THE * OMAHA DAILY BEE SUNDAY , MAY 13 , 189'1-TWENTY ' PAGES.
f T T T 1 IP
J t A I A ior = JW J
-1 SbCOXD DAY , w
or i'iuc'iiiN : : ( > iiArTiits.
Clmpter I. The npmlng Keen.of "I urdes" Is
In n crowded third-clnss ear of the "whllo
train , " which carries Hie very Hlk tillKrlms frnni
Paris la taunli * . It Is nt sunrise of n hot
August ilny , uromlMni ? to inntto lhi Journey > ery
nnoomfortalili- . Hint the train slarls. Thn lrk
nre propiinl up on thn Ix-nchM or strotrhnl nn
inatlrpmos. The tnr looks like n hospital ward ,
with Hlslcni of the Assumption In cacti compirt-
mcnt nctlnK nt nurs. The window * nre ki-pt
rloswl nnd the nlr In very foul. Among the nil-
Krlms Is Mnrl do ( Iii.-riinlnt. n pallidly beiutlfiil
yountr wonmn who for > t ars has had to He In
n cofllnllke Iwx. Hho Is accompanied by h r
fuller nnil the Abtre I'lerre rrntnenl. wearing lli
. Klster Hyn-
rod i cross of n stretcher Ijrnrer.
clnthc h In charce. Other pilgrims In the coin-
pnrtrnent nro Mine. Vincent , who In tnklni ? her
ilylrir I nhy to he cured nt the miraculous Broil" !
Mm * . &Inz , who In Journeying to I-ourdcs to
hpsoncli the Vlrirln to reform her dissipated hus
band ; M. Habnthlnr , formerly n professor In the
J.yCcc Clmrtpninunr , ho has lost the use of his
leCT ! n matttrss iiinkor , Iji Oovntte , dying of
consumption , nmi iiiz.i Itmiqurt with her fnco
frlKhtfuMy dlsiimtred by a lupus. Sinter Hy.i-
clnthn tells stories of the miraculous cures ef
fected by J oiirdes , and Is Interrupted l > y what
nil believe to be the dying strUKslen of nn un
known pnjscnRcr.
Clmptor II The Ablro I'lerre falls Into n
reverlo nnd reviews his own life. Ho wns the son
of n chemist who lived nt Ncullly , and who wns
killed by nn explosion In his Inlmrntory. 1'lerro'B
mother , thinking the chemlst'H death to be n
punishment for his selentlllc researches , dedi
cated the boy to the priesthood. Living next
. them were M. de ( lucrsnlnt , n visionary archi
tect , nnd his family. Mttlc Marie de Querialnt
nnd I'lerro played together nnd finally fen. In
love with each other ns they grew up. Then
Jlnrlo fell off n horse and received nn Injury
which balllcd all the doctors nnd resulted In
nearly totnl paralysis As nlie could never bo
Ills wife , 1'lcrro continued his studies and be-
rarno n priest. Meanwhile , after reading his
fnthor's books , he had corne to doubt some of the
. . teachings of the church. Marie became very re-
j llKlous , and finally 1'lorre consented to accom-
jwiny her on the pllgrlmago to Lourdes.
Clmpter III. The suffering In the train ) s In-
tetisa when It stops nt l'oltler . A doctor Is
found to examine the unknown man , who Is
nupposcd to ! dylrm' . The doctor proves to be
nn old friend of Bister ll > aclnthe , whom she
nursed when he was a poor student The man
Is beyond his aid , and a priest v , Ith the holy oils
Is sent for.
Chapter IV' . Just na the train starts Hophlo
Coutcnu , n young girl , gtts In the car. She tells
the story of the miraculous cuie nccorded to her
diseased foot by simply dlpiring It In the water
nt Ixiurdcs. Her tale buoys up the faith of the
pilgrims , who mo now nil minof being cured.
Chapter V. The Abbe leads aloud n book giv
ing the history of llcrnndettc , the girl who saw
the vision In the grotto. It WRS on February 11 ,
ISM , that Ilernadette , ti shepherdess , was sent
out to gather wood It wns then she , by acci
dent , strolled Into the grotto. The early history
of the girl wns also given , showing the ten
dency of her mind toward religious subjects.
The Abbe also elves IHs version of the story ,
based on the extensive researches he has undo.
Hecond Day , Chapter 1. The hospital train ar
rives In Ixiurdes. Jlcceptlon und care of the af-
lllctcd detailed.
CHAPTER II.
The Hospital of Our Lady of Sorrows ,
built by a charitable canon and tor lack of
funds not yet finished , Is n largo four-story
building much too tall on account of taking
filclc persons up so high , Ordinarily it Is oc
cupied by about 100 Infirm and poor old people
ple , but at the tl no of the national pllgrlm-
ngo these occupants arc sheltered elsewhere
for three days and the hospital Is hired by
tlio Fathers of the Assumption , who some
times place there as many ns COO or 600 In
valids. No matter how crowded they maybe
bo there Is always Insufficient room In the
wards. The remaining 300 or 400 Invalids
are distributed , the men In the Hospital of
the Salutation , the women In the town hos
pital.
Tills very morning , as the sun rose , the
confusion was great In the sanded courtyard
before the door , that was guarded by two
priests ever slnco the day before the corps
of temporary directors had been established
in ono of the lower rooms , with a perfect
mass of registers , tickets and printed for
mulas. Every ono wished to do better than
the preceding year. The lower wards were
to bo reserved for the most helpless , else
where the greatest care would bo taken in
the distribution of tickets , bearing the name
ot the ward and number of the bed , for
many errors of .identification had been known
In the past. Dut upon the arrival ot the
white train with its surging mass of fearful
sufferers all the good intentions were scat
tered to the wind , and fresh formalities so
greatly complicated matters that they were
obliged to begin by jnitting down the unfortunate -
fortunate 111 ones In the courtyard , in pro
portion as they arrived , and nfterward they
would bo- admitted in order. Once again the
unloading at the station seemed to repeat it
self , a piteous encampment In the open air ,
whllo the letter carriers and the clerical em
ployes , young men from the seminary , ran
about In a vague manner.
"They have tried to do well , " cried the
Baron Sutro In despair.
. And it was true , for never before had so
many unnecessary precautions been taken ,
nnd they found that by n. series of Inex
plicable mistakes the very Invalids most
difficult to move had been classed to go in
the upper wards. It was too late to make
new classifications. Things must now bo
straightened out as best they could , and the
distribution of tickets began , whllo a young
priest registered the names and addresses
for the managers. First of nil , each Invalid
hail to produce his own hospital card , the
color of hla train , bearing his name and the
number of his order , ami on that card were
written the namu of the ward and the num
ber of the bed to bo occupied. All this
lengthened the line of admissions.
Then from the top to the bottom of this
vast building , on all Its four stories , there
commenced a ccaeoloss tramping ot feet.
