Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1894)
18 THE OMAHA DAILY J3EE : SUNDAY , APRIL 20 , ] 89'-TWENTY ! PAGES. LJ RDE ErilLJS. ZOLA : CHAPTER III. As Boon ns tlio train stopped t\t Poitiers Bister Hyaclnthc mnilc haste to get down In tlio midst of the crowd of porters who wcro opening tlio doors and the pilgrims who wcro tumbling out , "Wnlt , wait , " she repeated. "Allow mo to pass first. I want to see If nil Is over. " Then , when she hnd got Into the other com partment she raised the man's head , think ing at first that ho was Indeed dead , seeing him BO pale and with vacant eyes , Dut she felt a faint pulse. "No , no. Ho breathes. Quick , they must hurry. " And seeing the other sister , thee o o who was at that end of the carriage : "I beg you , Sister Claire des Angea , go and find Father Masslas , who ought to he In the third or fourth carriage. Tell him wo have hero an 111 person In great danger , and ask him to bring the holy oils at once. " Without answering the sister disappeared amid the hustle. She wan small , delicate and gentle , with a collected air , mysterious eyes , but yet most active. Pierre , who had followed the scene , standIng - Ing at the other end of the compartment , made a suggestion. "If they were also to find the doctor ? " "Of course. I was thinking of that , " an swered Sister Hyaclnthc. "Oh , Abbe , would you be kind enough to go yourself ? " Pierre was just about to propose that ho should go to the canteen van to ask for some soup for Mario. Somewhat easier , now that she wan no longer shaken , the Invalid had opened her eyes and had allowed her father to sit her up. She had Insisted greatly , In her ardent longing for some pure air , to be taken for an Instant on the platform. Dut she felt that would be too much to ask , that It would glvo too much trouble to get her back again , and M. do Guersalnt , who had breakfasted In the train , an had also the greater number of pilgrims and Invalids , stood on the footway near the open door to smoke a cigarette , while Plerro ran to the canteen , where also might bo found the doc tor on duty and a amall pharmacy. In the railway carriage were the other 111 ones who could not think of getting out. La Grlvotto strangled and was delirious ; she kept oven Mine , do Jomiulcro , who had given a "rendezvous" In the eating room to her daughter , Unymonde , to Mine. Volman and Mine. Desagneaux , to all four breakfast to gether , Dut how could she leave alone , on the hard bench , that wretch who seemed In ngonles of death ? And M. Sabathler , nallod to his seat , was waiting for Mine. Sabathler , who had gone to get him a bunch of grapes , while Martha had not moved , not leaving her brother , the missionary , whose feeble complaint continued. The others who could walk had bustled about to get out , being In n hurry to escape for a moment from that vehicle of anguish where their 'egs had boon benumbed during the seven long hours since they had started. Mine. Mage had at once separated , going to one of the deserted ends of the station , straying off there with her melancholy ; stupollcil by suffering , Mine. * Vetu had had the strength to get a short distance , then to sit down on a bench In the glare of the sun , whose heat she did not feel , while Ellso Itoquct , who had felt modest enough to swathe her face again In her black scarf , was looking everywhere for a fountain , devoured by a thirst fcr cold water , and Mmo. Vincent , with slow steps , carried lior little Iloso In her aims , trying to make her smite , to enliven her by showing her some highly colored plsturcs that the solemn child looked at without seeking. I'iorro had , however , the greatest troub'.o In the world to make his way through the crowd that deluged the quay. It was unimaginable , the living stream , the laino and the sound , that the train had emptied tlioro , more than a thousand persons running , pushing and suffocating. Every railway carriage had given up Its miserable contents , as though a ward In a hospital had been vacated , and one was able to conjecture what an awful amount of suffering the white train was transporting , that before It landed was to bo given a legend of horror. Some of the In firm dragged themselves , others were car ried , many sat In a heap on the sidewalk. There wcro rude pushes , loud calls , a mad haste toward tha eating room and bar. Every ono was In a hurry , wan attending to his own business. It was so short , this stop of half an hour , tha only ono they wore to have until Lourdes. And the only bright ness In the midst of the black soutanes , the poor people In worn out clothes , without any proclso color , was the gleaming whiteness of the llttlo Sisters of the Assumption , all whlto and actlvo , with their cap , their shirt and their apron Ilka snow. When at last Pltrro got to the canteen van , about the middle of the train , ho found it already besieged. A petroleum store was there , as well as n summary llttlo kitchen outfit , The soup , made with concentrated extracts , was heating lit basins of wrought Iron , and condensed milk In cans was only diluted In proportion as It was required. Some other provisions were spread on boards , biscuits , fruit and chocolate. Hut opposite to the empty hands that worn stretched out Sister Saint Francois , In charge of the service , n. woman of 45 , short and fat , with n good fresh face , rather lost her head. She should have been distributing as she listened to Plerro calling the doctor , who was Installed In another compartment of the van with his traveling pharmacy. Then , as the young priest gava his explications , ho spoke of the poor man who was dying. She had her place filled ; she also wished to go and see , too. "Sister , I was Just coming to ask you for Bomo soup for an III person. " "Well. abbo. I will carry It. Go In front. " They hurried , the doctor and the abbo , ex changing rapid questions and answers , fol lowed by Sister Francois , who carried the of soup with great care In the midst of the bumping crowd. The doctor was a dark boy , of about 28 , robust , very hand- Bomo , and with the head of a young Human emperor , such as may still bo found growing among the burnt fields of Provence. As soon us Slater Hyacintho saw hint she was surprised and exclaimed : "Well ! It Is you , M. Ferrand ? " Doth stood amazed at the meeting. The Blstt rs of the Assumption have , as a bravo duty , to take care of the sick , especially the Blck poor , who cannot pay , who suffer In mansards , and thus they pass their lives with the most miserable , staying by death beds , In Kcunty