greatly Increased , the fifteen beds arranged
along tha wall with the seven mattresses
that filled the middle aisle , and still others
that had been added , with all the hoapt of
nameless rags mixed with the luggage , old
baskets , boxes and valises , thcro was
icarcoly room to step. Two smoky lamps
hardly lighted this encampment of morl-
bundo , and the smell was something fearful ,
nlthouKli the two windows were wide open ,
but only the close air of an Augujl night
could como In , This sort of llvlnjj hell was
peopled by weird shadows , the cries of those ,
hA'rlnic nightmare * and the nocturnal agonloi ,
of no much aufftrinir.
i'lorro proMiitly recognized Uaymondo ,
who. linvlniJ finished her teak , had come In 1
la hU bur mother before going ' ° bed up In
01,9 of the garrets that were reserved for
ttio illUr . Mmo. do Jonqulero. In her
titld * nl the functions of airoctres * of the
w rd , would not dona nor eyeu for thu mutt
thrw night * . True * he had an armchair
in till in , but lm could not ill down for
YR1GHT E/JMS GORDON BDINETT * 1894 *
nn Instant without being disturbed. She
had a valiant second In Mme. Desngncaux ,
who worked with such zeal that Sister Hya-
clntho had just said to her , laughingly ,
"Why do'yoti not become n nun7" nnd she
had nnswerml with n surprised nlr , "Why ,
I cannot ; I nm married nml I adore my
husband. " Mme. Volmar had not even ap
peared. They said that Mine , de Jon-
qulcrc had sSnt her off to bed , ns ihe was
complaining of such an nwful headache ,
which simply made Mine , UesaBneaux wild ,
for she said , nnd Justly , too , that one should
not como to take care of 111 people If one
were not perfectly well nnd able-bodied
one's self. Yet she was beginning to feel
as though her legs nnd arms were breakIng -
Ing , without being willing to give In , run
ning at the slightest call , always ready to
give a helping hand. She who In her own
apartment In Paris would ring for a servant
rather than move n candlestick was now
handing pots and bowlcs , emptying basins
and supporting III people In her arms while
Mme. do Jomiulero turned their pillows over.
When It o'clock struck she was quite over
come. Having been Imprudent enough to
sit dpwn for a moment In the armchair , slid
fell asleep , faat asleep , Just a she was , her
graceful head fallen en her shoulder , com
pletely enveloped by her lovely blonde hair.
No noise , neither servant nor groans , could
waken her now.
Mme. de Jonqulero came back to the young
priest and said softly :
"I think I will send for M. Ferraud. you
know , the house physician who has accom
panied us ; ho might give this poor girl some
thing to calm her. Hut he Is busy just now
down stairs with Hrothor Isidore , In the
family ward. Then , you know , we are not
supposed to nurse people here. We merely
place our beloved Invalids In the hands of
the Holy Virgin.
Sister Hyaclntho , who had decided to spend
the night with the directress , now np-
oroached.
"I have Just como up from the family
ward , where I promised to fetch some
oranges to M. Sabathlcr , and I saw M.
Ferraud , who has succeeded In reviving
Drother Isidore. Shall I go down and nnd
him ? "
Hut Plerro was opposed to this. "No , no ;
Marie will peen bo more reasonable. I am
going to read her some comforting words by
and by , and she will rest. "
Marie still remained obstinately speechless.
One of the two lamps was near her , hanging
against the wall , and Pierre could see her
thin face clearly , as motlonlesi as a stone.
Deyond. In the next bed , he could BOO the
head of Bllse Rouquct , with her horrible
visage turned up. Its fearful born still seem
ing to become less Inflamed. To the left
Mme. Vein was lying , feeble , Incurable , who
could not taks a single breath , shaken as
she was by a continuous rattle. He spoke
some kindly words to her , for which she
thanked him by a sign. Then , gathering
together all her strength , she said finally.
In a low tone : "I am happy to hear there
were several cures today. "
In fact ; stretched on a mattress nt the foot
of the bed , La Grlvotte was constantly sit
ting up In an extraordinary fever of activity
In order to repeat to every newcomer her
phrase :
"I am cured ; I am cured. "
And she would tell how she had eaten tha
half of a chicken , she who had not eaten for
months. Then , too , for nearly two hours she
joined the torchlight precession on foot. In
deed , If the Holy Virgin had only given a
ball she would surely have danced till day
light :
"I am cured ; oh , quite , quite cured. "
Mme. Vetu was able to say with a child
ish serenity , a perfect and smiling self-ab
negation :
"The Holy Virgin Is right to cure such ns
she , because she Is poor. It gives her much
more pleasure than If I were cured ; bcciiuso
I have my little watch maker's business , and
I can wait. Each ono In turn , each one In
turn. "
They all showed this charity , this Incredi
ble happiness whsn others weio healed.
