Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 3, 1894, Page 18

i THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, JUNE 3 1894—-TWENTY PAGES. *@OPYRIGHT ~ BY JAMES GORDON BENNEITs 1834 RESUME OF LOURDES. ortion of Zola's Great rinted. Brief Synopsis of th Story Whieh Hax Heon CHAPTER I.-—The opening scene of “Lourdes, Nich was commenced i serfal form fn Sune Jay's Bee of April 15, s In a car of. the ‘‘white train,”_ which carries the vory sick pllgrims from’ Parls o Lourdes. Among the piigrims I Marle n t Woman Who for years has been bedridden By Rer Tacher i the. Abbo CHAPTER 1L—The AbL #on of a chemist, who il next them were M. o Guor Little Marte do Grersaint and Kether, and finally fell in love aa they grew up. Marle reccived tnjury which rosulted in nearly total paralysis. A8 she could never be his wife Plerre became a Priest CHAPTER I11.~The suffering in the train is Intenso when |t stops at Poitiers half an hour for lunc 5 CHAPTER [V.—As the train starts Sophle Cou- teau gets In. She tolly the story e cure accorded to hior diseascd foot by simply dipping it I the water at 1 CHAPTER V.—Th giving the hisiory the eighteen imes grotto. Lourdes s ing. " As i known man dies SECOND DAY, CHAPTER I.—A vivid picture I8 g confusion when the invalids are conveyed to the hospital § CHAPTER I1.—The hospital’ Is greatly over- crowded, AU 8 n. m. the procession to the grotto starts, Iaiher Massals asks the vast Congregation to prity for n kreat miracle, ns the body of the man who died in the tra to be {mmersed in the pool in hopes that life will be restored, CHAPTER 111.- Dr. Chassaigne. T Plerre ! at Neullly. Living \int and his family. Pierre played to- with each other aloud a book o and_describes saw visions in wched In the early morn- station an un- ven of the landed and he abbe meets his old friend, ¢ erowd forces the abbe to ! man Is brought in and No lo occurs. On going out the abbe finds that Marie has been bathed with- out_effect. CHAPTE Chassafgne accompanies u of Crtifications. Eliza Rouquet, whose face was made hideous by a lupus, declares the sore 18 steadily drying up. La Grivotte, who had been in the last stages of consumption, comes rushing in, shouting, *'L am cured!"” CHAPTER V. Marie at the hospital. pressed because she was not cu ing her faith in the church. He reads to the invalids, continuing the story of Bernadette, telling how persecuiions followed upon the first miracies, how the grotto was closed by soldiors and bellevers forbidden to get the water, until finally faith in (he miracles became 80 great that the church and the government ook cog: nizance of It and the grotto was made fr Bix years after the apparitions the first ro. liglous ceremony was held at the grotto, and a marble st wly of Lourdes erected, Five years o beautiful basilica had been bullt, s was held The abbe's n cheers up the inv restores Marie's faith, Al the occu the ward partake of the holy communion, the lights are put out. THIRD DAY. CHAPTER I. In one of the two little rooms that he had been lucky enough to hire on the third floor of the Hotel des Apparitions, Rue de la Grotte, M. de Guersaint was already up and- dressed by 7 o'clock on that lovely Sunday morning in August that shome forth hot, but fine. He had gone to bed at 11 and had waked feeling refreshed and brisk, and at once went Into the next room, occupied by Plerre. The latter, who had only retired after 1 In the morning, and who had tossed through wakeful hours, only succeeded in Sleeping at daybreak, and was still asleep. His soutane, flung across a chair, as well as his other clothes carelessly thrown about, told of his fatigue and distress: “Well, well, lazy bones,” gayly cried M. de Guersaint, “do you not hear the bells ringing ? 2 Pierre jumped up suddenly, astonished to find himself in this narrow hotel room, Into which the sun was pouring. It was, in' fact, through the open windows that the joyous sound of the bells came in that told of a bappy and grateful town. **We shall never get to the hospital before 8 o'clock to fetch Marie if we are to have breakfast.” “Oh, yes, we will. chocolate to be brought at once. up and not be long in dressing.” When alone Pierre sprang from the bed, notwithstanding the backache he already felt. Heo was still plunging his head into the basin of cold water when M. do Guersaint, who could not bear to be alone, reappeared. “It 18 ordered; they will bring it up at once. Oh, this hotel! Did you seo the m’%rlltur. M. Majeste, all dressed in whit 0st dignified, sitting in bis office? It seems they are cram full; there has never been such a crowd heretofore. And what an in- fernal racket! Three times 1 was waked last night. I do not know what was golng on in the room next to mine; just now I heard a thump on the wall, then whisperings and talking''— He (nterrupted himself to ask: “DId you sleep well?" “No," answered Piorre. “I was perfectly overcome with fatigue and it was impossible to close my cyes. I was doubtless disturbed by all the uproar of which you speal.” He, too, had heard through the thin walls, for the house was overflowing and filled with & mixed crowd. The entire night one might have heard inexplicable noises, sudden run- ning in the hallways, heavy steps, loud volces coming out of space, without counting the groans of the ill people or coughs that seemed to come out of the very walls. Evi- dently people had been coming in and going out, getting up and going to bed all night 1/1ong, for in this irregularity of active re- liglous life there was no special hour or season, but people went to their devotions A8 they might have gone to their amuse- ‘ments. | 'And how did you leave Marle last night?" mddenly asked M. de Guersain “Much better,” answered Plerre. “She ‘had a very bad turn, but recovered all her coubage and her fafth.” There was a silence. “Oh, I am not worried," continund the father, with his quict optimism. “You will , Beo that all will go well. As for me, I am nehanted. T asked the Holy Virgin to smile upon my business affairs, you know—my @gfeat Invention for alr navigation. What would you say if I told you she had already ishown ‘me favors? Yes, indeed, in talking with Abbe des Hermoisos, last ‘evening, he #ald he felt sure he could find me a backer— & man of means at Toulouse, one of his frieads, who s immensely rich and greatly interested In mechanice. I could see at once n it all the finger of God." He laughed like a child and then added: “He is such a charming man, that Abbe des Hermoises, 1 shall see this afterncon if [ feannot manage to make the excursion through the mountain ranges of Gavarine, Economically, of course. Plorre, who wished to pay for everything, including the hotel, encouraged him in a triendly way. “Of course, do not miss this chance to vislt the mountains, for you want so much to go. Your daughter wili be £o glad to have you happily employed.” They were interrupted by a mald servant bringing in iwo cups of chocolato and two rolls on a tray, covered with a napkin, and @8 she left the door open a bird's-eye view of the corridor was given. “Why, they are already making up the next room,"” remarked M. de Guersaint in- quisitivaly. My nelghbor is married, is he not?" The mald was surprised. he s quite alone.” that? Quite alone! He never atopped moving about, talking and whisper- ing In there this morning.