rooms , giving the most In- , tlnmtc care , cooking , doing housework , llv- Ijj Ing as servants or ns ono of the family , | , ! until recovery or death. It was thus that Slater Hyacintho , o young , with her cream- llko face , wherein her bin a eyes laughed ceaselessly , was Installed one day with this young man , then a medical student , a prey to typhoid fever , and In such dlro poverty that he lived In the Hue du Four In a sort of collar , without llro or air. She novcr left him , had saved him with her passion to llvu only for others , as a girl might who had herself once been found In the porch of n church , whoso only family consisted of those who suffered , to whom she vowed her self , with nil her burning desire to love. And what an adorable month , followed by what exquisite companionship , lit that pure brotherhood of suffering. When ho called her "sister" It was Indeed to his sister that ho spoko. She was also a mother , who took him up ind put him to bed like her child , without any other feeling between thorn than that of supreme pity , the dlvlno tenderness of charity , She was always gay Vrlthout sex. with no other Instinct than lo comfort and console , and he adored and venerated her. and had of her the most chaste and the moat passionate recollec tions. "Ohl Sliter Hyacintho. Sister Hyuclnthe" ha murmured , delighted. Only a chance had brought them face to face , for Forrand wus nut a bcllevor , and ho vra thera because at the last moment ho Lad taken a friend' ! place , who wai sud denly prevented from coming. Fop nearly n year he had been house physician nt la Pltlo. This trip to Lourdes , with Its par ticular conditions , Interested him. Ilut the pleasure of meeting was making them forgot the man , and tlio sister recol lected herself. "You see , Monsieur Ferrand , It Is for this poor man. For an Instant wo thought him dead. Ever since Ambolso he has given us many fears , and I have just sent for the holy oils. Do you find him BO low ? Can you not revlvo him a little ? " Already the young doctor was examining him. Then the other Invalids , who had stayed In the railroad carriage , became In terested and looked. Marie , to Whom Sister Saint Francois had given the bowl of soup , held It with Hiich a shaking hand that Pierre had taken It and was trying to make her drink It , but she could not swal low , she could not finish the soup , her eyes fixed on the man , waiting , as If her own existence depended on It. ( "Toll us , " asked anew Sister Hyaclnthc , "how do you find him ? What Is his dis ease ? " "Oh , what disease ? " murmured Ferrand ; "ho has every kind. " Then , pulling a small vial from his pocket , ho tried to pour a few drops between the cbsed teeth of the III man. The latter gave a sigh , lifted his eyelids , let them fall again , and that was all' ; ho gave no further sign of life. life.Sister Sister Hyaclnthe , habitually so calm , whenever never despaired , was most Impatient. "Hut this Is terrible ! And Sister Clare des Anges doea no return. And yet I showed her plainly the carriage of Father Maslas My God ! What Is to bcoino of us ? " Seeing she could bo of no use Sister Saint Francois started to return to the van. Uefore then , however , she asked If It were not possible that the man might bo dying simply from Inanition , for that happened , and she had only como to olTcr provisions. At last , as she was going , she promised that If she met Sister Claire des Anges she would hurry her , and she had not gone twenty yards before she turned and with a gesture showed the sister coming back atone , with her circumspect but short steps. Leaning out of the door Sister Hyacinthc Increased the calls : "Mako haste ! Make haste ! Well ! And Father Masslas ? " "Ho Is not there. " "What ! He Is not thorp ? " "No. I tried my best to hurry , but In all this crowd one cannot go fast. Wlien 1 got to the railway carriage Father Masslas had already gene out , and without doubt had left the station. " She explained that the father , according to what they -told her , must have had n "rendezvous" with the euro of Saint Iludc- gonde. In years paat the national pilgrim age had stopped for twenty-four hours ; , the Invalids were placed In the city hospital , and they march to Saint Radegondc In proces sion. Ilut this year there had been seine obstacle , the train was to run direct to Lourdcs , and the father was doubtless there talking with the cure , having some business together. "They promised mo surely to give the mes sage , to sand him here with the holy oils , in soon as they could IIml him. " It was a veritable disaster for Sister Ilya- clnlhe. Slnco science could do nothing , perhaps the holy oils might have helped the 111 man. Oftcu she had seen that happen. "Oh , sister , sister , how dstrescd ! I am ! You do not know how sweet you would bo If you would go back there. You would been on the watch for the father so that you might fetch him as soon as he appeared. " "Yes , sister , " obediently answered SUtsr Clalro des Angcs , who again started off with her grave and rysterlous air , slipping through the- crowd with the suppleness of n shadow. All this tlmo Ferrand had been looking nt the man , distressed nt being unable to glvo Sister Hyaclntiio the pleasure of seeing him revlvo. And , as he made a gesture of Impa tience , she once more besought him , "Mon sieur Ferrand , stay with mo ; wait until father arrives. I should feel quieter. " Ho remained , helplns her to lift up the man , who had slipped from the seat. Then she took a cloth and wiped his face , that was continually covered with a heavy sweat. And the waiting was prolonged , amid the discom fort of the Invalids who had remained in the railway train , and the curiosity of the out siders , who commenced to collect. A young girl briskly scattered the crowd , and standIng - Ing on the footrall addressed Mine , de Jon- qulerp. "What Is It , mamma ? Those ladles are waiting for you at the eating room. " It was Raymondo do Jonquloro , already somewhat mature for her twenty-ilvo sum mers , but who resembled her mother amaz ingly , vlth the name large nose , big mouth , fat and agreeable fuce. "Dut , my child , do you not see I can not leave this poor woman ? " And she shoved La Grlvotte , who at that moment was seized with an attack of coughIng - Ing that was shaking her terribly. "Oh , mamma , what a pity ! Mine. Dela- gucaux and Mine. Volmar Intended to make this llttlo breakfast of us four such a pleas ant occasion. " "What do you want , my poor child ? Begin without me. Say to the ladles that just us soon as I can I will escape and Join them