Monsieur Sabathlor was among the first to
bo Installed , In a ward on the ground lloor ,
called the family ward , because the sick
men were allowed to have their wives nuar
them. In fact , only women were supposed
' to bo admitted to the Hospital of Our Lady
of Sorrows. And although Brother Isidore
had brought a Bister , they were looked upon
na a couple , and ho was placed In the bed
next' to Monsieur Sabathlor. Near them
was the chnpel , still unplastcred , and the
windows closed In with boards. Other
wards were also unfinished , although they
liad been filled with mattresses , on which
Invalids were being laid. Hut the crowd
of these who could walk already besieged
the refectory , a long gallery whoso largo
P.windows looked out on an * Interior court ,
B nnd the Sisters of St. Fral , who ofllclnted
habitually In the hospital , had remained nt
their post In the kitchen , giving out bowls
of coffro and milk and chocolate to all these
wretched women , tired out by their tcrrlblo
journey. >
"Ilcst , regain your strength , " repeated
the Ilnron Sulro , who seemed everywhere
at the same tlmo. "You huvo three long
hours. It Is not yet 5 o'clock , and the
reverend fathers have given orders that no
one Is to go to the ( irotto until 8 , to avoid
too much fatigue. "
Above , on the second floor , Mine , de Jon-
qulcre had nt once taken possession of St.
Honorlne's ward , of which she was the di
rectress. She had been obliged to leave her
daughter Ilaymondo down stairs to assist In
the service of the refectory , as the rules for
bade any young girls to go Into the wards ,
where they might BOO disagreeable and dls-
Rustlng things. Hut lltllo Mmo. Dcsag-
neaux. who was only n simple helper In the
hospital , had not loft her directress , from
whom h was afremly taking orders , de
lighted to bo able nt least to devote herself
to the work.
"Madame , are all these beds well made ?
Suppoau I ninko - them over again , with
Sister Hyacinths. "
The ward , painted pale/ yellow , badly
lighted from the Inside court , contained
fifteen beds , In two rooms , against the
walls.
"Presently we will see , " answered Mine.
da Jonqulcro , with an abstract manner.
8 ho wa counting the beda and examining
the long and narrow ward. Than In an un
dertone :
"Tliore will never bo room enough. They
have given mo twenty-three Invalids , so wo
shall ho obliged to lay mattresses down on
the floor. "
Elscntlcro , Sister Hyaclnthc , who had fol
lowed the ladles after leaving Sister St.
Francois nnd Sister Clalro des Angos to
settle themselves In a small room near by
that had been turned Into a linen room , now
lifted up the quilts and examined the bed
linen. And she reassured Mmo. Dcsagncaux :
"Oh , the beds are well made nnd very clean.
One can perceive the handiwork of the Sisters
of St. Fral. Hut the reserve mattresses
are Just nt hand and If madnmo will lend mo
n hand wo- might without watting put down n
row hero between the beds. "
"Certainly ! " cried the young woman , car
ried away with the Idea of fetching In mat
tresses In her frail and pretty arms. Mine ,
do Jonqulero Was obliged to quiet her.
"Uy and by ; there Is no hurry. Walt
until our invalids are hero. I do not care
much for this ward , it Is so hard to venti
late. Last year I had the ward of St.
Itosallc , on the first floor. However , wo may
as well organize ourselves , nil the same. "
More lady helpers In the hospital arrived ,
a busy hive of working bees , keen to bc put
to work. They were almost a cause for con
fusion , this largo number ot sick nurses
taken from the highest circles of society , as
well as from the middle classes , and all
acctuated with a fervent zeal not unmixed
with pride. There were moro than 200 of
them , nnd each of them , when they entered
the service of the Hospitality of Our Lady of
Salvation , had to make a donation so that
nobody could bo refused lest the money
might fall off , so the number Increased year
by year. Fortunately there were many
among these women who wore content
merely to wear the red cross on their dress ,
and , once at Lourdes , Immedlatelywent off
on excursions. IJut these who did devote
themselves were truly to be commended , for
they passed flvo days of horrible fatigue ,
sleeping scarcely two hours each night and
living In the midst of the most repugnant
and terrible sights. They were present at all
times , bathed Infected sores , emptied basins
and pots , changed soiled linen , turned over
the Invalids In fact , attended to every nasty
need to which they were totally unac
customed. I3ut they came forth from It all
half dead , with feverish lips and eyes , but
burnltiK with the charitable joy that sus
tained them.
"And Mmo. Volmar , " asked Mine. Desag-
neaux , "I expected to find her here. "
Mine , de Jonqulero gently cut her short , as
though she new all about It and wished to
silence any Inquiries , feeling herself the ten
der Indulgence toward human misery.
"She Is not strong , she must bo resting at
the hotel. Wo must let her sleep. "
Then she divided the care of the beds be
tween the ladles , giving two to each. Everyone
ono took possession of her particular hpot.
going and coming up and down to ascertain
the whereabouts of the mrriti ofllce , the linen
room and kitchen.
"And the , drug room ? " again asked Mmo.
Desagneaux.
Hut there was no drug room. There was
not even a medical man present. What
good was one , since all the Invalids had been
given up by science were hopeless creatures
coming to ask God for the euro that Impotent
men could not promise ? Naturally any
treatment had to be Interrupted during the
pilgrimage. If a sick man died they ad
ministered the last rites. And only the
young doctor who had accompanied the
whole train was therewith his tiny box of
drugs to try and help a little In case he was
needed by some sick person at some crisis.
At that very moment Sister Hynclnthe was
taking Fcrrand , who had stayed with Sister
St. Francois until now. Into a closet near
the linen room , where ho proposed to estab
lish himself.
"Madame , " ho said to Mm. de Jonquiere ,
"I am at your disposal. In case of need
you have .only to 'sen ; ! for mo. "
She scarcely heard him , for she was quar
reling with a young priest of the society because -
cause there wore only seven night vessels In
the ward. "Of course , sir , If wo require a
calming potion" But she did not finish ,
going back to her discussion :
"Come , now , Abbe , try to get mo flvo or
six moro. How do you expect us to man
age ? It Is bad enough already. "
And Ferrand listened , looking hastily
around at this extraordinary place , where
chance had placed htm the day before. Ho
who did not bcllove , and who was there
merely for Charity and friendship's sake ,
was surprised at the astounding stir , caused
by so much misery and suffering , that hung
only on the hope of happiness. His ideas as
a trained physician were completely upset
by all this disregard of precautions , the mls-
use of the simplest Indications of science In
the certainty that If heaven wished It a euro
would be affected , even though It was
wrought by means contrary to all laws of na-
turo. Then , why this last concession to
human Judgment ? Why fetch a doctor on
the train ? Ho went back to his ofllce ,
vaguely ashamed , feeling useless and a llttlo
ridiculous.