™ “That ‘I3 lmpossible; he Is alone. Ho h gone down stalrs, after giviog the order make up his room at once. There s but one room, with & large cupboard, of which he carries the key; no doubt he has some- thing very valuable in it Bhe went on with her gossip as she put the two cups of chocolate on the table. “He 18 a charming man. Last year he was able to get one of the little outside cot- tages that M. Majesto rents in the adjolning But this year he was too late, and #ad 10 be satisfied” with this one room, which In the evening the abbe visits She s very much de- ,“and 1s los- Order two cups of T will get him. As he does care to he is served In his room, ry good wine, and lias spie did not plea eat down s and he drinks v did dishes, “That {s gayly; “he night Pierre had listened with “And on this side, next not two ladies with a child with a crutch? “Yes, abbe, I know them Mme. Chaise, has taken one of the rooms, while M. and Mme. Vigeron, with their son, Gustave, are crowded into the other. Is is the econd year they have been here. Oh, they are also very nice people!” Indeed, during the night Plerre had thought he recognized M. Vigeron's vo! who seemed to suffer greatly from the heat Then, as the maid went out, she told who were some of the other occupants of the hail- way. To the left a priest, a mother with three daughters, a couple of ‘old people; to the right another single man, a young woman alone, another family of five little children. The hotel was full to the very attics, The maid servants, who had given up thelr rooms to the guests, all slept to- gether in the laundry. The night before cots had even been placed on the stair land- ings, and an honorable ccclesiastic had been forced to sleep cn a billiard table. After the servant was gone and the two men had finished their chocolate M. de Guer- saint went again into his room to w his hands, for he was very particular, and Plerre, left alone, attracted by the brilliant sunshine outside, stepped for a moment on the narrow balcony. All the rooms on the third flocr on this side of the hotel opened on a small balcony, with a railing of orna- mental woodwork. ~ His surprise was ex- treme, for from a neigboring balcony that belonged to the room occupied by the man who wa: quite alone he saw a woman's head appear, and he had recognized Mme. Volmar. It was certainly she, with her oval face, small, refined features and large, magnificent eyes likes coals of fire, over which passed at times a mist that seemed to hide their luster. She gave a jump when she saw who it was, and he, too, feel- ing annoyed and troubled thus to have both- ered her, retired in haste, Then he understood all, with a sudden clearn, The man who was only able to hire this one room, and hiding in it his mis- tress, shutting her in the large cupboard while the room was being made, feeding her from the things sent up to him, drinking from the same glass, and the noises of the previous night were also explained, and thus she would be imprisoned for thres whole days, revelling in her passion within tlis locked room. No doubt when the room had been made she had opened the cupboard from tho inside and stuck her head out of the window to look down into the street to see if her friend was not returning. This was the reason why she had not been seen at the hospital, where little Mme. Desag- neaux was constantly asking about her. Motionless, disgusted, Pierre fell into a deep reverie, thinking first of this woman's existence In her conjugal life in Paris, that he knew well, passed with a suspicious mother-in-law and an unworthy husband, and then of these three days of entiro liberty once a year, the sudden flame of love that was lighted under the sacrilegions pretext of coming to Lourdes to please God. Tears that he could not explain, tears that came from the very depth of his being, from his voluntary chastity, filled his eyes in sentimental sadness. “Well,sare we ready?’ M. de Guersaint cried gayly, as he reappeared with his gloves on and dressed in Lis gray coat. es, yes; let us go,” said Plerre, turning away to find his hat, but really to dry his eyes, As they wont out they heard a thick volco that they recognized as that of M. Vigneron, who was about saying his morning prayers very loud. Another meeting interestod them. As they came down the hall they ran into a man of about 40, broad and stocky, with side whiskers. He bent his back ‘and passed so quickly that they could not distinguish his features. He carried in his hand a package, carefully wrapped up, He turned the key, shut the door and dis- appeared like a shadow, without a sound. M. de Guersaint turned around. *Hello, that is the lone man. He must have bean to market and has fetched home some deilcacies.””, Plerre pretended not to have heard him, for he thought his companton too irre- sponsible to confide a secret that was not Fis own. Then, too, he was seized with a sort of modest fear at the idea of th revelation of fleshly appetites concealed n that room, here In the midst of the mystical exaltation’ that he felt surrounded them. They reached tho hospital just as the in- valids were being brought down stairs to be taken to the grotto. They found Marle very bright, for she had slept well. She kissed her father and scolded him when she heard he had not yet decided to go on the excursion to Gavarnie. If-he did not go it would dis- please her greatly. She further sald, with her quiet yet smiling afr, that she would not bo cured that day. Then she looked mys terious and begged that Pierre would obtain permission for her to pass the following night in front of the grotto. This favor was greatly longed for by all, but was' only granted after some difficulty to those who seemed specially In need. After disclaiming the idea, fearing that her health would suffer trom the night air, he promised to make the attempt, seeing how unhappy it made her to deny her request. ~ She doubtless hoped that, face to face with the Holy Virgin, /she wouid be heard in the slumberous peacé of the darkness. And when 10 o'clock came she felt'so lost among the crowds of invalids in front of the grotto that