there. " Then with an after thought : "Walt ; there Is the doctor.I will try to get him to look utter my Invalid. Go away. I will follow. And you know I am dying of hunger. " Raymondo returned quickly to the eating room , while Mine , de Jonqulere begged Fer rand to como to her and ceo If ho could not help La Grlvotto , Ho had already , at Mar tha's request , examined Brother Isldqr , whoso moaning dirt not cease , and he hud once again by a broken-hearted gesture sig nified his Impotence , However , ho hastened to raise the consumptive to u scat , hoping to stop her cough , which did become less ami less. Then ho assisted the hospital lady to Induce her to swallow a mouthful of calmIng - Ing medicine. The presence of the doctor In the railway carriage continued to make a stir among the Invalids. Mr. Sabathler. who was slowly eating the bunch of grapes his wife had brought him , did not question the doctor , knowing before hand what the answer would bo , weary of having consulted , as ho expressed It , all the princes of science ; but he could not fall to feel some relief in the fact of seeing him reseat the poor girl , whoso proximity bothered him. And Marie herself looked at what ho did with u grow ing Interest , yet certain that for her like wise ho could do nothing. On the platform the scurrying Increased. There only remained a quarter of an hour. As If she were Insensible , with open , staring eyes , Mine. Vetu slept off her trouble under the scorching rays of the sun , while In front of her Mmo. Vincent was still walking slowly with her llttlo Rose , whoso llttlo bird-like weight she scarcely felt In her arms. Many persons rushed to the fountain to nil thulr jugs , cans and bottles. Mmo. Maze , very dainty and delicate , thought she would go to wash her hands ; but just as she reached there Bhe found Elslo Rouquot preparing to drink and she shrank back from that monster that dog's head with the gnawing muzzle that held tha crooked silt of her nose , the tongue bunging out and lapping and every body felt the same shudder , the sumo re luctance to Oil the bottles , the jugs and tha cans at the fountain where she had drank. A lurga number of pilgrims had been eating nil along the platform , Ono heard the regular tappig of n woman's crutches coming and going without stopping In the mhUt of the groups , A cripple seated In a wooden box dragged himself painfully along the ground In search of no ono know what. Others , lying In a heap , did not atlr. All this overflow of a moment , this rolling hospital emptied out for one-half hour , re- vouled nmld the agitated flurry of the sound and well a poverty and .fearful sadness under the broad light of mldduy. I'iorro had not left Marie again , for M.f Oueraalnt had disappeared , attracted by the gllmpao of green country to be seen at the end of the station. And the young- priest , uneasy because ahu had boon unable to tlnlsh hnr oup , forced himself with a smile to tempt her appelltu by entering togo and buy her a peach , but she refuse ; ! . She was suffer ing too much ; nothing pleased her. She looked nt him with her large , sad eyes , divided between hnr Impatience of stopping that retarded her possible euro nnd her dread of being once more shaken to pieces on that hard anil Interminable journey. A fat man approached and touched Pierre's arm. Hi ! was grizzly , wore a bsard and had a Inrgo and paternal face. . , "EXCIIKO mo , Abbe. Is ( hero , not a man dying In this railway carriage ? . And as the priest replied In ( tie affirmative he became quite friendly and familiar. "My name Is Vlgiicron. I am assistant head clerk In the Dopattmont of Finance , and I have asked for a holiday to take our son , Gustavo , to Loiirdes , accompanied by my wife. The dear child puts his whole trust In the Holy Virgin , to whom wo pray for htm night and morning. We are In the railway carriage In front of yours , where wo have a second class compartment , " Then turning , with a motion of his hand , ho called his party. "Come here , como here ! Jt Is In hero. The unfortunate sick man Is Indeed at the last gasp. " Mmo. Vlgueron was small , with a long palo face nnd with a poveicy of blood that In the accuracy of all good country people re appeared terribly In her son Gustavo. The latter , although 1C , hardly seemed 10 years old , bent , thin as a skeleton. His right leg was withered and wasted away , which obliged him to walk with a crutch. Ho had a pinched little face , slightly crooked , tlmt wan all eyes , but eyes sparkling with Intelli gence , quickened by pain and looking straight down In the depths of souls. An old lady followed , with a pasty face , dragging her legs with difficulty , and M. her state of health. Well , wo are In the hands of providence , nnd wo count on the Holy Virgin , who will surely perform a miracle. " At last Mmc. de Jonqulere , reassured by Dr. Ferrand , felt she could leave La Grlvotte. Dut she took care to say to Plerros "I am dying of hunger. I am going to the eating room for a moment. But , I beg you , It my Invalid begins to cough again come nnd fetch mo. " After oho had succeeded with great diffi culty In crossing the platform , she again found another crowd In the pitting room , The pilgrims In easy circumstances had taken forcible possession of the tables above all , many priests wcro helping them selves In the din. made by knives , forks nnd dishes. Thrco or four waiters were not nearly enough "to guarantee any Kervlcc , nil the more that a crowd hindered them , pressing to the counter , buying fruit , rolls of bread and coM meat. And It was there , nt the end of lUc room , at a small table , that Raymonde/vftis / breakfasting with Mmc , Donguoaux andjmmc. Volmar. "Ah ! ninmmnflfit last ! " she cried. "I was about to go bulk to find you. They must allow you to i&yv' She laughed-g.nyly , very happy over the Incidents of the Journey and over this picked up meal , this windfall. "Here , I havn saved your share of a trout with green sauee > and hero Is n cutlet wait- Ing. The rest * of us arc already eating artichokes. " VK It was , Indeeddelightful. . It was a Jolly corner that war pleasant to see , Young Mmo. Dcagueaux , above all , was adorable. A de'.lcajo blonde , with wild , flowIng - Ing yellow hulr , a mllk-whito skin , deep dimples , very smiling , very nlcot-wcalthlly n-.trrled. She had for three years past left her husband at Troutvllle about the .middle of August ( o accompany the national pil grimage In guise of hospital patroness. It was her great passion , a shuddering pity , a need to glvo her whole tlmo to the In valids for live days , a regular debauch of absolute devotion , from which she returned exhausted and delighted. Her only sorrow was that as yet she had no children , and Bometlmesj with a comical air she regretted that she h'ad missed her vocation that of a sister of charity. "Ah , my dear , " she said gayly to Ray- nionde , "di not bewail that your mother Is engrossed by her 111 onoi. At least It occu pies her. And , speaking to Mine , de Jonqulere , "If you knew how long wo find the tlmo In our comfortable , first class compartment ! One may not even work a llttlo , It Is forbidden , ' , I THE STOP AT POITIERS. Vlgueron , remembering that ho had quite forgotten her , turned toward Plerro In order to Introduce her. "Mine. Chaise , my wife's eldest sister , who also wished to accompany Gustavo , whom she dearly loves. " And leaning forward , In a low voice , with an air of confidence : "It Is Mine. Chaise , widow of the silk mer chant , enormously rich. Slio has a heart trouble that causes her great uneasiness. " Then the entire family , massed In a group , evinced the greatest curiosity as to what was happening in the railway carriage. People - plo were constantly collecting , and the father , In order that his son might look at his case , lifted him for a moment In his arms , while the aunt held the crutch , nnd his mother stood up , too , on the tips of her toes. In the carriage there was exactly the same sight as before. The man on his bench , occupying the corner , stiffened , with his head leaning against the hard board partition. Ho was livid , his eyelids closed , his mouth drawn by the agony , bathed In an Icy sweat that from time to tlmo Sister Hyacintho wiped away with a cloth , nnd the latter no longer spoke , no longer fussed , but had returned to her usual serenity , counting on Heaven and simply looking out at the platform once In a while to see If Father Masalas were not coming. "Look well , Gustavo , " said M. Vlgueron to his son. "It must bo a consumptive. " The child , who was scarred with scrofula , whose hip was eaten by a running abscess , who had the beginning of necrosis of the vertebrae , appeared to bo passionately In terested In this death agony. Ho was not afraid ; he smiled with u smile of Infinite Badness. "Oh , It Is fearful , " murmured Mme , Chaise , whom the fear of death turned pale In her continual dread of some sudden shock that might kill her. "Dame , " answered M. Vlgueron , philo sophically , "each In turn ; we are all mor tal. " And Gustavo's smile then took on a sort of sad mockery , as If he had heard other words , nn unconscious wish , the hope that the old aunt would dlo before ho did. and that ho might Inhrelt the promised 500,000 francs , 1 nnd that ho himself would not trouble his family for long. "Put him down , " said Mme. Vlgueron to 1 her husband. "You tire him holding on lo his legs. " She then busied herself , as did also Mme , Chaise , to protect the child front any knock. The poor little midget had need to be watched. They feared to lose him at any minute. Even the father thought It would bo beit to get him at ones buck to their own compartment , and as the two women car ried him off ho added , greatly overcome , turning again toward Pierre : "Ah , Abbe , If God wcro to take him , our life would go , too , with him. I do. not ipeak ' ' that would lo of his aunt's fortune' pass other nephews. And It would be against na ture If he want before she did , considering I begged to bo put In with the Invalids , but all the places had been given , and I shall bo reduced to trying to sleep tonight In my corner. " She laughed nnd added : "Is It not so ? Mme. Volmnr , wo will go to sleep , ns conversation appears to tire yon. " The latter , who must hnvo seen her 30th year , was very dark , had a long face , with finely marked features and large , magnifi cent eyes llko living coals , over which at times there seemed to pass an extinguishing wave. At first sight she was not beautiful , but the longer one looked at her the inoro Intense and overpowering she became , stir ring passions and unrest. Further , she held herself In the background , modestly hiding nnd effacing self , always wearing black , without a jewel , although she was the wife of a dlamand merchant In Paris. "Oh , I , " she murmured , "provided I am not pushed about too much , I nm content. " In truth she had already been twlco to Lourdes ns helper , but ono never saw her tliere In the hospital of Our Lady of Lourdes , for she always said she was overcome by such fntlguo that she was obliged to remain In her room. Mme. do Jonqulero , the directress of the ward , had always shown for her an amiable tolerance. "Oh , my God ! My poor friends , you have plenty of tlmo to spare. Sleep away , If you can , and then It will brt your turn , when I can no longer keep up. " Then , speaking to her daughter , "You , my darling , must bo careful not to excite yourself too much If you want to keep u clear head. " Dut Raymondo looked at her with a smil ing , reproachful air. "Momma , why do you say such things ? Ant I not very reasonable ? " There was no need for her to boast , for a ( Inn will , a resolution to make her own life , looked out of her gray eyes under an air of careless youth , simply content to live. "U Is so , " confessed the mother with slight confusion. "This llttlo girl Is more often right than I. Hero , pass mo the cutlet - lot , and I can toll you It Is welcome. Heavens , IfoV'Tmngry I was ! " , The breakfast''went ' on , enlivened by the ' continued laughing of Miie. ( Deagueaux and i Raymondo. Thlj Utter was animated , and I her face , llmt'\i'b ( \ hope of marrlago had al ready made sbmewlmt sallow , found once moro the rosy1 tints of her twentieth sum mer. Courses-ware put on the table two at a tlmo , for there were only ten minutes left. All over the room there was n growing commotion among the convives , who feared lest they mljtifrf not have time to drink their coffee , hj Ilut Plerro .Appeared. Again La Grlvotto had been nelzcg\vlth ; n clinking turn , and Mmo. de Jort < Toh > re finished her artichoke , nnd after kissing her daughter good night In a pleasant uunner , went back to her rail way carriage. iTho ; priest inado a mutton of surprise , howqver. upon seeing Mmo. Vol mnr with the red cross of the houpltal nf workers on her black dress , lip was ac quainted with her , as ho still made occasional vlsU to old Mine. Volmar , the mother ol the diamond merchant , nnd nn old acquaint- nnco of his own mother a most terrible woman , of extravagant religion , so hardened nnd severe that she close.l the shutters to