They were rarely jealous , but yielded to a
sort of epidemic of happiness , a contagious
hope of being cursd whenever the Holy Vir
gin wished It. They must not annoy her , or
bo too impatient ; for she surely had her own
reasons , and knew why ono came bjforo an
other. Thus the most seriously 111 were
praying for their neighbors In this fraternity
of suffering nnd ot hope. No ons was ever
hopeless , each miracle was an assurance of
ano'her to follow. Their faith was irre
sistible. They told about a girl , a farm
hand , a paralytic , who walked several steps
at the grotto with a most extraordinary
force of will ; then after returning to the
hospital she was' anxious to go once more
to the grotto , but half way she had reeled ,
breathless , livid , and brought back In a litter
she had died , cured , It was said , by her
neighbors In the ward. One after another
the Holy Virgin forgot not one of her be
loved daughters , unless it was her plan to
grant at once to her elect a place In para
dise.
dise.As
As Plerro was leaning over Marie to offer
once more to read , she suddenly burst Into
tears. She leaned her head on her friend's
shoulder , nnd In the vague shadows of that
fearful ward she poured forth all her re
bellious thoughts. As It sometimes hap
pens1 there had como to her a complete loss
of faith , a sudden lack of courage , the wild
rage of a suffering creature who could wait
no longer. She nearly approached a feelIng -
Ing of sacrilege.
"No , no ! She Is wicked , she is unjust
not to have healed mo at once. I was so
sure she woull hear me today , I had prayed
so hardl Now this first day Is finished. I
shall never bo cured. It was Saturday , and
I felt certain she would cure mo on Saturday.
I do not wish to speak , keep me from talk
ing , for my heart is full and I shall say
too much. "
Ho strained her head to him In a broth
erly way and tried to still her rebellious
cry.
cry."Mario
"Mario , bo silent , I beg you. No ono
muU hear you you so pious ! Do you wish
to scandalize all these poor BO lib ? "
But she could not stop , notwithstanding
her effort.
"I shall choke ; I must say It. I no longer
love her , I no longer believe In her. ' All
they tell hero Is a lie. There Is nothing ;
she does not even exist , since she does not
hear , though ono \\ceps and fpeaks to her.
If you know all I said to her ! I want to
go away this Instant. Toke mo , carry mo
off at once In your arms that I may die In
the streolb and the paasers-by may at least
talio pity on my sufferings. "
Completely overcome , she fell on her
back , stammering like a llttlo child :
"Nobody loves rio. rjvon my ' .ithor wna
not there. And you , my mor frlMiil. you ton
had abandoned me. Whou 1 saw that someone
ono ulsu woii taking mu to t la potd I felt
myself suddenly all in a uhlvji. Yes. thai
same shiver of doubt that I often felt In
Paris. Oh , It is certain I uva Ooul > U < d.
That Is \\l\y I am not cur.nl. I prayed
badly. I am not holy enough , "
She had already cous d bhusphomlns nnd
was finding excuses for heaven. But her itx-
prcsslou btlll remained troubled in thh i-tnig-
glo with a superior power. 10 greatly laved
and supplicated , yet tha' had nut obeyed lcr. :
When at times In the hospital thcso ti'rns
ot rare came on , and thcro ensued a fret uf
rebellion among the den ones , \vltli misery
and sobs , and oven oi'lis , fie bldtarj or hcs-
pltal helpers would draw ( no .Mirtulns , rat'itr '
outraged , and. mire/ having ilcpa.-t.nl , they
wailed until she returned. Then , ill became
peaceful once more , dying anny with time In
th ? great , lamentaula Mla'ic.9.
"Do. calm , bo calm , I conjure you , " re
peated Plurro very softly to Marie , as ha saw
that another crisis was upon her , that of
self sacrifice and tha fear of being unworthy.