she asked to be taken back to the hospital, saying her eyes were tired by the glare of the daylight, When her'father and the priest had installed her once more in the ward of St. Honorine she sent them away for the whole day. “No, do not come to fetch me; I shall not 80 back to the grotto this afternoon; It is useless, But tonight at 9 o'clock you will come, Plerre, to take me thither? It understood; you have given me your word He repeated that he would try to obtain permission from Father Fourcade if he must. “Then, darling, till this evening,” said M. do Guersaint, kissing her. And’ they left her quietly in her bed, with an absorbed air, her great dreamy eyes smiling, looking into space. When they got back to the Hotel of the Apparitions 1t was only half-past 10. En- chanted by the lovely weather, M. do Guer- saint spoke of breakfasting at once, %o as to start as soon as possible to inspect the town of Lourdes. But he wished to ko up to his room, and as Plorre followed him they be- came spectators in an unexpected drama, The Vignerons' door was wide open, and stretched on a sofa that served him for a bed lay little Gustave. He was ghastly, having suddenly fainted, and for a moment his father and mother thought it was the end. Mme. Vigneron, leaning back In a chair, was breathless from the fright she had suffered. While rushing about the room M. Vigneron was hurriedly preparing a glass of sugar and water, into which he dropped some elixir. He sald that this would surely bring him to. Did any one ever hear of such a thing? A strong boy to faint thus and got as white as a chicken! He looked at Mme. Chaise, the aunt, who was standing by the sofa, looking remarkably well that morn- ing, and his hands trembled still more at the horrible idea that if this stupld turn had car- ried off tholr son the aunt's money wouid not have come to them, Ho Wwas besido himselt, unlocked the ehild's teeth and made him drink the con- tents of the glass by force. When he saw him open his eyes and sigh his fatherly spirit returned, however, and he wept, call- ing him his lttle dear. When Mme. Chaise came near to help him Gustave pushed her back with & gesture of sudden hatred, as though he understood the Inconsclent per- version into which this woman's money threw his parents, who were good souls, nevertheless. With wounded feelings the old woman sat down apart, while the father Guersaint well last too concluded M have dined 1t must curiosity to e, are there gentleman and a The aunt, and mother, reassured, thanked the Holy Virgin for having saved their darling, who smiiled at them with his sad and shy smile, that seemed (o know all and having no longer at fifteen any taste for life. “Can be of any use to you?' Plerre, cordially “No, no; thanks,” ans comiug out into the hall for a moment Oh! we had such n_shock! Fancy an only son and one who Is dear to us’- All around them the breakfast hour roused the whole house. All the doors o 1 and the hails and the stairways were filled. with continual cavalcades of people. Three great wirls passed, sweeping their skirts, In a neighboring room young children were cry- oll people hurried, priests followed, sing their identity as they held up their soutanes in order to get along faster. From all sides the boards were creaking under this unusual heavy weight of the crowds. A maid servant, carrying breakfast on a large tray, had knocked at the door of the single man, that door which opened after a short time, when she went in, showing the empty room, where the man sat alone, his back to the door, and when the mald came out the door was again discreetly closed, Oh, T hope that it is all over now, and that the Holy Virgin will cure him,” said M. Vigneron, who would not let his two neighbors go. “We are going down, for I can tell you I am exhausted. I am fearfully hungry." When Pierre and M. de were not their rooms they smallest corner of any table empty in dining room. A most extraordinary was there, and the fow empty seats were engaged. A waliter informed them that from 10 until 1 the room was never empty, So greatly were the appetites sharpened by the fresh mountain air. There Was nothing to do but wait, so they begged the waiter to tell them as soon as there were two vacant seats. Not knowing what to do, they went out to walk on the hotel veranda that over- looked the street, whore a_ceaseless popul tion, dressed in thefr Sunday clothes, walke up and down. The proprictor of the Hotel des Apparitions, M. Majeste, himself all dressed in white, came out, saying, with the greatest civility: “Perhaps these gentlemen would care to wait in the parlor?” He was a big man, of 45, who tried to carry out his surname with a royal manner. Bald, emooth faced, round blue eyes in a waxy face, with three double chins, he still maintained a_great amount of dignity. He came from Nevers with the sisters who worked in the orphanage, and had married a woman from Lourdes, small and dark. In less than fifteen years these two peopls had made their hotel one of the most do sirable, the most frequented in the town. For several yesrs they had opened a buci- ness for religious articles, and had a large shop to the left of the hotel that was kept by a young nlece under the supervision of Mme. Majeste. “Perhaps these gentlemen would sit in the parlor?” repeated the h very civil by Plerre's soutane. But they preferred to stroll about in the open alr. Majeste consequently did not leave them, but chatted a while, as was his custom when anxious to be very polite to his guests. The conversation turned on the torchlight procession that was to take place in the evening, and that promised to be superb in such splendid weather. There were more than 50,000 strangers in Lourdes, and participants had come from all the nefghboring watering places, so that ex- plained the great crush at the table d'hote. Perhaps the bread might even give out the town, as had happened last year. You can see the fearful crowd,” concluded Majeste. It is hard to manage at all. Indeed, it is not my fault it you are forcad to wait'a while.” Just at that moment the postman arrived with a large mail, a package of newspapers and letters that he put on the table. Then, having Kept one letter in his hand, he asked: “Have you a Mme. Maze stopping here?” “Mme. Maze, Mme. Maze,” repeated the inn Keeper. “No, certainly not.” Pierre, having heard, came forward and said: “Mme. Maze? Such a person is stop- ping with the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. I think they call them the blue sisters here.” The postman thanked him and went off. A hard smile curled itsclf on Majeste's lips. he blue sisters,” he murmured. “Ah, those blue sistors.” He glanced at Plerre’s habit, then stopped short, fearing