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About The American. (Omaha, Nebraska) 1891-1899 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1895)
THE AMERICAN. IN THE Clutch of Rome mr hii.iithi I HY UUN.U.KS." CHAl'TF.U VIII. TDK AKl'IIIUSHOr'S fclHKMK. Ar('bluh(p O'tVnor of San Fran citci) had naj with much Mttlnfaction thi account which the newaicr had flvcnof the tak!iir of the veil by th rich Mir Alliw.n of Now York. Ill, follow priori of the Atlantic Coant hat! secured a rich addition to the church treasury, and to him wa given th commitHilon to wo that an equally ttbo dctdrvd prize, should be gleaned from the Pacific Coast. The blxhop' handsome roldunc on the tuiinuit of a high hill, ooinmandcd a view of tho bay and the golden gate. The priest etood in tho emhrawure of a window in hid rlvato apartment, look lug down on the glittering light of the city, and over tho watom of the bay where from distant ships, colored lamps flickered and Haunt d and died away in the dititunce. lie watagood man In the main, hut rclcntles and uiiacrupu lout as to the attainment of any desired object, for the good of the church. O'Conor, archbUhop of San Fran claoo, wa.i a handsome, unclerlcal look ing man of large stature, whose rounded outlines evidenced a body well nourished and cared for; and, being an occleal astical of high standing, It goes with out saying, that his soul waa in an equally good condition. In striking in congruity with the comfortable on so ruble of hit appearance, was a certain gloomy, brooding shade in his large, handsome, grey eyes. Kyes, which were as hard as steel at times, but could, as occasion demanded, soften and plead. Tonight they were as haid and cold as the white marble clock on the mantle, whose sharp, metallc click fell in the silence of the room like hall stones against a window pane. His grace walked many times across the room and back, and stopping suddenly, and resting his hand on the rich drup erics of tho mantle, fastened his ex pressive eyes, which had grown colder and sterner as he walked, on the min lature marble temple, from whose dl minutlve pillared portal, time gave nine sonorous notes. As the last note vibrated through the room, the bishop glanced In the mirror at his (as always) faultless attire, turned the gas low, and passed through the thickly carpeted halls to meet expected guests. The room In which he waited was deep maroon, In all Its appointments, from the thick velvet papered walls and ceiling to the soft pile of the car pet on the floor. Even tho globes which shaded the gas jets were darkost ruby In tint. A life-sized painting of the virgin occupied the space over the low mautle. Pieces of rare brio a brao were scattered here and there, and the sthetlc drapes on the chali? , and the paioted silken sachets, from which the furnace-heated air of the room drew forth faint perfumes, were bo many delicate and so mcd remembrances of the ladies of his diocese. For the bishop, like all men of voluptuous appearance and asthetlo taste, was a favorite of the grand majority of the sex, feminine (don't credit them, If they disclaim It) and many were tho gifts, substantial and supcrfldnua, which the daughters of the church bestowed upon him. The archbishop had not long to wait, Soon, two priests, Father Fairfax, of St Mary's, and Father Fabio St. John, of the Church of the Blessed Sacra ment, were ushered into the room. The priest of St. Mary's was a man, long past middle life, devoted to nothing but the good and advancement of the church, in the sanct Bed order of which '"he had lived and breathed and had his being," for five and forty years. To Father St. John, a handsome man of Spanish and American parentage In the first blush of early manhood, the mysteries of the holy temple were mys teries still. Like a. flowery writer, whose theme exceeds in beauty his sub ject, so this youthful priest lost sight of all that was prosaic and hard in his re ligion, and, by virtue of the power be stowed upon hlin, administered the rites of the church before her gorgeous Jtltars, in a religious ecstasy. As the archbishop welcomed and seated his clerical guests, the look which passed between himself and the elder priest, said as plain as spoken words. "We must proceed with cau tion." The sutject-matter to be dis cussed tonight, in this crimson-dyed, subtly, scented room, was well under stood between the archbishop and the priest of St. Mary's. Summons to the head of the priesthood wore of frequent occurrence, and always obeyed unques tioned by the subordinates. After an exchange of a few common-place words, the reverend host crossed the room to a carved, ebony table, where on a silver tray stood a pink, Bohemian glass de canter filled with port wine together with its tall companion glasses. Fill ing them, he presented them to his guests. Father Fairfax sipped the purple contents of his glass with as little unction as he would have drank a glass of liilik. lie was