Sister Hyaclntho once more approached and
bald :
"You will not lie able to rocolvu the com
munion presently , my dear child , If you keep
on tn such a utate. Come , nines wo permit
the abbo to road , why will you not allow
him to do sot"
She mudo a motion as though to say aue
wan willing , and Pierre made haste to take
out oi the vallso at the foot of ilia , bed the
tittle blue covered book , In which the story
of Hcrnadetto was told so Innocently. But ,
as on the preceding night , when th ? train
was rolling along , ho did not follow the text
of the llttlo sketch , but Improvised , bringing
back to his mind facts , and tdld them In a
way that charmed the simple souls that 11s-
tenil yet the reasoning nnd analytical
powers In him could not forbid the establish
ment of a faith that rendered quite practical
this legend at a human be.MB whoso continual
prrdlgy was to help In the healing of the
nick. From all the neighboring beds the
women Boon began to sit up. They wished
to hear the continuation of the story , for
their anxious awaiting for the celebration
of the communion was keeping nearly all
of them awake. So Plerro , In the pale light
of the lamp hanging from the wall near
him , raised his volci slightly , BO that all In
the ward could hear : ,
"From the very first miracles the perse
cution began. Ucrnadotlo , treated as a liar
and a mad woman , was threatened with
being put In prison. Abbe Peyrnmalc , the
vicar of Lourdes , and M. Laurence , bishop
of Sartcs , as well aa the remainder of the
clergy , kept away , awaiting with the ut
most prudence , while tha civil authorities ,
the chief magistrate , the Imperial solicitor ,
the mayor , the police commissioners , guvo
th'mselvcs up with deplorable s ° al to work
ing against religion. "
As he went on Pierre saw the true story
before him with Its Invincible force. Ho
ut'iit back somewhat and took up the story
of Ilernadetto at the time of the first ap
parition , when she was so candid , so charm
ing In her Ignorance and her faith In her
suffering. She was ngaln the sceross , the
saint , whose face , dur.ng the crisis of cc-
stacy , too on a look of superhuman bea.uty ;
her forehead shone , her features seemed to
glow , her eyes to become brighter , while
her half open mouth burned with love. Then
the majesty of her entire person , her noble
signs of the crois , made very slowly from
one end of the horizon to the otli9r. Every
one In the neighboring valleys , the villages ,
the towns were talking only about Ucrna-
dette. Although the Holy Virgin was no
longer named she was acknowledged , and
they said"It : Is she. It Is the Holy Vir
gin. " The first market day there was
such a crowd that Lourdes was crowded.
All wished to see the blessed child , the elect
of the queen of angels , who became so
beautiful when heaven opened before her
delighted eyes. Every morning the crowds
Increased on the banks of the Gave , and
thousands of people established themselves ,
pushing and jamming , so as to lose none
of the scene. As soon as Bernadette ap
peared a fervent murmur was heard : "There
Is the saint , the saint , the saint. " They
rushed to kiss her garments. It was the
Messiah , the eternal Messiah , for whom
the people waited , the need for whom Is
over Increasing throughout all generation ; .
The same Incidents always recurred the
apparition of the Virgin to a shepherd , a j
voice that exhorted the world to penitence ,
a spring jutting forth miracles that as
tonished and delighted the assembled crowds ,
that became larger and larger.
Ah , those first miracles at Lourdes , those
springlike blossoms of consolation and hope
to those hearts devoured by poverty and Ill
ness ! The healed eye of old liourrlette , the
child Bouhohorts , who \\as restored by the
Icy water ; the deaf who heard , the lame who
walked , and so many others Blalso Matimua ,
Bernado Soubles , Augusto Bordes , Blaisetto
Soupcnne , Benolte Ca/caux saved from the
most awful suffering all became topics ot
unending conversations , that Increased the
illusion of those who suffered cither mental
or physical maladies. On Thursday , the 1th
of March , , the last of the fifteen visits re
quested by the Virgin , there were twenty
thousand people In front of the grotto the
Inhabitants of the \\holg mountain side had
come down. This Immense crowd found
there what they hungered for , the divine
ailment , the feast of the marvelous , yet
-mifilcleiitly improbable to satisfy a belief In
a superior power that deigned to occupy
Itself with poor mankind , that interposed in
a strange way with lamentable affairs of
this world In order _ to re-establish a degree
of justness and'of goodness. It was the cry
of dtylno charity making Itself hoard , the In
visible and strong hand that was at last
outstretched to heal the eternal wounds of
humanity. Ah , this drcnm that each suc
ceeding generation would realize , with what
Indestructible energy It developed among the
disinherited as soon aa a. favorable ground
was found prepared by circumstances ! No
for centuries had the concatenation of events
rendered It possible to reunite , as at Lourdes ,
the mystical altar with Itvt own religion.
For n new religion was about to bo
founded , and at once there arose persecu
tions , for religion prospers only in the midst
of tortures and rebellions. As In other dayn
at Jerusalom.wb.cn the miracles of our Savior
were noised abroad , the civil authorities
came forth to present them. Likewise now
did the attorney general , the justice of the
peace , the mayor , und nbovo all the pro-
feet of Tarbes. The latter was simply a sin
cere , practical Catholic , absolutely honorable ,
but with a rigid notion of administrative
power , a determined upholder pf order , an
avowed antagonist of fanaticism , from which
all previous riots and rellgous perversions
have arisen. There was then at Lqurdes ,
naturally under Ills orders , a police agent , n
very clever and subtle man and most Intelli
gent , who saw rightly In this matter ot the
apparitions a chance to demonstrate his
gifts of wisdom. So the battle began , and
It was this very agent who hud Bernardelte
brought to his olllco on the first Sunday In
Lent , after the first visions , to question her
concerning them. In vain did ho show Inter
est , or upon being Irritated did threatening
avail. The young girl invariably gave the
same answers. The story she told , with Its
long drawn out details , was Irrevocably fixed
In her childish brain. To this poor , suffer
ing creature , hysterical by turns , the tale
was no lie , but an tnconsclent Idea , a radical
lack of will that prevented her from forget
ting the original hallucination. She did not
know , could not , did not wish to know , Ah !