to have said too much. But his heart was overflowing and he wanted sympathy. ~ Besides, this young priest came from Paris and had a much more frank look than those who formed members of the “band,” as he designated all the assoclates of the grotto—those who coined money out of Our Lady of Lourdes—so he thought he would risk it. “Now, Abbe, I swear that I am a good Christian—In fact, we are all here—and I practice my falth and go to my Easter com- munion, but really I say that nuns ought not to keep'a hotel. No, no, it Is not right.” And he poured out all his commercial rancor to one who, he thought, would agree. Should not these Sisters of the Immaculate Conception—these blue sisters—keep to their proper duties, that of preparing the holy bread and the washing and mending of sacred linen? But no. They had trans- formed their convent into an immense hos- telry, where ladies traveling alone might each have a room, might eat at a common table or be served separately. It was all very clean, very well organized and not dear, thanks to the many advantages enjoyed by the sisters. No hotel in Lourdes had the same amount of business. ““Now, do you think It proper for a re- liglous order to sell soup? And then, too, the superior {s a wenderful woman, who, sceing a fortune In this thing, wished her house to receive the full benefit, and reso- lutely separated from the fathers of the grotto who wanted to overseo her. Yes, Abbe, she even went to Rome, where she gained her end, and now she pockets all the money from the bills, AR, to see nuns letting out furnished rooms and setting a hotel table!” He stretched his arm up heavenward, as though choking. “But if your own house is too full," gently objected Pierre, ‘“since you have neither a vacant bed nor a plate to spare where would you put any more travelers should they come to you Majoste quickly cried: “Ah, Abbe, it is plain you do not know this part of the world. During the national pilgrimage, it is true, we all work hard, and cannot complain. But that only lasts four or five days, and in ordinary seagons custom is not so great. As for me, thank God, I am always satisfied. My house s known, it s as good as the Hotel de la Grotto, where two fortunes have already been made, Nevertheless, it is vex- ing to see those blue sisters take away cus- tomers, speclally the ladies of fortuns who come to spend a fortnight at Lourdes, some- times three weeks; and always at dull sea- sons when there is no crowd. You under- stand, do you not? Well bred people who hate noise, who wish to pray whole days alone at the grotto, but who pay well and never dispute the bill."” Madame Majeste, whom Pierre and M. de Guersaint had not yet percelved, as she was sliting behind a tall desk making up her accounts, here broke in with a sharp volce: “Last year, gentlemen, we had such a guest for two months. She used to go to the grotto, come back and forth, eat and sleep; never a word, always smiling and pleased with everything. She paid her bill without even looking at It. Ab, such cus- tomers are to be regretted. She rose, small, thin, very dark, dressed entirely in black, with a flat collar. She commenced again “If these gentlemen wish to take away any litle souvenirs of Lourdes they must not forget us. We have near here a shop, where they will find a large selection of holee articles, People stopping here seldom g0 elsowhere to make their purchases, Again Majeste shook her head in a manner that seemed to convey that, as became a good Christian, she felt sad at the scandals about him. “I certainly do not wish to lack any re- speot toward the reverend fathers, but I must, In truth, confess that they are rather greedy. DI you notice the little booths that they have established near the grotto? They are always crowded, where they sell religious articles and candles. A bishop de- clared it was shameful and that the money we. asked ed M. Vigneron, Guersaint left able to find the the like to st, made in tenders ought aghkiito be chased from the temple. They also say that the fathers | ccntrol the largo shop opposite here in this stroet, Where smali merchants are supplisd. Irdecd, it one listened to all the storfe tiat circulate it #wfld seem that they hav a hand in all thegcommerce round shout here of religious afticles; they recelve so nveh per cent oh fhe millions of rosaries #old, the statuettds dnd medals that are sold each yoar at Lourdds,” He had lowered his volce, for his accusa- tions wero spefific, and he felt rather trovhled to have fhus confided to a strangor But Plerre's gendle face reassured him, and he continued his tale of wounded pride; and his commercial dnstinct decided him to finish “I dare say all this {s exaggerated, but it 1s none the less a great pity for religion's s0ke ty see holy fathors keeping shop like any of the rest of us. F Instance, I do rot go and ask them to divide the monoy pald for masses, nor ask them so much pe crnt from the presants they receive. Ther for wh should they sell what [ sell? Our last year has been only oderat good, on account of them. There are al- reody too many In trade at Lourdes, so that oven we shall find it hard even 'to earn bread to eat or water to drink. Oh, Abb:, the holy Virgin has need to be with us, for there are oftentimes when things go very badly.” Some one called Lim, but he returned just as a young girl came to fotch Mme. Majeste. She was a girl from Lourdes, very pretty small and plump, with beantiful black haiy and round face, bright with gayety. “Our niece, Appoline,” said Majeste, *for two years has kept our shop. She is the daughter of a poor brother of my wife, and vsed to tend sheep at Ossun, near Bartres, when, struck by her swectness, we decided to bring her here, and we do not repent, for she works well and has been a very apt saleswoman.” What he did not tell was that rather frivolous stories were current in regard to Appoline. She had been seen wandering oft at night time along the banks of the Gave But she was very useful, drawing custom, perhaps by her black eyes that laughed so easfly. The year before Gerard de Peyro- Icrgue nev left the shop, and no doubt only his thoughts of serious matrimony pre- vented him from returning this season. He seemed to be replaced by the gallant Abbe ally the peaches. And, at any rato, the guests were not hard to please, heing with- out particular tastes, not casily upset. A delicate young girl, vory pretty, with tender eyen and a skin ke silk, was in between an old priest and a bearded man dirty, and who was eating stewed kidnoys with a delighted alr, although they wore floating in the gray water intended for sauce, “By jove," agaln sald M. de Guersaint, “this salmon is not bad. Add a little salt and ft is perfec Plorre