prevent her dnughtor-ln lnw from looking Into the street. And ho knew her history the young woman Imprisoned the very day after her marriage , between her mother-in- law who terrified her , nnd her husband , n monster of repulsive ugliness , who oven went so far ns to be.tt her , mnd with Jeal ousy , although ho kept mistresses himself. .They only allowed her to go out for an In- stnitt to go to church. Ono day nt Trinity Pierre had , Indeed , guessed her secret by Boeing her behind the church exchange n rnphl word with n proper lookIng - Ing man , of distinguished nlr ; the Inovl- tnblo full so rnslly to be forgiven , the fall In the arms of the discreet friend who hap pened to bo there , the hidden nnd consum ing pamjloii that may not bo satisfied , yet burns on ; the meeting that had given nn much trouble to accomplish , waiting for It for weeks , that Is greedily enjoyed , In n final flare of fnncy. She was troubled nnd held out to him her thin and feverish llttlo hand , "Why. what n meeting , Abbe ! It Is so long since wo have seen each other. " Andshe explained that this was her third trip 'to Lpurdes , and that her mother-in-law had i-xactc-d that she should be In the parly of the Association of Our Lady of Salutation. "It's surprising that you did not see her at the station. She put me Into the train nnd Will bo there to fetch me when I return. " All this was said very simply , but with such a pointed meaning of Irony that Pierre had not much to guess. Ho knew she hail no religion , and only took It up to gain a few hours of freedom once In a while , anil he strongly suspected that some one was waiting for her yonder , that she was thin hastening to her lover , with the ardent though suppressed nlr and flaming eyes that she scarcely concealed under a veil of deadly Indifference. "And I , " said he presently , " , l am with a friend of my childhood , a poor young sick girl. I beg to recommend her to your care. " Then , an she blushed slightly , ho no longer doubted. Elsewhere Raymonde was settling the bill , with the assurance of a young per son accustomed to figures , and Mmc. Doa- gucaux went off with Mme. Volmar. Thn waiters were not attentive. Every ono'was hurrying out , as they heard a bell ring. Pierre , too , was hastening back to the car riage when ho was once moro stopped. "Ah , Vicar , " ho cried , "I saw you Just as wo were starting , but I have not been able to shake your hand before this. " And he held out his own to the old priest , who looked at him smilingly with the air of a noble man. Abbe Judalnovas the vicar of Sallgny , a small community of Olse. Large , tall , ho had a fat , rosy face , sur- roundpd by whlto curls , and one recognized n holy man , one whom neither the ( lesli nor the spirit had tormented. With peacetul sanctity ho firmly believed , absolutely with out any struggle , with the easy faith of a child who was Ignorant of all passions. I Since the Virgin had at Lourdes by a mar velous miracle of which people still talked cured him of an eye trouble , his belief had become still moro blind and devoted , as If It were quite saturated with divine gratitude. "I ant very glad to see you with us , my ' friend , " he said , softly , "because 'young priests have much to gain by making these pilgrimages. They tell mo that there Is n spirit of revolution among some. Well , you will see all these poor people praying to gether , a spectacle that will bring tears fioui you. How can ono refuse to place himself In the hands of God before so much suffer ing alleviated or entirely cured ? " Ho also was with an Invalid. Ho showed n llrst class compartment , where a placard was attached , marked "Mr. 1'Abbe Judalne. Reserved. " Then lowering his voice : "It Is Mme. Dleulofa , you know , the wife of tins banker. Their chateau , a royal rto- moln , Is In my parish , nnd when they heard that the Holy Virgin had bsen willIng - Ing to make a sign of grace to me they be sought mo to Intercede for the poor 111 one. There ! Do you see her on the ground ? She demanded positively to be taken out for a moment , although It will be trouble enough to get her back again. " There was Indeed on the platform In a sort of a long box n woman whose beauti ful , pure oval face and lovely eyes did not bear the traces of moro than 20 years. She had been seized by a fearful disease , the ab sorption of the calcerous salts tlmt served to grease the skeleton , the slow destruction of the bone. Three years ago , after being con fined with a stillborn child , she had felt vague pains In the spinal column. Then llt tlo by little the bones became rarlfled nnd deformed , the vertcbraes collapsed , the bones of the pelvis became flattened , those in the legs nnd arms began to shorten , and shrunken , as If melted away , she had become como a human rag a creature , fluid and without name , that could not be stood upright carried about with the right , that was greatest care for fear of seeing It escape front between the fingers. The head alone retained Its beauty , n motionless head , with a stupid and Imbecile air. And around this lamentable remnant heart ache were of a woman that made the the evidences of the great luxury In which she lived ; the blue silk tufting of the box that held her , the rare laces with which she was covered , the cap of Valenciennes that she were all spoke of n wealth that was spread about her till the end. "Ah , what a pity ! " continued Abbe Ju " think she Is so dalno , In an undertone , "to young , so pretty and rich as Croesus. And if she knew how they loved her , with what adoration she Is still surrounded ! That Is her husband , that big man near her , and hero Is her sister , Mme. Jousseur , that elegant lookIng - Ing woman. " Plerro remembered having often read In the newspapers the name of Mme. Jousseur , the wife of a diplomat , and very much "laucee" In the best Catholic circles In Paris , There had also been rumored con cerning her a story about great passion , and vanquished. She was besldoi overcome pretty , dressed with an art of marvelous very ous simplicity , and giving the Impression of air of perfect devotion toward her poor nn sister. And , an for the husband , who had at 35 Inherited the colossal business of his handsome man , with a father , he was n fair complexion , very neat and fitted snugly In n black frock coat , but his eyes were full of tears , for ho adored his wife , nnd ho had left his affairs to take her to Lourdes , put ting his last hope In this appeal to Dlvlno mercy. Certainly since the morning Plerro had scon all kinds of terrible Ills , In this mourn ful whlto