"All the same , make up some opium pills , "
explained Sister Hyaclntho to him as she
wont In with him to the linen room. "Thoy
will be asked for , for wo have sejceral In
valids that give mo great uneasiness. "
She looked at him with her great blue
eyes , so soft , BO good , with their continued
smllo. Every motion she made tinged her
dazzling youthful skin with brilliant red.
Then , llko an old friend who liked to share
the requirements ot her heart with him :
"And If I need any one to lift or put any
body Into bed you will certainly give mo a
hand ? "
Then ho felt happy. lie had como at the
Idea that ho might be of use to her. Once
moro ho saw her by his cot when he had
nearly died , taking care of him as of a
brother , with the laughing grace of a sexless
angel , a mixture of comrade and woman.
Any thought of religion or ot belief behind
her did not even strike .him.
"As often aa you wish , sister. I belong
to you nnd shall bo- too happy to servo you.
You know what a debt of gratitude I still
ewe you. "
She gently placed her finger on his lips to
sllenco him. Nobody owed her anything ,
She was only the servant ot the poor and
Buffering , Just then the first Invalid came
Into the ward of Saint Honorlno , It was
Marl" , whom Pierre , aided by Gerard , had
Just brought up , lying In her wooden box. The
last to leave the station she was the first to
arrive , thanks to the endless complications
that , having detained them nil , were now
over , leaving them to their chances of dls-
tributloi ) by means ot their tickets. M. do
Qnorsalut had left his daughter , at her de
sire , In front of the hospital door ; she was
so uneasy at the crowds In the hotels that
she wished him to go at once and secure. If
possible , two rooms for Plerro and himself.
And she was so- tired that when she/ knew
that she could not go at once to the ( Irotto
she had consented to bo put to bed for a
whllo. "See , my child , " said Mmc. de Jon-
milcro , "you have three hours before you.
Wo will put you In your bed. It will rest
you to be out ot this box1
She lifted her shoulders , while Sister Hya-
clnthe took her feet , The bed stood In the
middle ot the ward , near u window. For an
Instant the Invalid kept her nyes closed , as It
exhausted by thus being moved. Then she
wluhcd Pierre to como In , for Mio became
most nervous , and said she must say uonio-
thlng to him.
"Do not go away , my friend. I beseech you.
Carry the boy out to tha landing , but stay
there , because as soon ns they give mo per
mission I wish to bo taken down again. "
"Aro you better In that bedj" asked the
young priest ,
"Yea , yes , no doubt. Hut I do not know.
I am In such haste. Oh , God I to bo yonder ,
at the feet of the blesd Virgin ! "
When Pierre had taken away the box her
thoughts became somewhat distracted by the
micci'sslon of Invalids that were arriving.
Mine. Vetu had been brought upstairs by
two litter bearers , each ouo holding on to an
arm , and had been laM by them on the next
bed , with her clothes on ; there she remained
motionless , without a breath , with her heavy
and yellow cancerous colored face. The In
valids were nut undressed , but were merely
stretched out. with the good advice to rest
and repose It possible. Thoao who had not
got on the bed * rat on the edge of the mat
tress , chatting together nnd arranging their
little things. Already ICllso llotiquct , who
wns also close to Mnrlo on the other side ,
was unfastening her basket to get out a clean
scarf , and was greatly annoyed because there
was no looking glass. In loss than ton min
utes every bed was occupied , so that when
La Grlvotte appeared , half carried between
Sister Hyaclnthe nnd Sister Clnlro des
Anges , they were obliged to commence to
put the mattresses on the floor.
'Horet Is ono , " called Mme. Desagneaux.
She will be all right In this spot , away from
the draught of the door. "
Seven mattresses were soon added to the
pile that filled the central passageway. It
was dllllcult to move. ' about easily , but by
taking care to follow the narrow paths the
111 people could bo readied. Each of these
kept her own parcel , box or vallso , and there
were soon grouped about the Improvised
couches n perfect heap of old duds , actual rags
hanging down over the sheets and quilts.
OnO might have thought It a strange encamp
ment , organized In great haste after some
terrlblo catastrophe such as nn Incendiary ,
an earthquake that had thrown hundreds of
wounded nnd wretched ones Into the street.
Mme. do Jonqulero walked up nnd down the
ward saying to all :
"Now. then , my children.-do not get ex
cited. Try to sleep a little. "
nut she failed to quiet them , and she her
self , as well ns the rest of tlio lady helpers
placed under her orders. Increased by their
anxiety tho.invalids' . Impatience. It wns
necessary to change somei linen , there were
other needs to fulfill. Ono who had nn ulcer
on her leg gave such loud cries that Mmo.
Desagneaux had undertaken to redress the
sore , but she was awl.'ward , and notwith
standing nil her devotion to the cause , she
nearly fainted , overcome by the fearful odor.
These who were better nsked , for soup , nnd
bowls were carried around In the midst of
calls , answers and contradictory orders that
no one obeyed. Sophia Couteau , very gay ,
nnd sot free In tills turmoil , who was stop
ping with her sisters , ran , Jumped and
danced a breakdown , called upon by all ,
loved and cajoled for the hope she brou&ht
to each ono of a miraculous cure.
The tlmo passed , however , In all this agi
tation. It had struck 7 Just as the Abbo
Judalno came In. Ho was thoinlmoncr of the
ward of St. Honorlno and he had been de
tained only by the difficulty ho hnd In findIng -
Ing an unoccupied altar where he could say
mass. As soon ns he appeared nn Impatient
cry was heard from every bed : "Oh , vicar !
Let us be off ! Let-us go at once ! " An ardent
desire was sustaining them , and each mo
ment they became moro and moro anxious ,
as though devoured by a burning thirst that
alone could alone bo allayed at the miracu
lous fountain. La Grlvotto , above all , sit
ting on her mattress , with clasped hands ,
besought them to take her to the grotto.
Was not this awakening of reason , this
feverish desire to be cured that strengthened
her already the beginning of a miracle ? She
had arrived limp , fainting. Now she was
sitting up. turning her black eyes on all
sides , longing for the blessed hour when she
should bo fetched , and , with her livid face
gaining n color , she looked as If already
resuscitated.
"Mercy , vicar. Tell them to take me. I
feel that I am about to be cured. "
Abbe Judalno , with his benign face with
Its fatherly smllo , listened and quieted their
Impatience with quiet words. They would
be going in a moment , but they must bo
reasonable and glvo things a chance to go
right. Then , too , the Holy Virgin did netlike
like to bo hustled , but biding her own tlmo
would distribute her favors to the wisest.
As ho passed by Mnrlo's bed nnd noticed
her hands Joined In supplication , ho stopped.
"And you , too , my daughter , are you In
so great n hurry ? no quiet ! there are
mercies for all. "
"Oh ! father , " she murmured , "I am
dying of love. My heart Is to swelled with
prayers that It seems It must burst. "
He wns touched by the passion of this
poor , wasted child , struck down so severely
In her beauty and In her youth. Wishing to
comfort her ho showed her to Mme. Vetu ,
sitting next , who did not move , but kept her
open eyes fixed on the passers by.