declded to himself. Seated at a theirs he had just re and Mme. Chaise. walting, as though they hac first, and were sitting opposite Indeed, in a fow moments, M. Vigneron ap peared, with his son, Gustave, the latter still very pale, and leaning heavily on his erutch. ( Sit next your aunt,” he said. “I will sit near your mother.” Then, perceivir proached them. “Oh, he Is quite right again. I have just rubbed him with cologne water, and he will be able to take his bath presently at the pool.” He sat down and devoured the food. But after his shock ho could not help talking about It, so greatly had tho foar of his son's death before that of the aunt overcome him She was telling how the day before, when kneeling at the grotto, she had suddenly felt_better, and she fancied she curod of her heart trouble, giving de tails that her brother-in-law listened with round eyes and evidently very unquiet. He was really a good man and had never wished for the death of any one, but he felt a sort of indignation at the fdea that the Virgin should cure this old woman, while over looking his young son. He had already got to the chops znd was swallowing down large forkfuls of the mashed potato, when he fancled he saw that Mme. Chalse was snub- bing her nepliew: “Gustave,” he sald all at once, “have you asked your aunt’s pardon?" The littlo boy opened his eyes wide with a look_of ‘astonishment over his thin face: “Yes, you were very naughty. You pushed her away, up stairs, when she was anxious to help you to sit down.'” Mme. Chalse looked very dignified, held peace and waited, while Gustave, who eat without appetite his morsel of omelet, kept his eyes down on his plate, determined to resist the sad duty that tenderness im- posed. “Come, now, Gustave, be good. You know how kind your aunt is to you and all she intends to do for you.” No, no, he would not yield. At this mo- ment he hated this woman who would not die fast enough, who spoiled his parents, affection for him to that degree that he could not tell when they rushed to help him whether they really wanted to save his life or get the Inheritance that he repre- sented. ~ But Mme. Vigneron, unusually dignified, joined her husband's appeal: “Really, Gustave, you pain us greatly. your aunt’s pardon unless you wish to make me very angry.” So he gave in. try to eat to small tablo ognized M. next to Vigneron come ach other. his two neighbors, he ap- 80 many Why struggle? Would HE RECOGNIZED MME. VOLMAR. des Hermoins, who brought many ladies there to make their purchases. “Ah, you are speaking about Appoline,” said Mme. Majeste, comlng back from the shop. ‘Have you noticed one thing, gentle- nn—her extraordinary resemblance to Bernadette? There on the wall hangs a photograph of the latter, taken when she was 18, Pierre and M. de Guersaint approached to look, while Majeste added: “Exactly like Bernadette, it is Appoline, but much smaller, much sadder and poor. A waiter finally came to say there was a small table vacant. M. de Guersaint had gone twice to vainly try for a seat in the dining room, for he greatly wished to break- fast and get oft on this lovely Sunday morn- ing. So he hurried off without listening further to Majestl, who was saying in an am- fable way that he hoped the gentleman had not waited too long. The little tablo was at the very end of the room that they had to cross from one side to the other. It was a long room, painted in light oak and ofly yellow that had already pealed off, and covered with spots. The smell of cook- ing and service pervaded, caused by the con- stant meals with which the eators were served. The only decorations consisted of a gilded clock on the mantel plece, supported on either side by two meagre candelabra. There were guipure lace curtains at the five windows that opened on the street to the full glare of the sun. Even when the shades were lowered the light fiickered through in bright beams. In the center forty persons were crowded round the table d'hote, about ten yards long and really made for only thirty, while at small tables to the right and left ‘another forty persons were crowded, next to the wall and constantly pushed agalnst by the three waiters. From the mo- ment of entering gne felt stunned by the ex- traordinary hubbub, a noise of ~volces, of forks and of dishes; it was like entering a damp oven, where the face was struck by a hot steam, filled with a suffocating smell of cooking. At first Plerre could distinguish nothing. But upop belng seated at their little table, like one that s seen in a garden, brought In for the occasion, and (hat barely held their two platds, he wias rather disgusted at the the sight of the table d'hote that he took in at a glance. It had been going on for an hour, two sets of customers had been served and the places Were completely demoralized, spotted with witte and sauces, The very fruit dishes that served as the only decora- tion were no longer in their proper places. But he was astonished, above all, by the class of eaters.'’ Enormously fat priests, thin young girls, mothers inclining to stout- ness, men very red and alone, whole strings of fumilies, showing generationa of piteous and aggravated ugliness. All these peoplo perspired as they ate ravenously, seated sidewlse, with thelr arms close together and unsteady hands. Among these great appe- tites that were sharpened by fatigue, in this haste to fill up in order to return at once to the grotto, there sat about the middle of the table a corpulent ecclesiastic who did not hurry himself, but ate with a wise gravity and unintorrupted and dignified motion of his jaws. 28 S ractous! Tt 18 not:cold In here,” said M. de Guersaint. *'1 shall be glad to eat, how- ever, for ever since I have been at Lourdes I am perfectly famishing. And you, are you hungry 7" “Yen, yes; I will eat” who, however, had not much appatite. The bill of fare was coplous. Salmon, omelet, chops, With potatoes; stewed kid- neys, cold meats and apricot tarts, all over- cooked, running In sauces as though heated more than once before serving. But the fruit in the dishes was fairly fine, especi- answered Plerre, it not be better for his parents to have the money? Would he not have to die all the same even if that settled the family affairs? Ho knew that, for he understood it all, even when not spoken, so greatly had illness sharpened his quick senses that heard cven unuttered words, “Aunt, T beg your pardon for having been 50 unkind to you just now." But two great tears rolled down his cheeks, although he smiled with his old fashioned manner as if he had already lived too long. Mme. Chaise at once kissed him, saying she was not at all angry, and from thence on the pleasure of the Vigneron fam- ily was restored in all good will. “If