old, and the blood raa slow and cold in his veins and the wine would send a warmth through them; that waa all. Young Father Fabio declined the offered glass with a polite, "i ii u mo, your grace, I rare drink." Jul, n.iy, drink, aiu hi crrace, 'niako this one of the rarities. Drla to the gtmd of our holy church." Father Fahlo, thus aJmoiilt-licd.lifU the glittering gt from the trsy an he'd it untaxed till his kUer!or h riunvd hi seat, which he did with brirnmlrg gla in LU hand. A soon a the glaosva were emptied and di iMMted of, the arctblhhop at once Intro duced the bulnc of the meeting by saying: ''My friends, I have many thing of importance to communicate to you thl evening. You, my son," turning to the younger man, "have a sacred mission to perform." '"A sacred mission," reitera ted Fathe Fairfax, ' and may tho holy mother" and he inclined his head reverently to ward the painting of the virgin facing him "and all the blessed saints above us lend you their aid ana give you grace, to accomplish it." Koman priests are early taught to obey Implicitly the order of their su periors. So Father Fabio merely bowed his head, and waited. "A few months ago," continued the archbishop, "as you may be aware, the abbots of the St. Ignatius in Spain, died In her list confession, she revealed the fact of having, 1 n a moment of sentl mental weakness, enabled a girl, in trusted to her care and destined for tho veil, to escape in order to consummate a marrlago with a Protestant. That Protestant is now one of the wealthiest and most influential men of this state, of which he was once governor; I refer to James Maxwell, United States sena tor from California. It is very possible he may one day fill the president's chair. With our help, I verily believe, it could be accomplished. "Power in somo form is a lode stone which attracts all humanity. The poo- plo, who, by virtue of their right to vote and thus create their rulers, make the rulers and would-be rulers their slaves; and the Roman Catholic vote, dl-guise it as they will, is at once the hope and fear of these ambitious oftloe seekers, vain glorious Protestants though they be. And we priests hold In our hands the motive power which sets in motion and controls this ele ment, which, like fire, may prove good servant or a terrible master. The preface road, now listen to the subject proper, my young friend;" continued his grace. "Your mother was a Span ish lady, and she came from Granada, I believer" "She did, your reverence, and she has boon dead several years." "Sol have been informed. May her soul rest in peace." And his reverence laid his shapely head back against the delicately-wrought, slumber cushion on the back of his chair, and fastened his mesmerlo eyes on the cameo-cut face before him. "No doubt your mother often talked to you of her beautiful country and filled ou with a strong desire to visit it." A pause, which he knew the mind of the young priest would feel. Thon, "I am pointing out to you a very pleasant path of duty, for you will be in close com munion with a woman, young and lovely, and with whom you can, if you choose, converse In the poetic tongue which was your mother's, and which will bring her Image ever before you, and be a potent charm against all evil. lu fact, you, Fabio St. John, ordained priest of God and Rome, are to return this Btolen jewel to us." "The path has been already opened for you," said Father Fairfax. "Miss Dillon, whom you know, has a firm foot ing in the household as governess to the children. She is a member of my con gregation and under my direct super vision as regards her conduct In this delicate case." With 60 valuable and efficient an aid de camp as Miss Dillon, placing you in direct communication with the lady and her family, I really do not see the need of my Inexperienced help in this matter," said Fabio meekly. ' Obey your superiors unhesitatingly and without question in all things, was, I believe, young man, the first and last lesson given you to learn in your priestly instructions. You evidently did not learn it," said his grace, severely. "I really have no intentions of dis obeying any orders your grace may im pose upon me, I only distrusted my power to do what you evidently think the united efforts of Miss Dillon and Father Fairfax unable to accomplish." "Be guided ever by the judgment of our elders and ecclesiastical superiors, Father Fabio, and you will scarcely go wrong. And now listen and mark well my vords and their import, and shape our course accordingly. The firtt great advantage you have over Father Fairfax is your youth and your Raphael face. Don't blush, 'tis a gift from God. ven religious teachings will make a deeper and more lasting impression on young and beautiful woman, when they fall from lips that the breath of youth still lingers on. You have not to deal with hard and crude material, but with a young Spanish woman, who was born and bred in the faith; and, though by her union with a Protestant, and an indiscriminate mingling with the world of fashion, she may have become (some what hardened, ehe will I have little doubt like all her countrywomen, be come as plastic as wax, in skillful hands. The very fact of your being able to peak hf r musical languHge, and your mother being a countrywoman of her own, will give you an advantage none others poMtei. A time goes on, you will tell her that .hi dead SpanUb ab bes doe col find rest for her sou!; that the deep sin she committed, when she iH'iraveu her irusi, wa oi loo se.