"Look at madnmo , how quiet she Is ! She
Is gaining , nnd llko a llttlo child she is right
to put herself In Qod's hands. "
Hut In a volco that wns not heard. It was
so low , Mme. Vetu babbled : "Oh ! how I
suffer , I suffer. "
Finally , at a quarter to 8 , Mme. do
Jonquiere told the Invalids they might begin
to get ready. She herself , nldedTiy Sister
Hyaclnthe and Mme. Desagneaux , wont
about buttoning up dresses , putting boots
and shoes on useless feet. It was a regular
dressing up , for all wished to look their
best before the Holy Virgin , Many took
the opportunity to wash , tholr hands.
Others unpacked their rags and put on clean
clothes. Elsie Rouguct had finally dis
covered a pocket mirror belonging to ono of
her neighbors , an enormous woman with
dropsy , who was verv particular about her
looks , and was absorbed In tying on her
scarf gracefully about her face , hiding with
Infinite care her monstrous visage , with Its
bleeding soro. Right In front of her , pro
foundly Interested , Sophie stood watching.
Abbo Jttdalne gave the signal to start
for the grotto. Ho wished to go , as ho
said , with his dear sisters In suffering and
In God , leaving behind the ladles and the
sisters to put things In order In the ward.
The ward was emptied at once and the In
valids taken down stairs to a fresh tumult.
Plerro , who had readjusted Mario's box on
Its wheels , took ; the lend of the cortege ,
formed of about twenty push carts , and lit
ters. Other wards likewise poured out , nnd
the court yard was filled , the long file of
vehicles following on ut random , until there
wan an Interminable queue descending the
rather steep hill of the Avenue do la Grptte ,
so that Plerro hnd already reached the
Plateau do la Mcrlasso just as the last litter
benrers were leaving the hospital court
yard.
It was 8 o'clock , and the sun , already high
In the heavens , a triumphant August sun ,
wns ahlnlng In the clear , lovely sky. The
blue ether seemed qulto now with childlike
freshness , as though the storm had washed
all clouds away. And Ilia terrlblo flip , the
court of miracles In human suffering , came
slowly down the hill In all the brightness of
the glorious morning. It had no end , that
string of abominations. It scorned to grow
longer and longer. No order , a mixing cf
every evil , the outpouring of a hell where
were heaped monstrous maladies , rare cases
that made the blood freeze In. OIIO'H veins.
Heads eaten by eczema , foreheads crowned
by birthmarks , noses and mouths changed to
look like pigs' snouts by elephantiasis. For-
goltcn diseases were there resurrected , an
old woman stricken by leprosy , and another
that was covered with lichens llko n tree that
had decayed In the shade. Then came drop
sical diseases , swollen like leathern bottles ,
their stomachs heaving under their coverings ,
while hands twisted by rheumatism hung
outsldo the litters anil feet fell out puffed
oedema , unrecognizable , looking llko bags
filled with old clothes. A woman with water
on the brain , seated In a llttlo cart , tried to
balance her enormous cranium , that , top-
heavy , kept falling back , A great girl with
St. Vltus dance jumped all over without stop
ping , with villainous grimaces that dragged
the left sldo ot her face. A younger one ,
behind , made a noise , a plaintive cry , llko
R beast , every time the tlc-doulouroux , with
which she was tortured , struck her mouth
and right cheek and seemed to poke It out.
Then followed the consumptives , trembling
with fever , exhausted by dysentery , thin as
skeletons , with livid skins , the color of the
earth to which they would soon return ; and
there was ono very white ono. with eyes of
( lame , exactly like a death's head In which
a candle had been lighted. Then all the de
formities ot contraction came along bodies
bent double , arms awry , necks turned side-
wlso. poor cieaturos broken and bent , left
motionless In attitudes like some tragic
jumping jack ; ono especially , whose right flat
was twisted behind her hip , while the left
cheek hung down , fastened on the shoulder.
After them came mlaerablo girls , with
rickets , plainly aeen by thrir waxen skins ,
ilender necka. scarred by suppressed humors ;
yellowUh looking women with that stupid
cf .suffering occaaloned by a gnawing of
a cancr at the lirenst ; and yet others flat on
their backs , with their sad eyes turned up
ward , that seemed \o \ toll the utory of In
terior humors ns largo ns a child's head
that obstructed their vital organs. On they
came , and still more horrible ones came , too ,
each ono Increasing the thrill of horror In
the spectator , A child ot barely 20 years ,
with a flattened head llko a toad , hod such
an enormous goitre that It hung to her waist
llko the bib of nn apron , A blind woman
walked on , her head erect and straight , her
face pale ns marble , with two holes for eyes ,
Inflamed and bleeding , two living sores from
which ran matter. A crazy old woman , Im
becile , with her nose eaten nwny , uttered n
fearful laugh from her black nnd toothless
mouth , and suddegly an epileptic fell Into
convulsions , foariilng in his litter , but the
procession did lint stop , but continued its
feverish march toward the grotto , as though
blown there by , V "hurricane.
The litter bonbons , the priests and oVcn the
Invalids thcmsclvm. were singing a canticle ,
the compllno of nernadette , and moved along
In the midst ot AVcs , the push carts , the lit
ters , the pedestrians , all coming down the In
clined street llkl a. swollen stream that had
overflowed Its lunks and was floating iilong
with a great nojsj } . At the corner of the
Rue St. Joseph , ucfir the Plntona de la Mer-
lasse , a family or excursionists , people Just
arrived from Catitercts or Ilnguercs , stood
on ( ho sidewalk' ' In profound amazement.
They looked llkarlch "bourgeois , " the father
and mother well dressed , the two fine looking
daughters In light colored gowns , with the
laughing faces of people who amucc them
selves. Hut the 'first surprise of the group
changed Into a growing terror ns they per-
cplved before them a collection of the mala
dies of bygone years , like ono of those hospi
tals that one rends of , that Is emptied out
after some horrible epidemic. The two girls
turned pale , the father and mother were
horror-struck at the sight of the uninter
rupted procession of such frightful diseases ,
from which they received the Infected breath
directly In their faces , Great God ! so much
ugliness , so much filth , so much suffering !
Was It possible under tills glorious sun , this
vast sky of light and Joy , under which the
Gave ran sparkling , where the morning
breezes wafted only the pure perfume of the
mountains !