the kidneys are mot very famous,” sald M. de Guersaint, “at least these cauli- flowers are excellent. The formidable mastication continued throughout the room. Plorre had never secn people eat 5o much in such a heat or in such a choking atmosphere of steaming dishes. The smell of cooking increased till it was almost like smoke. One had to scream to b2 heard, for every one was talking very loud and the walters rushed about, crashing the dishes as they ram, without taking into consideration the chewing noise, that was quite distinct. What bothered the young priest was the extraordinary promiscuous- ness at the table d'hote, where men, women, young girls and priests were crammed, ali delighted to be there able to assuage their hunger like a ravenous beast that grabs any morsel in haste. The bread baskets were filled and emptied. There was a massacre of cold meats—all that remained of the joints of the preceding day. Mutton, veal, ham, surrounded by pleces of clear jelly that trembled like glue. If one had eaten too much these cold meats brought back some appetite i the thought that nothing must remain, The careful eating priest at the middle of the table held on to the fruit and was at his third peach—enormous peaches— that he peeled slowly and swallowed in slicos with great conmpunction. Just then a commotion was created in the room by a waiter who was distributing the mail that Mme. Majeste sorted. “Hullo!" sald M. Vigneron. “A letter for me. It is surprising. I did not give my address to any one." Then he recollected. ‘Ol, yes, it must be from Sauvageot, who 1s taking my place in the financial depart- ment." And opening the and he gave a cry: My chief is dead!" Mme. Vigneron, overcome, could not hold her tongue. “Then you will be nominated!” It was their dearest, secret dream; the death of the chief, that should place him who, for ten years, had been the sub- ordinate, up in the superior grade of His joy was so great he forgot letter, his hands trembled ““Ah, my dear, the Holy Virgin is certainly with us. ~ Only this morning I asked her for my advancement, and now It is granted.” At once he remembered that he should not thus rejoice, as he met the fixed gaze of Mme. Chaise and seeing Gustave, too, smile, Each ove In that family had thelr business with the Virgin and asked some personal benefit for which he had need. 8o he said, with a cordlal manner: I meant to say that the Holy Virgin loves us all groatly and will send us all away sat- isfled. ~ Ah, poor chief. I am indeed sorry. I must send a card to his widow.” In spite of his effort he could not hel, feeling pleased, for be now saw his mos secret wishes gratified, even thosq that he bad never confessed to himself, 80 they all ate merrily of the apricot tarts; even Gus- squoezed | sustain | The ladies seemed to bo | down | | table | her eyes were bright, hor fa tavo was given permission to take a tiny ploce. ‘It Is astonishing,” sald M. de Guersaint, who was drinking a cup of coffee; “it s as tonlshing that one does not see more fnyalids about. All these people seem to really have most tremendous appetites.’ Yot on looking around he did find, besides Gustave, who picked at his foot Iike a Little chicken, a man with a goftre sitting at the d'hote botween two women, one of whom certainly looked as though she had a cancor, iriher away was a young girl who was so0 thin and pale that one must suspect consumption. And still furthe was an fdiot who had been hrought in sup. ported by her parents, and why was now tak or tood by means of spoon, spill of it on her bib, and although e was like that most of a dead person Doubtless there were that were not easily crowd of ravenous other fnvalids also distinguished in the eaters—invalids whose appetites had been renewed by their long Journey, who ate as they had not caten for months. Everything disappeared, the apri cot tarts, cheese, fruits, all vanished, leav- Ing only the large spots of sauco and wine that got larger and larger upon the table- cloth It was nearly 12 o'clock. “Let us roturn at once to the grotto,” said M. Vigneron And from every side these words might heard, “To the grotto!™ *“To the grotte Full mouths were empticd, to be again filled with prayers and hymns, “Well,”” declared M. de Guersaint, “so long as we have the afternoon before us 1 propose t look about the town a little, and I will also find a carriage to make the excursion, as my daughter is anxious to have me Pierre, who was suffocating, was glad to leave the dining room. On the porch he breathed again. DBut there they met u frosh influx of omers, all waliting for seats; even the small tablos were greatly sought after, and the barest chance at the table @’hote was quickly improved. For still an other hour the siege continued. The bill-of fare was scanned and overcome in the midst of the sounds of eating, of the heat and the increasing nauseous atmosphere Excuse me for an instant,” sald Plerre. must go upstairs and fetch a clean hand- Kerchiet, Upstairs, through the silence of the de serted staircase and halls, he heard a faint noise as he reached the door of his room It was a soft laugh that came from the next room, and that followed a sudden fall of a fork. Then ensued, more than really heard, the thrilling a Kkiss, lips pressed upon other lips to sl- lence them. The man, who was quite alone, was also breakfasting. CHAPTER II. Once outside Pierre and Monsieur de Guer- saint walked slowly through the ever grow ing crowd of well dressed people. The sky was a dazzling blue, the sun flooded the town and there was a hollday air about it all that is to be seen at fair times, when the lifo of a whole nation is fo outdoors. When they had gone down the crowded walk that led fo the grotto they were stopped at the corner of the Place de la Merlaite, for the mass was so thick that one could scarcely get between the horses' feet and the vast number of carriages. “We are not in a hurry,” sald Monsieur de Guersaint. “My idea is to go up to the Place du Marcadal, in the old part of the town, for the maid at the hotel told me there was a barber there whose brother lets out earriages very cheap. Will it make any difference to you if we go that way?" “To me,” cried Plerre. wish, I follow."” “All right, and I will get shaved at the same time.” They reached the Place du Bolaire. When in front of the grass plots that stretch down to the gate they were again stopped. Mme. Desagneaux and Raymonde were there talk- ing gayly with Gerard de Peyrelongue. The two ladies were dressed In light colored gowns, fit for a watering place, and their white ‘silk parasols shimmered fn the sun- shine. They formed a pretty group—a bit of worldly coquetry, with thelr fresh laughter and youthful looks. No, mo,”" replled