The poor , dear child , so gentle , so amiable ,
Incapable ot a wicked thought , from banco-
forward lost to ordinary life , crucified by
her fixed Idea , that could only have been
completely obliterated by taking her quite
away to another , broader existence In some
land of brightness and human lovo. But
she was the elect. She had Been the Virgin.
She would suffer for It all her lite and die
for It.
Plerro , who had learned to know the char
acter of Bernadotto so well that he felt a fra
ternal pity for her , " the kind of fervor ono
has lor a saintly" frl/hd , n simple soul , strict ,
yet charming In IKe endurance for the sake
of her faith , could' not hide his emotion , but
his eyes filled and nl voice trembled. There
came nn InterruptfAh. for Marie , who until
now had remained'rbld as before , with the
same hard look qfe'Vebelllon , unclasped her
hands nttl made a'motion of vague pity.
"Oh , " she murmured , "poor llttlo thing ,
all alone before thoie Judges , nnd so Inno
cent , so proud , Imlnuvnbto In her truth. "
Prom every slde"ihe same suffering sympa
thy was shown. The misery of the ward In
Its nocturnal distress , Its heaps ot dismal
cots. Its phantasmM coming nnd going of the
nuns and hospital nurses , half dead with
fatigue , seemed tobo lighted by a ray of
divine charity. Was It not the eternal Illu
sion of happiness , even with her tears nnd
her unconscious prevarications ? Poor , poor ,
Uernartetto ! Each ono felt n personal Indigna
tion for the persecutions she had endured In
order to defend her faith.
Pierre went on to tell about nil the child
had been forced to suffer. After the agent's
questioning she had been obliged to nppcar
i before the tribunal. The entire Judicial court
demanded that she make n retraction. But
the stubbornness ot her belief was stronger
than any reasoning of the united authorities.
Two doctors , sent by the prefect to make n
particular examination of the III girl , came
to the same honest conclusion as had nil
other physicians namely , the existence of
nervous troubles , of which asthma was a cer
tain sign , that might under certain circum
stances develop visions ; and had they not
feared the exasperated public , they would
have had her placed In the hospital nt
Barhes. A bishop knelt at her feet. Ladles
came desirous of buying her favor with
weight of gold. Crowds of the faithful over
whelming her with visits. She had taken
refuge with the Sisters of Nevers , .who were
In charge of the town hospital ; and while
with them she took her first communion ,
having , with great difficulty , learned to read
and write. As the Holy Virgin had selected
her for the happiness of others , and had not
vouchsafed to cure her of her own chronic
Ills. It was wisely decided to take her to the
waters at Cartercts , near by , which , how
ever , did her no good. From the moment
sli" returned to Lourdes the torment of the
Inquiries , the adoration of the populace , all
recommenced , and so greatly aggravated
more and more her horror of the world.
To her it was a sealed book to enjoy life as
a happy maiden , dreaming of a husband ,
the young mother kissing the cheeks of her
big babies. She had seen the Virgin , shs
was the elect nnd a martyr. The Virgin ,
so said the faithful , had not confided to
her three secrets unless to sustain her by
the triple armor against the future persecu
tions she must endure.
For a long time the clergy had taken no
part In this , feeling uneasy nnd doubtful.
The vicar of Lourdes , Abbe Peyramale , was
Si' '
THE ABBE READS TO THE INVALIDS.
a rough man , of Infinite goodness , of admira-
able and straightforward energy , when ho
thought himself right. The first time he re
ceived a visit from Bernadette ho was al
most as severe as the police agent had been
with this chlfd from Bartres , who had
never been to the catechising ; ho refused
to believe her story , telling her with some
Irony that she had better ask the lady to
cause the sweet briar at her feet to bloom ,
which the lady did not do elsewhere ; and If
later he did take the child under his charge ,
as n shepherd who guards his flock , It was
only when the persecutions had begun , nnd
they talked of putting In prison this miser
able child , with her clear eyes , and who In
her modest manner adhered to the same
talc. Why should he have continued to
deny the miracle after having as a prudent
vicar merely doubted Its veracity , not wish
ing to mix Ills religion with an Idle ad
venture ? Saintly literature Is fllUd with
prodigies , whoso dogma Is based upon
mystery. If they were followed there was
nothing In the eyes of a priest to contradict
ihe fact that the Virgin had charged this
pious child with a message to him In telling
her to build a church , to which the faithful
should como In processions.
Thus It was that he began to love and to
defend Bernadette for her own merit , still
holding himself aloof , waiting for the de
cision of his bishop.