As Plerro at the head of the procession
reached the Platena do la Mcrlasse ho was
bathed In the bright sunlight , In the fresh
and balmy air. Ho turned nnd smiled softly
at Marie , nnd they were both enchanted at
the wonderful view that spread before them
In the morning splendor when they got ns
far as the place of the Rosary. Opposite , to
the eastward , was old Lourdes , apparently
sunlc In a turn of the mountain , on the other
side of the rocks. Uohlnd the distant moun
tains the sun was rising , and Its purple rays
flooded the solitary * rock that was crowned
by the tower nnd crumbling walls of the
ancient chateau , once the redoubtable key to
the Seven Valleys. Through the golden sun
beams ono could only sec the proud arris ,
pieces of cyclopean construction , beyond them
Indistinct roofs , the discolored and ruined
roofs of the old town , while upon this sldo
of the chateau , stretching right and left ,
the new town smiled In Its verdure , with
THE PROCESSION TO THE GROTTO.
the white facades of hotels , furnished houses
and flno shops , a whole , noisy nnd wealthy
town , grown up within a few years , ns by a
miracle.
At the foot of the rook ran the Gave , tossIng -
Ing along In blue and green waves , very deep
under the old bridge , shallow under Ilia new
one , built by the fathers to connect the
grotto with the station and with the recently
opened boulevard. Llko a. background to this
delicious picture , with Its clear water , Its
greeneries , the restored town , wide spreading
and gay , stood the llttlo Ours and tlio great
Gers , two enormous ridges of Garo rock and
short grass , that In the subdued shadow cast
over them changed from dellcAto purple to
palo green , then dying Into a faint pink.
To the north , on the right bank of the
Gave , near the hills that follow the line of
the railway , were the heights of Kuala ,
wooded hillsides drowned In matutinal lights.
Uartres was on that side. Further to the
left wns the conservatory ot 'Jules , over
shadowed by Mlramont. Far away other
summits melted Into the atmosphere. On
the lower plains , studded In the green val
leys all about the Gave , numerous convents
gave a look of life to the scene. They
seemed to have grown there llko some
natural und speedy vegetation In this prodi
gious land. First came an orphanage , es
tablished by the Sisters of Nevers. whoso
vast buildings glistened In the sun ; then op-
nostto to the grotto was the convent of the
Carmelites , on the road to Paris , and higher
up on the way to Ponoyferro came the As-
sumptlonlsts ; then the Dominicans , lost In
the wilds , only showing an anglo ot their
roof , and finally tha Sisters of the Immacu
late Conception , called the Illuo Sisters , who
had founded nt the end of the valley a house
of retreat , where they took In single ladles ,
rich pilgrims solicitous for solitude. At
this early hour all the convent bells were
pealing merrily , ringing out on the crystal
air whllo from the further end of the horizon
zen the south , the bells of other convents
answered with the same silvery sound of
Joy Near the Pout-Vloux particularly the
bells of the Slaters ot Clarlsse chimed n
scale of such clw notes that It might have
boon a bird chirping. And from this sldo
of the town mlghtj bo seen the depths of
moro valleys. Mountains reared their naked
sides all nature , jssqmod disturbed , yet smll-
luc a billow without end ot hills , among
which might bemlced , ! the hills of Vlnsous ,
preciously shadowed by carmine and faint
blue. _ .
Out when Marfe dnd Plerro turned to the
west they were sUiiek dumb. The full un
shone on the Brest feout and the llttlo
Heout. upon their.unequal summits. It was
llko a background uf purple und gold , a daz
zling mountain IJ.M , where alone could be
traced the road that winds and mounts to
the Calvary among the trees , There on the
sunlit foundation , chining forth like a glory ,
were poised the three churches that the
shrill volco ot Dcrnadettu had caused to
spring up from the rock In praise of the
Holy Virgin. Helow first came the Church
of the Hosary. confined nnd round , half built
In the rock , nt the end ot the esplanade , held
up by Immense arms , a colossal Inclined
plain rising gradually up to the crypt. U
wns n tremendous work. A whole quarry
of stones had been cut and down. Arches
ns high aa naves of a church , two avenues
rising In n gigantic circle , so that the pomp
of processions might be uninterrupted nnd
that the carriage of a Illtlo sick child might
reach God without trouble. Only the door
of the crypt , the subterraneous church , wns
visible underneath the Phurch ot the Rosary ,
whoso flagged roof , with Its many paths , con
tinued the Incline. Finally the basilica
sprung up , rather flno nnd frngllc , too now ,
too white , with a mcngro style of ornamental
Renaissance , cut In the rock of Mnssablcllo
llko a prayer , a flight of a pure dove. The
pointed spire on the top of the gigantic
arches stcod out In the horizon llko the
small , straight Maine of n candle
In that endless billow of valleys
and mountains. Dcsldo the thick
verdure of thn hill of the Calvary the llttlo
uplro possjmscd n fragility , a candid look ot
childish faith that made one think of the
little whlto arm , of the poor little thin hand
of that emaciated girl who had pointed to
heaven In a crisis of her human misery. Be
hind the basilica there wns only the dwelling
of the fathers a square , clumsy building
nnd much farther off , In I litmldat ot n
spreading valley , came the episcopal pilace.
And the thrco chinches glistened In the
morning sunlight , the p.oldcn rain bathed the
entire countryside , whllo the ringing sound
of the bells seemed , In truth , to be the
actual vibration of light , the chanted awak
ening of this new born nnd glorious day.
As they crossed tflei Place of the Rosary
Plorro and Marie merely glanced nt the esplanade -
planado , the gnnlcn , with Us long center
grass plot , bordered on cither side by two
parallel paths that go as far ns the now
brldgo. There , turning toward the basilica ,
Rtnnds the stntuo of the great Virgin
crowned. As they passed In ali the Invalids
made- the nlgn ot the cross. On went , tlio
fearful procession , going forward , carried
away by Ita canticle , passing by nature In all
her brightness. Under the glorious sky ,
among the mountains of purple and gold ,
amid the heart of the century old trees and
the eternal freshness of her running waters ,
the procession pushed Its members damned
by fleshy Ills , with rotten skins , dropsical
creatures swelled Ilka bottles ; Its rheumatics
and palalytlcs torn with suffering , nnd those
with water on the brain , the dancers of St.
Vltus , the consumptives , the epileptics , the
scrofulous , tlioso with goitres , the foolish
nnd the mad all , all filed past , Ave , ave ,
ave , Marie ! And the continual complaint In
creased as It bore that abominable crowd
of human misery and sorrow toward the
grotto , to the horror nnd terror of the
passersby who stood transfixed , frozen by the
sight of that galloping nightmare.