train. Dut none had BO completely skeleton of a upset him as this miserable woman who was liquifying In the midst of her laces and her millions. "Tho unfortunate creature ! " ho murmured , shuddering. Than Abbo Judalno made a motion of serene hope. "Tho Holy Virgin will cure her. I have prayed so hard for It. " Ilut there was another clanging of the b'll , and this tlmo it was really the start. There were still two minutes. This produced n dual pushing , people coming back with things to oat done up In papers , with bottlo.3 and Jugs that they hail filled at the fountain. Many missed tholr way , not bolng able to find their railway carriages , running , as If lost , the length of the train , while the In valids , dragged themselves In the midst of a hurried liolso of crutches ; nnd others , who walked with dllllculty , tried to qulck'n their pace , hanging on thn arms of the hospital nurses. Four men had great dllllculty In getting Mme. Dloulufa back to her first class compartment. The Vlguoions , who were content to travel second CHIM | , had already Installed themselves In tholr com partment In the middle of an extraordinary hoop of baskets , boxes , valises , that hardly gave llttlo Gustavo room enough to stretch Ills poor nbortlvu members. Then they all reappeared , Mine. Vincent holding her dar ling llttlo girl up at arm'H length In terror lest she should hear her pcrcam ; Mmo. Vetu , whom they wt.ro obliged to push In , after waking her from the oblivion of her torture ; Elsie Rouqiiet , soaking wet bocausa she In sisted on trying to drink , was attempting to dry her monstrous face , and while each ono was taking his scut , so that the carriage was Illllng up , Marie was listening to her father , who , delighted at having gone to tho. end of the station , ho had found there a switchman's little house , from walch ho had seen n really lovely country. "Do you wish us to lay you down at once ? " asked Pierre , who was disturbed by the agonized expression of the slqk girl. "Oh ! no , no , presently ! " she replied. "I have time enough to hear thosa wheels grind ing under my head , as If they were crushing my bones ! " Sister Hyacintho had just begged Forranil to look at the Juan once moro before ho re turned to the cant'.ron van. She was Mill waiting for Father Massing , astonished at this Inexplicable delay ; but the had not qulto glvon him up , because Sister Clalro ilei Aiiges had not returned. "Monelour Forrnnd , I beg of you , tell mi If this man Is In nny Immediate danger ? Again the young doctor looked , llstenci nnd counted. Then with a dlscotirngltu motion nnd In n low voice : "My opinion Is that you will not take hlit nllvo to Lourdes. " All the heads wore strctchqd , nnxlous yot. If they hnd only known the mnn'H name whence he came , who he was ! Ilut Hit miserable unknown , from whom they couh not get a word , and who wns about to dli there In that carriage , without anybod ) being able to put n name on bin body Sister Hyacintho suggested that they shouh noarch him. Under the circumstances then surely could bo no harm lo do so. "Mon slctlr Ferrand look In his pockets. " Tin latter with cnro searched the man. In lib pockets ho only found a rosary , a , knlfi and three sous. They never found out' any thing more. Just nt this moment a voice nnnouncoi Sister Clalro des Augos nnd Father Mnsslas The latter had simply been belated by chat ting with the vlrnr of Saint Radcgondo In r waiting room. There was a feeling of groni relief , and for n moment everything neemci all right. Dut the train wns just starting the employes wcro already shutting tin doors. They would hnvo to expedite tin extreme unction In all haste. If they dh not wish to cause too great a delay. "This w.iy. Reverend Father ! " cried Sis ten Hyaclnthc. "Yes , yes , get In ! Oui poor Invalid Is here. " Father Mnsslas , five years older thai Plerro , who , however , had been a fellov pupil with him nt the ssmlnnry , hnd r largo , thin body , with the face of nn ns cntlc , whoso light beard made n frame Ir which sparkled two burning eyes. He wn neither the doubting priest nor the prleal of childlike faith , but nn npostlu carrlei away by passion , always ready to light ami to conquer for the pure glory of the Virgin Under his black cionk with a largo hood his Rhoggy hat with Its wide brim , he Wai resplendent with this continual ardor ol combat. Ho had nt once taken from his pock t ttu silver box containing the holy oil. And In the midst of the last slamming of the doors In the nolso of the running of the pilgrim * , the ceremony began , although the station master restlessly looked at the clock , Boelii ) ; that ho must glvo them a few moments ol grace. "Credo In tinum Deum , " quickly mur mured the priest. "Amen , " responded Sister Hyacintho and all the occupants of the railway carriage. Those who were able had knelt upon the benches. The others had clasped their hands , multiplying the signs of the cross , and when , after the muttering of the prayers , there followed the ritual of the litany , the voices were raised and nn ardent doslro was wafted with the Kyrlc. Elelson for the remission of sins , lor the physical and spiritual cure of the man. Might his whole life , of which they were Ignorant , bo forgiven , and might ho enter In person , but triumphant , Into the kingdom of God ! "Chrlste , exaudi nos. "Ora pro nobls , sancta Del Genltrlx. " Father Masslas had taken out the sliver needle , on which hung a drop of holy oil. In such a bustle. In the waiting at the train , whcro people were putting their he.uls by mistake Into doors , ho could not think of giving the customary unction upon nil th ? organs of sense , those doors through which enter sin. As the ritual permitted In it pressing case , ho was obliged to bo content with n single unction , and ho gave It on the mouth on that livid , half opened mouth , from which there came but n faint breath , while the face , with closed eyes , seemed al ready dead , returned to the ashes of mother cartlu "Per Istant sanctam unctlonem. ct suam pllsslmain mlserlcordlnin , indulgent tibl Domlnuo quldquld per vlaum , auditum , odorn- tum , gustutn , tuctum , deliqulstl. " The remainder of the ceremony was lost , jostled and carried away by the start. Th < > priest had scarcely tlmo to wipe- away the drop with the little bit of wadding held In readiness by Sister Hyuclnthe. Ho wa.i obliged to get out of the carriage nnd Into hlu own as fast as ho could , putting the box containing the holy oils In order , white the assistants finished the final prayer , "It3 \ Impossible for us to wait any longer , " re