That bishop , Mgr. Laurence , seemed locked
up by threefold doors tn this palace at
Tarbes , for he lemam.'d absolutely silent , as
If there was nothing going on nt Lourdes
of any Interest. He gave strict orders to
his clergy , and not u priest had yet been
seen among the enormous crowds that passed
whole days before the grotto. Ho made
known to the prefect by means of adminis
trative circulars that ho was waiting for
religious authority to act In accord with the
civil decisions. Ho really did not believe
In the apparitions at the grotto , which ho
regarded only ns the hallucinations of an
Invalid child. Yet the Incident that was
revolutionizing the country was of sufficient
Importance to make him study It carefully
day by day , nnd the fact that he was unin
terested in It for BO long a tlmo proves how
llttlo he did bellevo In the pretended miracle ,
for ho hail but the single wish not to com
promise the church In a matter that might
turn out badly , Mgr. Laurence was a very
pious man , of calculating Intelligence , who
managed the affairs of his diocese with great
good sense. At the time the Impatient and
ardent persons nicknamed him Saint
Thomas , for the icrslstenco of his doubt ,
that lasted until ho had his hand forced by
facts. Ho turned a deaf ear , resolved to
redo only when religion no longer had any
thing to lose.
The persecutions became more pronounced.
The Department of Religion at Paris was In
formed nnd demanded that all disorder ! )
should cease , and the prefect placed the approaches
preaches to the grotto under military sur
veillance. The faithful had already , In the
zeal and gratitude ot those who had been
cure < l , placed ornaments and vases of flow
ers. In these were , thrown pieces of money
nnd preients were/ given to the Holy Virgin.
It was a most rudimentary organization
some stonecutters had hewn out a sort ot
basin Into which the miraculous water ran ;
others had removed the largest stones and
thus made n kind of pathway up the hill.
After deciding not to arrest Ilornadetto , the
prefect came to the grave determination that
In order to stop the crowds from astembllng
around the grotto It would bo necessary to
build a strong fence. Some untoward events
had happened ; children pretended they had
seen the devil , some ot them being capable
of simulation , the rest really overcome by
nervous attacks. In the contagion of affec
tion ot the nerves that prevailed. But what
a business It was to break up the grotto !
The police agent could only find a girl to
ward nightfall who would lot him have a
cart , and two hours later upon falling the
girl broke ono rib. Likewise a man who
lent an axe had his foot crushed by u fall
ing stone the following day. The agent
oould only carry off on his cart the pots of
flowers , a few tapers that were burning ,
the pence and silver hearts dragging behind
In the dust. Fists were clenched and he was
treated ua a thief and a murderer. Then
the posts of tha fcnco were placed In posi
tion , the boards firmly nailed nnd the deed
was dane thnt shut up Iho myntory , barred
out tlip unknown , put the miracle. In prison.
The civil authorities Innocently Imagined It
was nil over , that these few planks would
stop those poor people , famishing with Illu
sions nnd hopes.
From the moment It wns proscribed , for
bidden by law nn a mlsdcmcnnor , the new
religion burned In every heart with nn In-
extlngutshnblo flame. The faithful came In
stll ! greater numbers , kneeling nt a distance ,
sobbing In the viry facu of their forbidden
paradise. And nbovo all , the Invalids the
poor Invalids to whom a Itirbarous law had
forbidden n cure they approached , notwlth-
( landing the prohibitions , getting through
holes , climbing over obstacles , In their solo
and ardent desire to steal some of the wntcr.
What ! Here was n remarkable water that
caused the blind to see , the cripple to wulk ,
that Instantly alleviated nil Ills , and there
were men cruel enough to put this water
under lock1 and key , so that It might no
longer cure this miserable world. Oh , It
was monttrous ! A cry ot execration arose
from the lips of these people , the poor out
casts who had ns much need for the mar
velous In this Ufa ns for bread to cat. Ac
cording to the ordinance , official reports had
to bo made of the delinquents , and thus
might have been seen before the tribunal a
lamentable file of old women , crippled men ,
guilty of having drunk at the fountain of life.
They stuttered , besought , did not oven un
derstand when they were fined. Outildo the
crowd scolded , and a furtouH feeling of un-
iwpnlarlty arose for those hard Judges on
human misery , ngnlnst those pitiless mas
ters who , after taking nwny nil riches , would
not even lenve the poor the dream of over
yonder : the belief that a superior power was
looking after them In n material way , by
making them peaceful In their mtndt nnd
healthy In their bodies. A whole company
of these wretches nnd Invalids waited on the
mayor ; they knelt In the court yard nnd
conjured him with sobs to open the grotto
ngaln , nnd what they said wlis so piteous
that everybody wept. Ono mother held up
her half dead child ; would ho be allowed to
dlo thus In her arms when there was n
spring that had saved the children of other
mothers ? A blind man showed his sightless
eyes ; n pale , scrofulous boy uncovered the
sores on his legs ; a paralytic woman at
tempted lo Join her sadly twisted hands.