Pierre and Marie were the first to pass
under the high arcade of the rampart. Then
ns they followed the quay of the Gave they
were suddenly In front of the grotto. And
Marie , whom Plerro pushed up close to the
grating ns possible , could only lift herself In
her cart , murmuring :
nOh , most Holy Virgin , dearly beloved Vir
gin. " She had seen nothing neither the
bubbling of the pool nor Ifio fountain of the
twelve canons , before which she had just
passed , nor could she distinguish any better
to the left the receptacle for the holy arti
cles or to tha right the stone pulpit , already
occupied by Father Massing , The splendor
of the grotto alone dazzled her a hundred
thousand candles seemed to be
burning there behind the uniting ,
filling the low opening with a
light llko that of n furnace , and forming a
starllko ray around theVirgin's Btatuo that
1 stood up high on the edge of u narrow ex
cavation In the shape of n pointed arch ,
There seemed nothing else to her out
side this glorious apparition. Neither the
crutches , with which they had lined ono
portion of the vault , nor the boquots thrown
in heaps , fading away among the Ivy and the
sweet briars , nor oven the altar , placed In
I the center beside a small portable organ
that wns covered over. 11 til ns she lifted her
eyes she perceived on top of the rock , us If
In heaven , the fragile white basilica , now
presented In profile , with the pointed needle
llko splro , lost llko a prayer In the blue of
the Infinite ether.
"Oh , mighty Virgin ! Queen of Virgins ,
Holy Virgin of Virgins ! "
Pierre had , however , succeeded In pushing
Mario's carriage to the nearest spot , oven In
front of the oaken seats that wore placed In
numerous rows , as In the nave of a church ,
but In the open air. These benches were al
ready nearly-filled by those Invalids who
could sit down. Largo spaces were occu
pied by litters placed on the ground , nnd by
the llttlo carts whoso wheels were locked
ono In the other , by a pllo of pillows anil
mattresses on which every III was repre
sented. Ho had recognized the Vlgnt-rons
when ho first arrived , with their sad child ,
Gustavo , sitting In the middle of a bench ,
while * ho had only Just perceived the couch
trimmed with laces containing Mme. Dlou-
lafay down on the flagstones , whllo beside
her , praying , knelt her husband and sister.
All around might bo seen the Invalids from
the railway carriage , M. Sabathlcr nnd
Urother Isidore side by sldo , Mme , Vetu
Kinking back In a carriage , La Grlvotto ex
cited , lifted herself on her two hands and
Ellso Rouguct sitting down. Ho oven saw
Mmo. Maze apart , overwhelmed In prayer ,
while on bended knees Mmo. Vincent , who
ntlll held little Rose In her nrina , was pre
senting her ardently to the Virgin , with a
mother's petition that the Mother of Divine
Mercy should take pity. And all around
this reserved precinct gathered the crowd
of pilgrims , growing greater nnd greater , n
preaalnt ; multitude that gradually stretched
out to the banks ot the Gavo. "Oh , merci
ful Virgin , " continued Marie In an under
tone , "faithful Virgin , Virgin conceive
without sin ! "
And exhausted she stopped , while , ns he
lips still moved In silent prnycr , she gne
rapturously nt Plerro. Thinking she wlshe
to ny something to him , ho leaned forward
"Do you want mo to remain hennt you
disposal , to take you presently to the pool ?
When she understood she refused by ahak
Ing her head. Then Mio said fevorlshly :
"No ; I do not wished to bo bathed till
morning. It eecins to me one must bo s
worthy , BO pure , so holy , before trying th
miracle ! All this morning I wish to pra
for It with clasped hands. I want to ptny-
'
pray with nil my strong ! ? ! , nil my soul ! "
She choked , then ndded :
"lo not return to fetch mo before 1
o clock. Then I \\lll go back to the hospl
tal. I will not stir from hero. "
Hut Plerro did not go nway , but stnyci
near her. Ho knelt for n moment , nnd h
onged to be nblo lee to prny with ilia
burning faith to ask God to heal this pee
111 child , whom lie loved with a brother'
tenderness. Slnco ho had reached the gruttc
however , ho had been overcome uy n slratiK
uneasiness , llko a dull decision , that spollei
the pious fervor of his prayer. Ho louse
o believe. All night ho had hoped tha
belief would again nourish In his soul. Ilk
n lovely flower of Ignor.nico nnd credulity
the moment lie knelt on r.Ttraculous grouml
Hut opposite all this decoration , this stntu
so hard nnd wnn In the false light of th
< n"VM'llotwcc" ( ll' ' ° receptacle for bends
, . ,
filled with n crowd of clients , nnd the grea
pulpit of stone from which the Assumption
, 5.1 < ? , thcl ; wns " " "H'B ' loud nves , ho out' '
felt disquietude nnd unrest.V S Ms solj
parched to such a stnto ? Could no dlvlm
fountain saturate It with Innocence nn
njako It llko the soul of n llttlo child w !
Klvo themselves wholly to the Bllchti-s
caress of the legend ? As his distraction con
tinned , he recognized the priest In lP , p , , |
P t to bo Father Mnscals. Ho had me
him before , and his trouble was Increased b <
his somber nrdor , his thin fnce , piercing eyes
argo eloquent mouth , that threattnci
heaven la order to mnko It rome down t ,
earth. And as ho looked nt him , surprise ,
at his own difference In feeling , ho trr
colved at the foot of tlio pulpit Father Fmir
cade in c ese communication with the Haroi
Sulro. The latter socmrd perplexed. Hi
cmled , howoyer , by approving with com
plnlsant nodding of his head. Abbo Jiidalm
was also there , and ho detained the fnther i
moment longer. His large , paternal looklni
face also expressed a sort of perplexity am
"o , toi > , nodded his hend.
Suddenly Father Fourcndo got Into the pul
Pit. stood up straightening his tall figuri
that the attack of gout from which ho wai
suffering , had bent slightly , and he did no
wish his dearly beloved brother , Fothei
Massals prefcrrod by al | , to go nway en
tlrely ; ho held him on the step of the nar
row staircase. leaniSg on his shoulder. Then
with a full and serious volco , with n sovijr
Ign authority that Instantly gave place ti
profound silence : "Ucloved brothers , belovoi
sisters , I ask your pardon for Intcrniptlni
your prayers , but I have a coimnunlcilioi
to make to you. I must ask for the assistance
anco of all faithful souls. Wo have to deplori
a very sad accident this morning. One o
our brethren died In the train that brough
you here , Just as he was reaching the prom
ised land. "
He stopped for a few moments. He ap
peared to get taller , his handsome face com
menced to beam In the royal waves of hi :
long beard. "Well , my dear brothers , mj
dear sisters , the Idea occurs to me that not
withstanding tills we must not despair. Win
knows but that -God wishes , by means o
this dead man , to prove His omnipotence U
the world. It Is like a voice that makes
me speak , to get up In this pulpit to asli
you for your prayers for this man who Is m
moro , and whose balvatlon is nevertheless ir
the hands of the most Holy Virgin , whc
always Implores her Divine Son. Yes , the
man Is hero. I have had his body brought ,
and perchance It depends on you whether u
dazzling miracle burst upon earth , If you
pray with ardor sufficient to touch heaven ,
We will plunge the body In the pool , we will
supplicate the Saviour , master of the world ,
to resuscitate him , to give us this extraor
dinary sign of Ills sovereign goodness. "
A frozen sigh , as though from the Invisible
world , passed over the congregation. Ali
had turned pale , and without a word havlns
been said a murmur seemed to run about
llko a shudder.