-ious a nature to be absolved by priestly abso lution; that In order to give this poor wandering spirit rest, she hcre!f must return to the boMiiu of the church. Naturally she will bring her children with her. A for her husband, well, time and political ambition work won ders. I have, I think, clearly defined the outline of the work you, Fabio St. John, are to fill in." His workmen merely bowed. It wa long past midnight when the three priests finished their conference, and the archbishop offered the hospitality of his house for the remainder of the night to old Father Fairfax, saying: "You, Fabio, are young, and, I imagine, care little for the darkness or the rude gambols of a cold, nor.h wind." "I am ever indifferent to the dark- nets, your grace," replied Father Fabio with ironlo politeness, "as for the wind," he continued, "I have learned to loye It. I always go where it blows the hardest after a duty visit to some locality not quite pure in its moral or physical atmosphere." Ills grace lightly pressed his full underllp with his well-cared-for teeth and observed, with a meaning smile. "It is well to travel true with the wind my dear young friend; by always a void ing a contra course, you will escape many rude buffeting; and now, good night" The young man found the cold biting air of the early morning, a grateful change from the heavy enervating in flue nee of the luxurious crimson room he had left. And he buttoned his long overcoat closely over his slim elegant figure In stature ho was a trifle above the middle height and walked rapidly along the dimly lit streets. Tonight his adored and revered mistress, grown bold and incautious with increasing familiarity.had allowed an unsuspected. cloven hoof to peep forth from under her silken skirts, and It had filled him with the Banie repulsion an ardent lover feels, when he accidentally discovers some gross mental or physical defect in being he has heretofore believed without blemish. Ills father, whom he scarcely remembered, had been an American gentleman of means and cul ture. He had married the handsome daughter of a well-born Spanish gentle man, according to the rites of her creed. He had loved her and had been loved devotedly till he died, leaving his young wife in easy circumstances. and with a young son, whom, she being of a very devout nature, had educated for the priesthood. The boy being of a gentle nature, and developing verv early in life a great reverence for all things spiritual, this had been an easy thing to do. But Father Fabio, though always meekly submissive to those hav ing an authority over him, and to his superiors in rank or age, had inherited a certain independence of mind and a power of keen self-reasoning from his American father. And shining bright in his character (too bright perhaps for the sensitive eyes of the general world) were two perfect gems, honor and jui tlce. Self-denying ever when he could benefit some fellow creature In greater straits than himself; self-annihilating never. Suddenly the young priest stopped in his rapid walk, before a large stone mansion in the most artstrocratic por tion of San Francisco. The citadel which he, a knight of the holy order, was, in the name of the religion to enter and plant innumerable banners gorgeously colored and illuminated with mottoes of cant, stood in its sub- tantial and architectural beauty, wrapped in darkness, save from occa sional cold gleams which fell over it from an electric light on the street corner. After a short survey of his future battle-ground, the youthful priest hastened towards his own hum ble home which he soon reached, with very whirlpool of emotions seething through his brain. Sleep came with the dawn, and did not leave him till close upon the hour for early Sunday morning mass. The Church of the Blessed Sacra ment was not a large edifice, and the congregation though numbering many people of assured position in its ranks, was not, on the whole, a fashionable one, though the young pastor mingled with the first of the city, in both Catho lic and Protestant circles. The duty of the day over until the hour for evening vespers Bhould again call him before the altar, Father St. John betook him self to his small though well filled library to think over the ways and tneane of procedure in the case set be fore him by his ecclesiastical superior, the previous night. His gathered thoughts, however, were quickly scat terep by a