Mm. Desagneausx, “we are not going to visit your ‘popote’ like that just at the time. all your com- rades are eating."” Gerald insisted most politely, turning specially toward Raymonde, whose rather dull face was that day brightened by the real charm of health. “But I_assure you it is most interesting to see. You will be received most cordially. You may trust yourself to me, mademolselle, and_we will certainly find' M. Berthand there, who will be proud to do the honcrs of our household.” Raymonde smiled and gave assent with her bright eyes! Just then Plerre and M. de Guersaint approached and greeted them. They were instantly told all about it. The “‘popote,” as they termed it, was the sort of restaurant or table d'hote that had been established by the members of the Hospitality of Our Lady of Salvatlon, where the stretcher bearers, the assistants at the grotto, both at the pools and the fountain, might eat to- gether very cheaply. As many of them were far from rich, for the Hospitality recruitod in all classes, it had been agreed that by paying 3 francs per day they could get throe good meals, and something was even loft over, that was distributed to the poor. But it was all done among themseives. They bought the provisions, selected from their own members a cook, the waiters, and no one hesitated to give a helping hand when necessary. “It must be most Interesting,” cried M. de Guersaint. Do let us go to see it, if we are not ‘de trop.’ " Little Mme. Desagneaux now consented. O, if we can go in a crowd, I am willing. 1 was afraid It was not quite proper.” She laughed, 8o all the rest did lMkewise. She had taken M. de Guersaint’s arm, while Plerro walked on the left, greatly taken by this gay little woman, so charming and bright, with her fluttering blonde hair and milk white skin. Behind them walked Raymonde, leaning an Gerard's arm. She was entertanilng him with her sagacious alr of a well bred young lady, that but falntly concealed the incon- sequence of youth. Since she had found at last the long dreamed for husband, she de- clded to make a conquest this time. She fascinated him by her appearance of health, while astonishing him by her knowledge of household matters, about the economies in small things; for she was giving explana- tions of how to buy, and showed him that they could reduce their expenses atill more. “You must feel fearfully fatigued,” said M. de Guersaint to Mme. Desagneaux. She started back and gave an indignant ery. “Indeed, no; just fancy. I was quite ex- hausted by fatigue and sat {n an arm chair last night at 12 o’clock in the hospital, and those ladies had the kindness to let me sleep.” Again every one laughed, but she was still very much put out. “So that 1 slept there until morning, like a sluggard. I, who had vowed to work all nig She ended by joining In the laugh, showing all her beautiful white teeth, Ah, T am a nice sort of sick nurse! And poor Mme. de Jonqulere, who stood on her feet the whole time—I tried to tempt her to join us here just now, but she preferred to 80 to bed for awhile Raymonde, who had heard it her volc “Oh, yes, Indeed scarcely stand. I obliged her to and promised that she might sle for T would seo all went right.” She gave a meaning look to Gerard, even fancied he felt a slight pressure from the round pretty arm he held in his own, as though she were happy to be alone with him, and arrange their little aftairs together with- out any outside Interference. It enchanted him; and he explained how 1t was he was not dining that day with. his comrade A friend of the family, who was leaving by the train at half past eleven, had invited him to breakfast at the station buffet, and had only just given him his liberty, Oh!" he cried, “the good fellows!. you hear them?"' As they neared “the popote” that was in- stalled In an old tin roofed plaster bullding they heard the joyous sounds of youthful voices, that came from under the trees. He wished them first to go in by way of the Kkitchen, an immense room, very well ar- ronged, having on one side 4 large oven and & groat tablo, With enormous sauce pans on the otber side, and he made them notice the cook, & jolly looking man, who wore his red cross on his white coat, for Ae was also a pligrim. Then pushing open a door he took them inte the common dining room It wes o long room, conteining a double row of plain pine tables. There was no “Go wherever you all, raised poor mamma, she could B0 to bed p quietly, Do | Fraternity other furniture with the excoptfon of af extra table for dessert and atraw bottomed chairs, such as aro used In an inn. The Whitawashed walls and shining red tiles all Iceked extremely clean In this almost volufe tery bareness, ke a rofectory of a_monass tery, But what was most noticeable from the fustant of entering was tho ohildiike | Eavety that pervaded the 150 people, who of |a ages were laughing, with eating with good appotites, applauding those who sang, all thelr mouths full. An extraordinary united them, coming as they did verywhero, from all classes, of dite ferent fortunes, ~ from various provinoe Many who did not know one another met as rothers for three days ecach year, went away and forgot one another for the res mainder of the year. There was no charmy great as to meet together in works of clarity, to pass soveral days In a common futigue and llkewise In boyish pleasuro; that turned thom all looose togetner like a pack of great boys beneath a clear sky, content to be happy and laugh. And they were not aleve administering to the frugality of thefe tlle, eating whatever was brought and had been cookad, and only sorved to add to thelr ral good humor. * explafn fiem rard, “that we are ot dull, notwithstanding tne hard dutles wo rm. There are moro than 300 mombers Hospitalits, but there are never more 0 Kuests here, as we have organized successive tables, to facllitate the ervice at the grotto and in the hospitals,' The sight of the little group of visitors standing on the threshold seemed to {norease the pieasure of all. Berthaud, the head of tho litter bearors, who was eating at the end of one table, stood up politely to receive the ladies. “How good it smells!” cried Mmo. agneaux, with a surprised air. Wil ask us to taste your cooking tomorrow Ah, no. No ladies are allowed,” answered Berthaud, laughingly. “But if these two gentlemen will Join us omorrow 1t will give us the greatest pleasure He had noticed at a_glance the mutual une derstanding between Raymonde and Gerard, 4 he seemed delighted, for he groatly wished his cousin to make this match. So he answered the young girl's enthusiastic questions with infinite pleasur ‘Is not that the Marquis de bert over yonder, sitting betwe men who look 1ike s*op clerks ?" It 1s exactly