"Hut , " added Father Fourcade violently ,
"in order to raise a real faith with what ar
dor must wo pray. Dear brothers , dear sis
ters , It Is your whole soul that I want , a
prayer In which you are to put your heart ,
your blood , your life , with all the noblest and
most tender thoughts you possess. Pray
with all your might , pray so' that you no
longer know who you are nor where you nre.
Pray as one loves , ono dies , for what we arc
about to ask for is so precious a mercy , so
rare , so astounding , that the violence of our
adoration will alone force God to answer us.
And In order that our prayers may bo effica
cious , that they may have time to swell and
mount to the feet of the Eternal Father , wo
will not take the body down Into the pool
until this evening at 4 o'clock. Dear brothers ,
dear sisters , pray , pray to the Holy Virgin ,
the Queen of Angels , the consolatrix of the
mulcted. "
He took up the rosary , overcome by emo
tion , while Father Massals burst Into sobs.
The great , anxious silence was broken , n
contagion spread through the crowd and car
ried them away by cries , tears , and disor
dered babblings and supplications. H was
llko a delirium that whispered , abolishing
all will power and making of these creatures
nothing more than a creature who , exas
perated by love , was steeped In a mad desire
for an impossible prodigy.
For n moment Plerro felt as though the
earth was glvlnf way beneatli him , and
thought ho musi fall In a faint. He got up
painfully and went away.
CHAPTER III.
As Plerro walked awnyfilled with mis
givings and overcome by an Invincible repugnance -
pugnanco to remain there any longer , ho
perceived M. do Guersalnt kneeling near the
grotto , praying with all his might , com
pletely absorbed. Ho had not seen him Mnco
the morning and consequently was unaware
that the Intter had succeeded In hiring two
rooms nt the top of a hotel , and Ills first Im
pulse was to Join him. Then he hesitated ,
not wishing to disturb his seclusion , think
ing he must without doubt bo praying for hit *
daughter , whom ho adored , notwlthstnndlng
the constant mental anxiety she caused. So
ho paused on and wandered further off under
the trees. Nine o'clock struck. Ho had
still two hours before him.
Where formerly wild boars had grazed on
the wild mountain sldo n magnificent avenue
running nlong the banks of the Gave had re
cently been built by the almighty means of
Sold. The bed of the river had been changed
to glvo more ground and to erect a monumental
mental quay that was bordered by n wide
aldowalk , guarded by a railing. The avcniio
terminated against the side of a hill , about
200 or 300 ynrds away , so it was a limited
liromonado , with rows of benches rill shaded
! ) y magnificent trees. As It led nowhere , It
was only used by the overflow of the crowds ,
ind there might bo found llttlo quiet cor
ners , half way between the groan wall ho-
lilnil , that separated It from the wide fields
iproading to the northward , nnd the Gave ,
with Its wooded Inclines , brightened by the
ivhlto facades of tlio distant convents , On
.hose hot August days there , on the water's
idgo , might bo found a delicious freshness.
Plorr > Immediately felt refreshed , as
.hoiiRh ho had walked from some troubled
Ircam , Ho questioned himself nnd was
ivorccmo by his sensations. Had he not
hat very morning , on arriving at Lourdes ,
'elt n longing to believe , almost thlnkln ; ;
hat ho did sn already , ns ho used to when
n his childhood's days his mother had
olned his hands In prnycr , teaching him
bus to fear God ? Yet. the moment he
ound himself In front of the grotto hovus
iverwhnlmed almost to disbelief by the
dolatrlts of the forms , the violence of faith
.nil thu NtruRglo against reason. What was
o become of him ? Was ho not even to bo
iblo to Hllonco his doubt by making tlio of
his journey to see and know. Th com-
noncument of It was certainly discouraging.
He was troubled by It , and It tuqulred all
lieso lovely trees , tills limpid stream , to re-
tore him utter the shock. AH Plerro reached
he end of the path he had an unexpected
nvounter. Ho had noticed for some mo
nents that an old man , tightly buttoned In
la coat , nnd wearing a wide brlmmod hat ,
ma coming toward him , nnd ho tried to ro-
all the palo face , with Ha uqulllno nose and
cry black and piercing eyes. nut ho
, -as batllod by the long whllo beard and
urla. The old man stopped , too , greatly
urprlncd.
"How , now , Pierre , you at Lourdes ? "
Suddenly the young prlost recognized Dr.
llmssalgno , his own and hi * father's old
rlend , who had cured and comforted him
n tha terrible physical and moral crlsli
that had overwhelmed him after hla mother's
death.
"Ah , dcnr doctor , how gUiii t am to BCD
you. "
They embraced with deep emotion. Now
looking at the unowy locks , the slow pace
nnd sad aspect of the old man , Plerro ro-
nicmbered the Implacable aorrow that hnd
nged this man. Hut a few years had passed
slnco they parted , nnd ho found him struck
down by fate.
"You did not know that I wan In Lourdcs ,
did you ? I no longer wrlto letters. It la
true ; I llvo In the land ot the departed. "
Tears cnme lo his eyes , and ho continued
In A broken volco
"Here , here , sit down on this bench. It
win give me such pleasure to bo once moro
as of old , with you. "
The priest also felt a sob chokliiR him.
Ho could do nothing , but only murmur ,
'Oh. my dear doctor , my old friend , I pity
you with nil my heart nmi soul. "
H was n tnle of disaster , the shipwreck of
a life. Dr. ClwsBnlgno and Ills daughter ,
MnrKiirelto. a big , lovely girl of 20. hail
brought Mme. Chassnlgno , the wife , the
dearly loved mother , whose health was not
good , to CiirtcretB , where after a fortnight
she felt much belter , planning excursions ,
when one morning suddenly she was fouiul
dead In her bed. Crushed by the torrlblo
blow , the fntller nnd daughter seemed stupe-
fled by the Imr.sluiess of destiny. The doc
tor , originally from Hnetrls , had n family
plot In tlio cemetery nt Lotinles , where his
parents were nlrendy burled , lie wished to
have the body of his wlfo placed there , be
side the vacant grave Hint ho soon ex
pected himself lo occupy. Ho stopped on
there a week with Margaret , when ono
night the latter was tnken with n chill ,
went to bed nnd wns dead the next day before -
fore her dlstrncted father could oven tell
what wns the matter with her. The man
who formerly wns the happiest , helped and
adored by these two dear creatures , whoso
affection hnd kept him heart whole , wns
now nothing but nn old mnii. lost nnd lonely ,
frozen by solitude. All the joy of his llfo
wns gene ; ho envied the peasants breaking
atones on the rends , when hu Haw their
wives nnd children , barefooted , fetching
them their dinners. Ho refused to go nwny
from Lourdes. and had given up everything ,
work , his practice In Purls , to llvo close
beside the grave whore his wlfo and child
slept their last sleep.