Wcro they to be allowed to perish. Was
their last divine chance of living to be re
fused because the science of man had given
them up ? The distress of those who be
lieved was almost as great ; those who
thought that a glimpse of heaven had been
opened In the night of tliolr mournful exist
ence nnd who were Indignant because this
chimerical Joy had been taken from them ,
this supreme comfort to their toclal and
human Bufferings , the thought that the Holy
Virgin had come down to bring them the
Infinite pleasure ot her Intervention. The
mayor was unable to give any promises , and
the crowd had gone away weeping , ready
to rebel , as though they were under some
great Injustice , an imbecile cruelty toward
the young and feeble , for whom the sky-
would revenge Itself.
The struggle continued for several months.
It certainly was a strange thing that these
sensible men , the minister , the prefect , the
police agent , all animated with the very best
Intention , still continued to fight this grow
ing crbwd of desperate persons , who were
determined to have the door open of their
dream , the escaped mystery of future happi
ness , where they might console themselves
for their present misery. Those In author
ity required order , due deference to a wise
religion , a triumph of reason ; whereas the
need for happiness carried the people away
in an exalted ileslro to bo healed In this
world nnd In the other. Oh , to suffer no
more , to conquer the Inequality of well being ,
to walk no more save under the protec
tion of a just and good mother , to die only
to wake in heaven ! It was conclusively
this universal and burning dcslro of the mul
titude , the holy mania of universal joy , that
swept away the rigid and morojo conception
of well regulated society , In which epidemic
cries of religious hallucinations are con
demned as derogatory to good order and
healthy minds.
By this time the whole ward of St.
Honorlne was aroused. Plerro was obliged
to stop his reading for a few moments
on account of the Indignant exclamations
against the police agent , whom they likened
to Herod or to Satan himself. La Grlvotte
sat up on her mattress , murmuring , "Ah ,
what monsters ; and the Holy Virgin has
cured me. "
Mme. Votu. once moro filled wlih hope ,
rallied from the certainty slio felt that she
must die , to express great anger at the
Idea that had Bernadette been carried away
by the prefect the grotto would never have
existed :
"Then there would have been no pilgrim
ages. We should not bo here , nor would
hundreds have been cured every year. "
She gasped again for breath , and Sister
Hyaclnthe wns obliged to put her la a
sitting posture. Mme. do Jonquiero Im
proved the opportunity of this interruption
to hand a basin to a young woman suffer
ing from some disease of the marrow. Two
moro women , who could not stay In bed on
account of the intolerable heat , were pacing
up and down with noiseless footfalls , and
at the end of the ward from the gloom
came a painful sound of suffocation that
had not ceased during the entire time Pierre
had been reading. Elslo Rouquet alone , flat
on her back , was sleeping peacefully , with
her awful sore , that was slowly drying , In
full view.
It was a quarter past 12 and Abbe Judainc
might now appear at any moment to ad
minister the communion. Grace had again
entered Mario's heart , and she was now con
vinced that If the Holy Virgin had refused
to heal her the fault lay In her own doubt
when she had gone into the pool. She re
pented of her rebellion as of a crime. Would
she over be forgiven ? Her pale face was
hidden amid her slender blonde hair , her
eyes filled with tears , nnd she gazad at
Plorro with a remorseful sadness.
"Oh , how wicked I have been , my friend ;
It waa by hearing about the wicked acts
of prldo committed by those Judges that I
recognized my own fault. Ono must be
lieve ; there Is no happiness , my friend ,
except In faith and In lovo. "
Plorro wished to end his tale at this
point , but with ono accord all demanded the
continuation. They wished to go in tri
umph to the protto.
As the fence completely hid the fountain ,
people were obliged to come secretly at night
to pray or take away a bottle of the stolen
water. The fear of a riot Increased , and
It was reported that whole villages from the
mountains were coining down to deliver God.
It was an unrlslng of the masses , such an
Irresistible impulse from those hungering
for the miracle , that all order and decency
would bo set aside like so much straw , Mgr.
Laurence , In his bishopric at Sartcs , was the
first to surrender. All his prudence , all his
doubts were overcome by this popular move
ment. He had been able to keep aloof for
five months , to prevent his clergy from fol
lowing the faithful to the grotto , and pro
tected his church from this mad vortex of
superstition. But why struggle any longer ?
He appreciated the misery of the buffering
creatures under his charge , and he deter
mined to grant them the Idolatrous faith that
they craved. As a precaution , however , he
simply made an ordinance tint called for a
commission of Inquiry , so the acceptance of
the miracle was merely a matter of tlmo.