peated the station master , excitedly. "Come , come ; make them hurry. " At lust they were finally off. Every one reso.ited themselves , retired to tholr corners. Mme. do Jonqulere , still troubled by the condition of la Grlvotte , had changed her place , anu was nearer to her. Opposite M. Sabathler , who waited , resigned and silent. Sister Hyacintho had not returned to her compart ment , but decided to stay near the man , to watch him and help him. All the more that , being there , she wns able to look aflur Drothor Isidore , whoso sufferings Martha , was no longer able to alleviate. And Marie , growing yet moro pale , felt oven before It had stnrtod under a leaden sky. In her tender flesh , the jolting of the train ns It carried ltn charge of 111 pcoplo lit the closeness nnd imprisoned olr of the overheated carriage. There was a loud whistle , the machinery started , and Sister Hyacintho stood up to say : "Lo Magnificat , my children. " CHAPTER IV. Just as the train was moving the door was opened and a guard pushed a young girl of about 14 Into the compartment with Pierre and Marie. "Here , hero Is a place ; hurry ! " With long faces they had already com menced to protest , when Sister Hyacintho gave a cry : "Why , Is that you Sophlo ? Yuu ard coming again to see the Holy Virgin , who cured you last year ? " And at the same tlmil Mmo. do Jonqulero said : . "Ah ! that Is right , my llttlo friend Sophlo ; It Is good to bo grateful. " "Yes , Sister , or yes , Madame , " answered thn young girl modestly. At any rate the door had again bson shut , and they were obliged to accept this new pilgrim , who seemed to have fallen from heaven just as the train , that she had nnrly missed , wns starting. She was thin , so Mio would not take up much room. Desldes , th 'e ladles knew her , nnd upon hearing that she hnd been cured by the Holy Virgin , every eye was fixed upon her. Dut they were out of the station , the machinery creakr-d under the Increasing rnpldlty of the wheels , nnd Sister Hynclnthe , clapping her hundi , repeated : "Conic , come , my children , the 'Magnifi cat. ' " While the song of pralss swelled high above the Joltlnfjs , Plerro looltfd at Sophie. She wns evidently a llttlo peasant , a daughtnr of ono of those poor laborers from the neighborhood of Poitiers , who bail been spoiled nnd treated ns n lady by her parents ever slnco she had become/ ono nf the elect , n wonder visited by alt thf clergy of the dis trict. She had on n straw hat , with pink ribbons ; a tray woolen dress , trimmed with n flouncp , and her round face was not pretty , but good-natured looking , very fresh , nnd bright , cunning eyes that gave her a smiling yet modest look. WJiett the magnificat was over Plerro could not ro'lst the desire to question Sophlo. A child of this age , of such a candid appear ance nnd who could not possibly bo a liar , greatly Interested him. "Then you nearly missed the train , my "Oh ! Monsieur 1'Abbe , I should hnvo been provoked , for 1 have been at the station smco mid-day. There I saw the vicar of Saint Radcxendi" , who knows me well , and who called mo to liUs him and to tell mo that I was a good llttlo girl to go back to Lourdp.t. Then It seems the train WUH Just starting and I only had tlmo to run. Oh ! how I did run ! " She laughed , still out of breath and Btlll feeling guilty that she had been so heedless. "And what Is your name , my child ? ' "Sophlo Coutoau , Abbo. " "Aro you from Poitiers Iti-nlf ? " "No , Indeed. Wo live nt Vlvnnno , unvun kilometres nwny. My father nnd mother ire quite well off , nnd all would go on well enough If there wcro not eight children at homo. I am the fifth. Fortunately the llrst four are already working. " "And you , my child , what do you do ? " "Oil , Abbo , I ant not of much use. Ever since last year , when I came back cured , I liavo never been quiet n single day , be- auso , you know , pcoplo como to see mo and 1 had to go to sco the bishop and to the onvents and everywhere. And before that 1 had been III for a long tlmo. I could not walk without stick , my fool was HO painful that I scrt-nmed at every Btep. " "Then the Holy Virgin has cured you of t bad foot ? " Sophlo did not have tlmo to answer. Ulster Hyacintho , who had been listening , [ ntorvonod. U wus a carries of the bo no of the left lieel , dating from tlircn yearn back. The [ ooi wan nr.ollen and dufarmed uitd there were fistulas that gave vent to a conllnua suppuration. " At oncu nil the Invalids lit the earrings commenced to bo Interested. They never took their eyes off the miraculously hrnlcd ; . In her they sought to find n prodigy , in J ? order to see her better those who worn able S stood up , while ( ho others , the Infirm , stretched on their mattresses. rnlHi-d them selves nnd turned their heads. Coming ta them In the renewal of tholr suffering Hint they know they tnunt endure for fifteen more bouts nftcr lenvlng Poitiers , the mid den coming of this child , elect of heaven , wns llko a dlvlno message the rny of hope from which they should gather strength till the end of the Journoy. Already the groans ceased somewhat , nnd nil the fnces relaxed In the overwhelming deslro to bo- Hove. Above nil , revived nnd hnlf raising her * self , Marie clasped her trembling hntnl.1 nnd spoke softly to Pierre. "I beseech you to question her. Ask her to tell us nil. Cured ! Good Lord ! Cured of such nn III ! " Mme. DC Jonqulero , overcome , hnd lonnol . forward to kins the child across the p.irtl-- * tlon. tlon."Of "Of course our llttlo friend Is jtt.it about to do HO. Are you not , my darling , going to lull us what the Holy Virgin has done for you ? " "Certainly , mndnmo. All that you want. " She had a smiling and modest look , with ryes Hint sparkled with IntPlllgcnc. ' . She wanted to begin at once , nnd raised I or right hand with n pretty gesture to attract atten tion. She hnd evidently already become ac customed to please a crowd. Dut she coul I nut bo seen frun nil the seats In the rail way carriageKO Sister Hyacintho hud tin Idea. "Stand up on the seat , Sophie , and speak rather loud on account of tha noise. " This nmiiccd her nnd 8ln > hnd to wnlt lo begin until she hnd quieted down once inure. "It wns this wny my foot was useless. I could not even go to church nnd I nlwiyn : had to keep It wrapped In cloths , b cau.ia nasty stuft came out of It. M. Rlvolre , the doctor , who had mnde n cut In It to see In side , said ho would have to take out n hit of bone , which certainly would have made inn lame. Then , nflcr pra > liif ; well to the Holy Virgin , I went nnd dlppnl my foot In the wntor , with so grunt a longing to bo curul ; that I did not oven take the time to remove ) the rng. And when I took my foot out everything had stayed brhlnd , there wns nothing left on It. " A murmur ran about , n mixture of sur prise , astonishment and longing , nt hearing this wonderful tale , so comforting to the hopeless. Dut the girl had not finished. She took her tintnnd ended with another motion , her two nrms slightly raised. "When M. Rivolro snw my foot again nt Vivonne ho said : 'Whether It be God or the devil who had cured this child It Is all the same ; but the truth Is Hint ah ? Is cured. ' " This time penis of laughter were hoard. She had told the story so often that now uhu know It by heart. The words of the doctor always produced an effect , and so sure was she that people would laugh that she always Inu hol herself lefoio'ianJ. : And It \ ns htlll so Ingenuous nnd touching. She hud , however , forgotten a detail , for Sister Hytclnthe , who hud by n gunci ! > an nounced the doctor's remark to her au llenc ? , now whispered softly : "And , Sophie , what you said to the coun- less , the superintendent of your ward. " "Oh , yts. I had not taken along many rngs for my foot and I told her that the Holy Virgin hnd been very good to euro mo the first d.ty , because on the morrow my stock would have been oxlinusted. " , Again there was fresii Joy. She was su sweet to have been cured thus. And on further - ther questioning by Mme. Jonqulere , she had to relate I ho story about her boots , her beautiful new boots , that the countess had fc. given her , and In which , enchanted , she had * run , danced and Jumped. Think of It ! In boots , she , who for three years had been unable - able to put on n slipper ! Made pale and grave by the subtle mis- glvlngs that Invaded him , Pierre con'lnued to look at her. And he aski-d her other ques tions. Decidedly she did not lie , but he sus. pected in her n slow distortion of truth , nn embellishing quite to bo understood , In her Joy of having been helped , ami of having be come a llttlo person of Importnncc. Who knew now whn'her the pretended wound that had been Instantly completely healed In a few seconds had not really taken many days to be accomplished ? Where were the wit nesses ? "I Was there , " Mmc. do Jonqulero wns tell ing at that moment. "Sho wns not In my ward , but I met her that very morning limping " Pierre Interrupted her quickly : "Ah ! you saw her foot before and after the Immersion ? " "No , no ; I hardly think any one could have seen it , because It was so enveloped In compresses. She told you herself that the compresses fell off Into the spring. " And , turning toward the child , "Ilut she will show It to you her foot. Won't you , Sophlo ? Unfasten your shoe. " The latter , with a promptitude nnd case X. that showed how accustomed she was to do x It , took off her shoo and pulled olt her slocks * * Ing. She thrust out her foot , very clean , ' very whlto , well cared for , with the pink nails nicely cut , turning It round with n complacent nlr , so that the priest might ox- amlno It comfortably. Under the ankle there was n long scar , whoso whitened edges clearly bore witness to the gravity of the case. "Oh , Abbo ! take hold of the heel , squeeze It with all your might ; I no longer feel uny- Plorro made a motion ; and It might have been supposed that ho was overcome by the power of the Holy Virgin. Ho remained un easy In his doubt. What unknown force had acted ? Or , rather , what false diagnosis of the doctor , what concurrence of errors nnd Dxnggeratlona , had led to this beautiful tale ? Ilut the Invalids all wished to see this miraculous foot this visible proof of dlvluo curing that nil were looking for and It wns Mnrlo who touched It llrnt , sitting on her bench , suffering less already. Then Mmc. Mnzo taken out of her melancholy , passed It on to Mine. Vincent , who Killed It for thu hope It had given. M. Sabiithler had listened iv. Hi n rapturous uir. Mn o. \ otu , I/t GrlVJtte , oven Ill-other Isidore hud opened his OJXM with Interest , nnd the face of El ho Ru'-qtiot , y , transfigured by faith , had become muro , / extraordinary , almost beautiful ; for a wjund * * that hnd thus disappeared , did it not IIMIII her wound nlso would bo healed ? Her face , retaining only a moro scar , would bo llko the fncys of the reit of tha world ? Soph.o. . standing up , held on to one of the curtain rods , nnd resting her foot on the edge of thu partitions , turned to the loft nnd to thu right , without Kiting g" . very hnppy nnd vary proud of the exclamations , of the grow ing admiration mid religious respect shown lo this small end of her person , this llltlu naked foot that was now considered haered. "Ono must , doubtless , hav gr.-at faith , " Mnrlo thought out loud. "Ono must luivo a pure soul. " Then speaking to M. do Guer- "Father. I Ihlnk I should bo cured If I were only 10 yearn old r.ml had the unsul.l 'il soul of a llttlo girl. " 'Ilut you nro only 10 , dcarnst. Plorro , ila m llttlo gsrls of 10 hnvo uuy whiter vouU than illO ? " With his chimerical tastes ho n.lur'd Inloi mil mlrarlcH. And the priest , profoundly touched by the ardent purity of thu young 4lrl , no longer bought to dlncubii , leaving hur 10 lose herself In thu breath of consoling lliie'on ' that was passing , > since leaving Poitiers the nlr had become , -ory heavy. A storm WUH coming In Ihu cailcn sky and It teomfd an If the train ve.ro passing through u furnace. Tha villages mssed by , gloomy nnd deucrlod under ho burning sun. At Ci/uho-Vornc the beudn ids of piety were ulncliono 1 somewhat. ilstcr Hyacinthii. who luil not yet brnak- ' .utoJ , decided to quickly tint at mo brunl and rnlt while nh < i continued to tiiko euro of Hut nan , whoso faint breath Beamed lather more ogular. So It wns cnly nt I.ulTcc , at 3 Unlock , Unit the voepoi/t of the Holy Virgin voro said : "Oru tire nobls , sancta Del Gonltrlx. " "Ut dlgul ofllulainiir promluslonlbilH As they were finishing M. Babathlor. who tad boon looking at little Sophia put on her ihoe and stocking , turned to M. do Guvr- lalnt. "Undoubtedly the cuao of this child Is Inter- .atlng. Dut II Is nothing. There nro many uoro astonUhlng than hers. Do you know sx ho story of I'lerro do Duildor , a Dvlglan V vorkniau ? " - Everybody again began to listen , "Tlila man had had hlu leg broken by a all from a tree. For night yenn I howe wo plf-c" . of bone would not knit Ono : oiild FOP ' . . > ends through a sere that viis In ' biippuiatlun , nnd the leg lung | i 11 --1. turning In every which wuy. Veil , u v.ii ouougu ( or him to drink a