knock at the door, followed by the entrance of his housekeeper. She had been hU nurse, and never having any children of her own, her maternal instinct and authority was all concentrated on him with the informa tion that a lady awaited him in the parlor. "A poor body seeking a way out of some trouble, I suppose," said the priest, preparing to obey the summons. "i oon i thinic so," sum Mrs. Glbbs. j the track of those years? Have you sne iooks a u irouoie would run off never felt the need of spiritual guld her like water from a bronze image." ance? Have not worldly pleasures and fashionable pursuit filled up too much of your life?" "I do not think I have failed in any duty of life, your reverence. And In "Ah," muttered Fabio, under his breath, and hi heart (alas, not well trained, Jesuitical heart) beat quickly under hi black cassock. "Mis Dillon" Miss Dillon it proved to be. Dressed in a tailor-made cos tume of reddisfi-brown cloth, and wear ing on her head a little velvet toque, so near tho color of the fluffy fringe across her forehead, that a she stood before the priest, a beautiful, animated bronze figure, he Involuntarily thought of bis housekcoepr's not very flattering smile Father St. John's visitor did not leave him till the first stroke of the veser hell, which called him to the church to erform theevening service, fell on the air. CHAPTER IX ' THE RESCUE FROM THE CONVENT. Anxiety was rife in the Maxwell resl dence. Miss Dillon, aDoarentlv in oer- v feet health the day before, had been taken suddenly ill In the night, and the following day found her no better. Dr, Murphy, a doctor of her own choosing, had been called in, and had hinted at nervous disorder, that resort of doctor In all cases not distinctly understood by themselves, or not desirable to be understood by their patients. Mrs. Maxwell had been assiduous In attentions, and even Martha had visited the room of the sick governess. The afternoon found Miss Dillon still nerv ous ard miserable, and demanding the attendance of a priest. Father Fabio left his spiritual patient and found servant ready to conduct him to Mrs, Maxwell, who was waiting with some anxiety to exchange a few words with him in regard to Miss Dillon's condi tlon. She received him in her boudoir. a room at once beautiful and chaste, with its furnishings of azure and cream color, and permeated with a faint scent of violets. The young priest felt a flush rise to his cheeks as, in obedience to a sign t . V . t ' . irom iuo iair woman lvouie had so nearly lest, ho sank on to a small divan opposite the chair she herself had chosen, which by chance stood again the wall, directly under a portrait of her absent husband. The young priest, who had a keen sense of all things beautiful, animate or inanimate, looked at her with the pleasurable sensation pervading his being that all truly artistic natures feel, when they enter a conservatory where the rarest and loveliest flowers are kept, and do not even see the warn ing notice: "A heavy fine for picking the flowers," the very refinement of their love crushing out the vulgar sense of acquisitiveness. For Buch as these, the above warnings have no meaning. It is another class who gloatingly gaze and stealthily gather the blossoms, and find that the wither ing heat of their greedy hands have killed all the beauty and perfume; and in disgust, they cast away their hideous remains. The flush which for an instant spread over the young woman's face, was caused by the knowledge of the means employed, that had gained him admit tance to this treasure chamber, where a coveted and mbplaced jewel of Rome reposed on cushions of silk. "The most artistic thing in this artistic room," was his mental verdict, as he noticed the graceful pose of the perfect form and face before him. In answer to the lady's anxious in qulries regarding the condition of Miss Dillon, he assured her she need have no apprehensions; the spiritual balm he had, by the grace of God bestowed upon her, had, in conjunction with medicines of the physicians given her rest and comfort. miss union," ne continued, "is a woman of deep religious feeling and acute conscientiousness, and physical derangt ment caused the memory of any neglect of duty to become a scourge. Then it is, that the consoling power of our blessed religion asserts itself." "If daily intercourse with her makes me competent to judge," said Mrs. Maxwell, pleasantly, "I should say Miss Dillon's life is a blameless one, and her sweet face, which is to me like a mirror of her inner life, shows no dark spots." "Miss Dillon is a very worthy woman, and a true daughter of our holy church," he said, "but even a pure wo man, Mrs. Maxwell, is but human, and the inherent evil common to all human ity will spring into life like weeds in some bed of choice flowers. As a skill ful hand is required to free the bed of flowers from the weeds, not disturbing the form of the whole, bo the garden of one's inner life requires a