If Mgr. Laurence was , Indeed , a man of
sensible culture , of cold reasoning that U
represented , nothing can well portray his
agony of mind the morning of the day on
which he signed the ordinance. Hu must
have knelt In his oratory and prayed to God
that' Ho would guide his actions. lie did
not believe In visions , for his Idea of divine
manifestations wns far higher , far moro In
tellectual. Was It not moro pitiful and mer
ciful to silence his own scruples , the noble
aspirations of his belief , and feed with this
bread of falsehood the hunger of poor hu
manity , who wish thus to live happily :
"Oh , my God , forgive me. If I ask Thee to
como from Thy eternal power , to condescend
to this childish game of miracles. I Injure
Thee by thus abasing Thy glory In such a
piteous manner , where there Is only Illness
and lack ot reason. But , oh , my Ooil , they
suffer so greatly , they hunger so much for
the marvelous , , for these fairy talcs to dis
tract their pains In living. May the Idea
ot Thy divinity be so joined with the won
ders that they be comforted. " And thus the
weeping bishop had sacrificed bis God to his
lively charity aa a shepherd for his lamenta
ble human flock.
After this the emperor , the master , came
over to Lourdes. Ha was at Biarritz , where
ho received dally accounts regarding the matter -
tor of these apparitions , which were noticed
by all the Parisian press , for the persecu
tions would have been Incomplete had not
the Ink of frco thinking journalists been
mixed In Its discussion. While his ministers ,
hla prefect , his police agent were fighting for
order and submission the emperor kept his
own counsel In the seclusion of his awakened
thoughts and Mid nothing. Bishops visited
htm , great persons , the ladles of his court
waylaid him and look hint allJo. FUlll ho
said nothing. A fierce struggle was going
on In his mind. On ono tide Iho credulous ,
or simply the chlrmcrlcnt leaders ot the
myntcry ; on the other the Incredulous , the
men of his government , who defied this
I rouble ot the Imagination , yet ho said noth
ing. Suddenly , In his uncertain way , ha
spoke. The story was that he Imd acceded
to the empress' supplications. No doubt she
had intervened , but there " .is nlso n reawakening -
awakening of Ills old dream uf humanitarianIsm -
Ism In the emperor's heart , n return of hla
ancient pity for the outcast. Like the bishop ,
hn did not wish to close the door of the Illu
lon to those wretches by maintaining l\\p \ \
unpopular order ot the prefect , by which the
despairing Invalids were forbidden to drink
life nt the sacred font. So ho scut n dis
patch , a brief command to remove the fence
nnd to make the grotto free.
Then sounded hosannns nnd cries of tri
umph. The new Inw wns rend at Lourdes
amid tha rolling of drums nnd the blnro of
trumpets. The police ngcnt himself had to
bo present when the wall wns taken down.
He was afterward removed from office , ns
well na the perfect. From every direction
people pourctl In , nnd what n cry of divine
joy mounted upward , God had conquered.
Godt Alas , no ; but human misery , the
bread of wonders , tha needs of n con
demned man , who places his hope of finlva-
tlon In the hands ot an Invisible , yet al
mighty power that he knows to be stronger
than nature , moro capable to break her In
exorable laws. And what still further Imd
conquered was the sovereign pity of the
leaders of the dock , the bishop nnd the
emperor mercifully giving to the big sick
children the fetich that consoled some anil
sometimes oven cured others.
About the middle ot November the Eplsco
pal commission came to Lourdes nnd pro
ceeded In the Inquiry with which It was
charged. Bornadetto was again questlono.l ,
and n number of miracles were Investi
gated. In order to make the evidence abso
lute , thirty cures wcro established without
doubt. And M. Laurence declared that ho
was convinced. Ho showed , however , n
lasting discretion , for It was not until three
years later that he formally declared by his
mandate thnt the Holy Virgin had actually
appeared at the Grotto of Massablolle , and
that subsequently a number of miracles had
been performed. Ho bought from the town
of Lourdcs , In the name ot the diocese , the
Grotto Itself , with all the land that Im
mediately surrounded It. Work was begun ,
modest at first , but becoming more and
more Important ns money flowed In from
every quarter of Christendom. The Grotto
was beautified and enclosed by a grating.
The Gave was turned back Into n new
channel , to allow largo paths , grass plots ,
roads and promenades. Finally the Basilica ,
the church demanded by the Holy Virgin
herself , was commenced nt the top of the
very rock. From the first stroke of the
plckaxo the vicar of Lourdcs , Abbo
Peyramalp , assumed the direction of every
thing with an excessive zeal , for the struggle *
had converted htm Into one of the most
ardent , the most sincere workers. In his
rather rough , yet paternal way , he gave him
self up to the adoration of Bornadetto. and
made the child's mission his verv own ,
giving himself soul and body to the carry
ing out of the commands ho had received
from heaven , through the- mouth of this in
nocent girl. Ho wore himself out In his
supreme efforts to have It all of the very
best , the most beautiful , worthy of the
Queen of Angels , who had condescnded to
visit that corner In the mountains.
The first religious ceremony did not take
place until six years after the apparitions.
A marble statue of the Virgin was erected
with great pomp In the grotto on the actual
spot where she had stood. On that day , In
brilliant sunshine and the ringing of bells ,
Lourdes was decorated with flags. Five
years later. In 18G9 , the first mass was said
In the crypt of the Basilica , whoso steeple
was not yet finished. Gifts were made with
out ceasing , a golden rlvor flowed toward
the grotto , a whole town grow on the soil.