what they are,” answered Berthaud. ““The sons of a paper merchant at Tarbes, And It is also the marquls, your neighbor in the Rue de Lille, the propriotor of that royal hotel, one of (he richest and most noble men of France. Just see how he enjoys our mutton atew.” It was most true. The marquis, with all his_ millions, appeared perfectly content to feed himself for the 3 francs per day, seats ing himself in a democratic fashion in com- pany with middle olass men, who would not have dared to bow to him in the street. Were not theso chance moetings, this social com- munion, a real charity? He felt all the more hungry just that morning because ho had bathed over sixty invalids at the pools, all of them preys (o the most abominable diseases. Ho did, it was true, deny that it signified any realization of evangelical come munity, but such a condition might possibly exist, though only for three ¢ harming and bright if evanescent—after such a period. Although M. de Guersaint had just break- fasted, he was curious enough to taste the mutton stew, which he pronounced perfeet. All this time Plerre noticed that the Baron Suire, tho director in chief of the soclety, was walking up and down between the tas bles, giving an oversight to everything, even as to the mauner that his assistants were fed. Plerre remembered suddenl; Marie's ardent_wish to pass the night al tho grotto, and he thought that the baron might take it upon himself to give the desired permission. “Of course we allow such a thing some- times,” said the latter, very gravely, ‘“but it is always a delicate matter. You can as- sure me at least that the young person Is not consumptive? ~ Well, as you say she wants to go so very much I will speak to Father Fourcade, and also inform Mme. de Jonquiere, that she may allow you to take your friend.” He was at heart a fine man, in splte of his officious manner, that appeared overburdenad with the gravest responsibilities. He kindly gave the visitors every detail rogarding the organization of the lospitality, about the prayers sald together, and two executive councils held cach day, when all the heads of the service met with certain priests and almoners. They received the communion as often as possible. There existed most coms plicated dutios and a long list of asslstants to oversee—In fact a whole government to keep with a firm hand. He spoke like some general, who each year gainod some great victory over the spirit of the times; 80 he sent Berthaud off to finish his breakfast, being anxious to take the ladies himself into the little sanded courtyard, shaded by splendid trees. *“Most Interosting, most Interesting, peated Mme. Desagneaux. “‘Oh, how much we must thank you, sir, for your kindness."” “Not at all, not at all, madame, It i3 I who am enchanted to have had the chance to show you my little kingdom Gerard had not left Raymonde. M. de Guar- saint and Plerre were exchanging glances with an eye to getting on to the Place de Marcadal, when Mme. Desagneaux remem- bered that a friend had commissioned her to sond her a bottle of the water from Lourdes, So she asked Gerard how she might obtain it. The latter smiled. “Will you once more take me for a guide? And if these gentlemen will also come along T will first show you the shop whero the bot- tles are filled, corked, packed In boxes and then forwarded. It is very Interesting. M. de Guersalnt at onco consented, o the five people walked along, Mme. Desagneaux between the architect and the priest, while Raymonde and Gerard followed. The crowd had increased as the day went on; the Place de Rosaire overflowed with a vague and fdle crowd, iike that of some public fete day. The workshop was near there, to the left, underneath one of the arches. It consisted of a serles of very plain looking rooms. .In the first one the bottles were filled by the most ordinary method In the world. A little tin painted green, pulled by one man, that resembled greatly a watering barrel, . was brought from the grotto full; then from a small faucet the bottles of clear glass were simply. filled, on by one, without the person who was at work even looking to see that none of the holy water ran over to the ground. There was quite a small pool on the earth. There were no labels on the bot- tles; the leaden capsule that covered the fir cork had merely an fuscription that indis cated its origin. The whole was sealed with a sort of white lead, to preserve it, doubtless. The other two rooms were used for packing— regular workshops of a professional packer, with all the appurtenances, tools and Heaps of shavings. Thers were boxes made es peclally for ono or two bottles, prettily made, in which the bottles were lafd on finely cut papers. It all looked just like the shops for oxpediting flowers at Nico. and candied fruits at Grasse. Gerard explained it all with a quiet and satisfled air, “You see the water certainly does coms from the grotto, which places at naught many fdlo tales that are circulated. There are no complications; it 18 quite regular; all is done openly. I beg you to notice, how= over, that the fathers do not sell the water, as they are accused of doing. A full bottle, bought here, is sold for 20 centimes, the price of a single glass. If you send it off, naturally the packing and freight aro in ad- dition, %0 that it costs you 1 franc and 70 centim But at the spring you are allowed to fill as many Jugs or rceptacles as you wish to take away with you,' Plerre calculated that at this rate the profit made by the fathers could not ba very great, for they could only make on the manu- facture of the boxes and bottles which, when bought by the thousand, could not possibly cost them more than 20 centimes aplece. But Raymonde and Mme, Desagneaux as well as M. de Guersaint wero sadly disappolnted by the prosaic slght of the littlo green barrel, the sealed white lead capsules and the heaps of shavings about the workrooms. They had fancied there would be formalities and’ cere- monios, certaln rites when the miraculous water was put into the bottles, with priests clothed in sacramental vestments glving at least a blessing, while tho pure voloes of ohildren sang in chorus. Plerre could not help thinking how active was the strength of falth as he inspected all the businessiike arrangements for the expidition of the hely water. When, far away from Lourdes, one of these botties was recelved by some Ine valld all present fell on thelr knees. They regarded it as something sacredly precious, and & fow drops were taken In hopeful ex f the than two Des- you almon-Roque- n two young pectation of all {lls bejng cured; and what a contrast to the present scene. ““Well," waid Gerard, as they all came out, “do you care to see tho candle shop before " v s ow