careful cul tivator. Our blessed church foreseeing this, has instituted the sacred confes sional. I say, our blessed church, for I know you are one of the true faith. And with the privilege of my office, may I a k the name of your confessor?" Tho deep blue eyes had a merry gleam in them as she said: "Oh, certainly, Father; for the last ten years, my husband has been my confessor." ' Have you been married so long as that, Mrs. Maxwell?" She bowed her graceful head in as sent. The priest continued insinuat ingly: "Have you never felt the need of a helping hand to smooth the many rough places, and to allay the doubts and fears which must have sprung up in the little trials and troubles which have come to ir e, I have ever found my husband an all-wise counsellor." "I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance with your husband, unless a casual meeting in some assemblage can bd so called. He has a very coble face glancing at the portrait on the wall in front of him) and I think man or woman might very safely go to him for help in troubles." Mrs. Maxwell's deep blue eyes shone through a mist. "He is all In all to me; my rescuer from a horror of the past, my happi ness, and the very essence of my pres ent life. The life to come has no ter rors to me, for I have faith to believe that we shall bo united through all eternity." "You say he rescued you from some unhappy state?" said Fabio with well feigned interest. "An unhappy state is no name for the fate he saved me from," said Mrs. Max well, the warm vehemence of her Span ish blood manifesting itself in her eparkling eyes, and low, forcible tones of voice. "But for him, with his manly daring, I should be today a living, en tombed nun unless death had come to my relief instead of a loved and hon ored wife and mother." In his heart Father Fabio congratu lated her on her escape, but his duty was to play the part assigned him; so he allowed a smile of priestly indulg ence to play around his sensitive mouth, as he said: "A bride of Christ is supposed, and Burely ought to be the most honored and blissful of brides." "But," he added quickly, "doubtless you are fulfilling the mission the great Father intended you should and the blessing of the good priest who united you to the man you so devotedly love has abided with you always." (To be Continued.) IN THE CLUTCH OF ROME," Is published In book form, paper cover, and can be bud by sending 2o cunts in cash to the American I'cbi.ishinq Company. In Orange Manifesto. Lord Erne, grand master of the Orange Institution in Ireland, has issued a manifesto in which he states that tho institution was never more prosperous and successful tban it is now. He urges Orangemen to stand shoulder to shoulder for the good of Protestantism in Irtland. No more deadly device could be adopted by the enemies of their freedom and faith than to seek to lure from their allegiance, by promises of a bribe, either in money or iu land, men who have hitherto re sisted every temptation to betray their sacred trust. Any proposal to strengthen tho hands of Mr. Morley on behalf of any legislative proposal emanating from the prei-ent government could only end In coufuslon and disaster to the best interests of the Protestant c use. Prokntant Observer. Pamphlet. Extracts from United States Con gressional Record, containing address of Hon. W. S. Linton and discussion in congress upon sectarian appropriations of national money to Indian education, and the vote thereon; also remarks made respecting a requirement to teach the English language in New Mexico after admission to statehood, and two separate votes rejecting such a require ment. Address, Gen. Green Clay Smith, '. O. Box 333, Washington, D. C. Price, postage paid, $2.50 per thousand, or 5 oopies 10 cents. You may not be able to avail your self of our great offer, but some friend of yours may be waiting for just eueh. an opportunity. Mark our offer and send the paper to an acquaintance. UldlUOl I IUI1 1 natural stvle and 111 send vou In return character of writer. Enlnsn stamped envelope addressed to yourself, also a fee or Km cents. K. Dillingham, 7Wj Col orado avenue. Kansas City, Kan. f.Tr.r,:r:'ABent3.$75 a week. Rictuaire wrtHuty. fat HapM IlkfcWtehftr WMhrimllib diahea fur a family in one mintita, uhM, Motes aod drtea ib en without waning the hand. Yarn push the button, toe machine doet the. rti. Brlcht, jwlUhtfl dUb'i, and cheerful wires. No scalded Angera, ooiolledhandioreloibing. No broken dlb,oo muat. Cheap. durable warranted. Ctrenlarafrea, W. P. HARRISON A CO., Clark lav It, 0Umb.a, O, 99 READ - OUR NEW . . SERIAL STORY Which Began Feb. 1, 1895, Entitled, "In the Clutch of Home liy "GONXAL.11S," This story is published in serial form for the first time, and is one of thrilling interest, dealing with the machina tions of the bishops, priests and other emissaries of the Church of Rome in the politics of the United States. 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