It was the foundling of a now religion. The
desire to be cured acted as a cure ; the
thirst for the miracle created a mlrnclo.
A God of pity nnd of hope sprung from the
sufferings of man. from that need of comfort
and consolation that In all ages has created
a wondrous paradlso over yonder , where the
Almighty renders justice and distributes
eternal happiness.
Thus It was that the Invalids In Saint
Honorlno's ward saw. In the victory ot the
grotto , but their own hopes of health
realized. All along the row of beds there
was but one feeling of Joy , ns Pierre , with
his heart aching for all those poor faces
turned toward him , hungering for assurance ,
repeated : "God hath conquered and the
miracles have not ceased until this day , and
the most humble persons are those who are
most often helped. "
He put down the llttlo book. Abbo Judalne
entered and was about to begin to give the
communion. But Marie , overcome by her
feverish faint , kaiied toward him , her hands
like burning coals.
"My dear friend , grant me the great favot
of listening to the confession of my fault , and
grant me absolution. I have blasphemed ,
nnd am In a state1 of mortal sin. If you do
not come to my aid I may not receive the
sacred Host , and I so greatly need to be
comforted nnd reassured. "
The young priest made a motion to refuse.
Ho had never been willing to confess this
friend , the only woman ho hat' over loved or
desired. In her healthy and happy youthful
days. But she insisted. "I beseech you ; It
will help the miracle of my cure. "
Ho consented and heard the confession of
her fault , of her Impious rebellion against
the Virgin , who had retiinlned dsaf to her
supplication ; then lie gave her absolution In
the sacramental words.
Abbe Judalne had already placed the clbnr-
ium on a little table between two lighted
candles , that looked like two stars In the
dimly lighted ward. It Imd been decided
to open wide ono of the windows on the
court yard , for the smell of those suffering
people and the heaps of rags had become
Insufferable ; but no air came In from the
narrrow black court yard that seemed like a
pit. Pierre had offered to assist , so ho re
cited the "Conlitoor. " Then the almoner ,
clad In his alb , after responding with the
Mlsoreatcur nnd the Indulgontlam , elevated
the clborlum and said :
"Behold the Lamb of God that takoth
away the sins of the world. " Each woman ,
racked by pain , who was anxiously await
ing the communion as a dying man expects
llfe < from n new draught that In slow In
coming , repeated this act of humility three
times with closed lips : "Lord , I am not
worthy that Thou shouldst enter. Say but
the word and my soul shall bo healed. "
Abbo Judalno commenced at the beds ot the
worst 111 , followed by Plerro , while Mmo. de
Jonqulero and Sister Hyaclntho came behind ,
each with a candle In her hand. The nun
showed which of the Invalids desired to re
ceive , nnd the priest , leaning over them ,
placed the Host on their tongues rather by
guesswork , murmuring the Latin words.
Nearly all were ready , with eyes wide open
and shining , In the midst of the ( Unorder
of the hasty getting to order of the ward.
Two persons , however , had to bo awakened
from a sound sleep. Many who were groan
ing unconsciously continued to groan utter
having received the Holy Eucharist. At
the cud ot the ward the rattling of the
woman who could not bo seen wns still
hoard. Nothing there was more sad than
the llttlo procession , lighted by Us two yel
low spots of candlelight In the dim obscurity.
But the face of Marie was like a divine
apparition In Its ccatacy. La Grlvotto , who
hungered fcr the bread of life , had not been
allowed to communicate , as she was to re
ceive at the Rosary In the morning and
Mine. Vctu , quite silent , had taken the Host
on her black tongue with a hiccough. In the
pale light of the candles Marie was so lovely
In the midst of her blonde hair and largo
eyes , her features transfigured by faith , that
all looked at and admired her , She took her
communion as In a dream , with heaven visi
ble before her eyes , with her poor young
body reduced by such physical suffering.
For an Instant she held Pierre's hand :
"Oh , my friend , she will cure me , she has
just sild so. Go and rest. I am going to
Hleep such a happy sleep. "
As ho was leaving with Abbo Judalno ,
Plorro saw little Mmo. Dcsagneaux Btlll
Bleeping In her armchair. Nothing could
wake her. Mme. de Jonqulere , aided by Sis
ter Hyaclntho , was going about , turning the
sick ones , washing them , rubbing them. But
the ward was quiet , since Darnadette , with
her charm , had passed through. The tiny
shadow of the scores * was now flitting be
tween the beds , triumphant , having finished
her work , bringing a sense of heaven to each
desperate and outcast soul on earth , and
whlla they all tried to sleep they fancied
they could so her leaning over them she
who had also been BO 111 kissing them ainU
her smiles.
( To ba Continued Koxt Sunday. )
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Prof.W. I UVcke.HhomnUBaniieclalty of Epilepsy ,
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