"Oh , my old friend , " repeated Pierre , "how
I pity you ! What a terrlblo sorrow. But
why not think of those who love you ? Why
bury yourself here In your grief ? " The doc
tor waved his hand across the horizon.
"I cannot go nway. They arc hero nnd
keep moiwith them. All Is over. I wait only
to rejoin them. "
They were silent. Hohlml them birds were
flying In the shrubbery on the slope , whllo In
front murmured the waters of the Gave. On
the tides of the hill the sun wns beaming
In a heavy golden dusk. Hut under the trees
on the sequestered bench a freshness re
mained , and although within 200 feet of the
crowd they might have been In the desert ,
so little did the people at the grotto Interest
tlienibelves about them. They talked for a
long time. Pierre told him under what clr-
cuinstnnc.s ho had that morning reached
Lourdes , with thu national pilgrimage , In
company with M. do Guersalnt and daughter.
Then , with n burst of wonder , he cried.
"What" Do you think the miracle pissllilo
now , doctor ? You , great God , whom I < J *
thought unbelieving , or nt least completely v
Indifferent ? "
He looked at him dumbfounded at what
he had Just heard him sny about the grctto
und Ilernadette. He , whoso well balanced
mlrd , a man cf such exact intelllgei ce , whose
former powers of analysis ho had bo greatly
admired ! Ilnw could n mind of such a cali
bre , cultivated nnd clear , alienated from any
belief , brought up by method and experience ;
bow had It been brought to admit these
miraculous cures , operated by the dlvlno
fountain , that ths Holy Virgin had caused to
flow between the fingers of n child ?
"IJut , my dear doctor , remember you your
self furnished the notes about Hormuletto. to
my mother , your little kinswoman , as you
called her , and when her story Interested mo
later It was you again who talked to mo so .N
much of her. To you she was merely an In
valid , full of hallucinations , a halt-conscious
child , incapable of will. Do you remember
our tnlks , my doubts , nnd the smutty1 that
you helped me to regain ? " t
Ho was greatly overcome , for was It not
the strangest adventure ? Ho was n priest ,
formerly merely content to bolleve , nboilt to
renounce hla faith In the contact with the
physician , who was then nn unbeliever , but
whom he found nt this time converted , won
over to tlio supernatural , whllo ho himself
was in the agonizing tortures of no longer
bellevlns. v
"You who only nccept positive facts , who
base everything upon observation , do you ,
then , renounce all science ? "
Then Chassalgne , who until now hail smlloJ
peacefully and sadly , made a motion of
sovereign disdain ,
"Sclnco ! Do I know anything can I do
anything ? You asked mo Just now of what
disease my poor Mnrguorlto died. I cannot
tell. I , who fancied myself so wise , so
armed against death , found I understood
nothing , eould do nothing , not oven prolong
my daughter's llfo by ono hour. And my
wlfo , whom I found cold in her bed , having
retired the night before better than over
and &o guy , wus I uble to oven foretell what
ought to have boon done for her ? No , no ;
celenco has failed for me. I no longer wish
to know. I am only a creature nmi a poor
man. "
He spoke thus In a furious rngo ngalnst hla
whole proud and happy past. Then becoming
moro calm :
"Look , I feel now nothing but n fearful re
morse. Yet It haunts mo and pushes mo
hero constantly to prowl nmong tlioso wiio
pray. It Iiat ) I did not como first and
humillnto m. i\t \ before this grotto by bring
ing hither my two darlings. They would
have knelt llko nil these women you see. I
should simply have knelt besldo them , and
perhaps the Holy Virgin might have healed
and helped them. But I , fool , know no
better than to lose thorn. It Is my fault. "
Tears were now rolling down his checks.
"I recollect In my-childhood , at Hartres , that
my mother , n pleasant woman , used to fold
my hands and each morning nsk for the help
of Gcd. That prayer nRnlii came back clcariy
lo my memory when I was alone , as fceblo
nnd wandering ns a child. What do you
wish , my friend ? My hands again clasped
themselves as they used to do. I WUH too
mlsjrubl ! , too lonesome. 1 feel the need of
superhuman comfort a Dlvlno liolp that
would" think for , would do for me , Hint
soothed mo nnd raided mo away In Its eter
nal calm. Ah , these first days ! What eon-
fusion , what n turmoil In my poor head ,
bowed beneath the mnsHlvo blow It luul just
received. I passed twenty nights with tit
sleeping. I thought I must go mad. I formed
every sort of Idea. I rebelled so thut nt
times I shook my fist nt heaven. Then I
would fall humbly down begging God to take
me also. It wns a sensn of justice , n feel
ing of love that finally made mo calm , giv
ing mo back at the name tlmo my faith , You
know my daughter so big , so beautiful , BO
sparkling with life. Would It nol bo thu
most monstrous Injustice If for her ,
who never really lived , there was nothing. :
beyond the tomb ? She must llvo again. I 5 ,
fcol nn absolute conviction , for I hear her
still sometimes telling mo wo shall meet
again wo shall BOO ono another. Oh , to sea
them , mutt them again , these dear creatures
that I have lost my deur wlfo , my darllni ;
daughter that Is my only hope , the only
consolation for nil the sorrows of this world.
I hnvo given myself to God , because God
alone can glvo them back again to me. "
A llttlo grunt that told of a dchllltu'.cd old
ago revealed to I'lerio just how
the conversion hnd been brought about ;
the scientific man , Intellectually grown old ,
returned to his belief under the dominance
of sentiment , Pierre first ( Uncovered what
ho had not even suspected until then , that
there existed a sort of a atavistic faith
In this old I'yrenccan , the son of a mountain
peasant brought if | > In superstition , und
who , nvon after fifty > earn of serious study ,
returned to the Ideas of hit ) boyhood. It
wun iilso the result of human lasnltudo.
iV man to whom science has given no happi
ness , who rebels ngaliiat science the day
that ulio appears futile and unable to dry
lila tears. And there wns finally total dla-
: ouraKcmont. n doubt of those things that
tend to n need of assurance to an old man ,
tiont with years und ready to die In a cer
tain faith. Plerro did not protctt nor dU >
3uss , for this stricken old nun with hla sad
lenlllty broke hla heart. Under such shocks
s It not sad to witness the slrongeiit , the
most Intelligent become chlldlih ?
"Ah ! ho alghed softly , I , too , may suffer
sufficiently to sllcnca my reason , and kneei
ng yonder believe all those baautlful tales ! "
Once more the palo smllo that had bo-
'oru crossed Dr. Chamalgne/a lips reappeared
peared-
"It la the miracles. You are a priest
II y child , and I know tco well your sorrow :
The miracles appear to you Impoaulblo , Whtf
