Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 24, 1894, Page 10

D 7 1 e S . 01 1 3 e ) 4 e e e . e T A S e A 1 THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY +COPYRIGHT BY JAMES GORDON BENNETTe 1854+ RESUME OF LOURDES. 8 of the Portion of i Has Been Published. FIRST DAY CHAPTER 1T < which was commen April 15 Lour Among the ia Marfe de Guersiint, A youns wom: ha n bedeidden. SI - by her father and the Abbe Plerre From lesiAr A | Dlerro won, of & Hived at Neul i next them wors 3 Guersaint and his family TAte Marie ¢ int and Pierre played t gether, and finally fell in love with each otl Sk ¥hey griw up. Marie recelved an injury which resulted In nearly total paralysh A she could never become his wife Plerre became wriest, CHAPTER 111 sntense wiien it s for Tnneh QHAPTER TV, tonu gets in, She areorded to her dise it In the waters at CHAPTER V.—The giving the history b the elgh times she visions in the grotto, Lourdes ia reached in the early morn- ing. As the train rolls into the station an un- known m Tirtef Synop Story Wh surdes, whits pllgrims \lgrima who for anied which from’ Paris (o train 18 uffering in an hour Volrtiers halt As the train starts Sophie Cou: Ma the story of the cure 1 foot by simply dipping aloud a book and describes SECOND DAY fanded and " asks the vast wiil e crowded. e gTOUO star(s. ather Museals congregntion to pray for o great 0y of man who dled fn the train | 1 in the pool in hopes that Nife gt Fhe ¢rowd forces the abbe to CHAPTER 1V.-Dr. (hi b o the. i CHAPTE Chassalgne. T Hoctron. the sore ts ‘steadily arying'up 18 Grivotte, who had been in the Inst stiges 0f Gongamption, comies. Tushing in, sh tam urea CHAPTER V.—In the evening the abbe visits Fle: " 8o 1w much (eprosse and {8 losing. her At e Inviliie, continuing tie ndette, te i Towed upon tho fitat mir Shivora them up, and restores Marte's faith, iting, THIRD DAY, Fierre discovers that Mme. has come to Plorre and A o whom |.nmunw|4 is engaged. iy for” her b Sped o night Tighied ased by . Accompanied by her %he watches the magnificent in which thirty thousand e » cnrried CHAPTIER IV Plerre takes Marle to the grotto and insists on remaining there with her throughout the night, Daron Suire, the director, fakes Plerre into the grotto and shows him the mimeulons spring Iy in the morn heavy rain beging to fall. Marie will away. She belleves she hos in. CHAPTER V.—Plerre, in about, meats hin old fricad Dr. ¢ aain. T doctor tells him about his rvlew with nddette, and he describes the efforts of Abbe to bulld @ church at Lourdes in hottor of the Virgin. FOURTH DAY Marie {8 In the Hospital of rows and is still confident of death of Mme, Vetu Is CHAPTER 1 helng t vivldly portrayed. FOURTH DAY. i CHAPTER 1L Tho rush of people to'the grotto on that dhy, Monday, was something tremendous. It was the last day of the national pilgrim- age at Lourdes, and in his morning lecture Father Fourcade had counseled a suprenie effort of faith and fervor in order to ob- tain from heaven all that was to be given by way of favors and prodigious cures. By 2 o'clock in th afternoon 20,000 pilgrims had assembled at the grotto, feverish and agitated by most ardent hopes. And still the crowd increased momentarily to such a point that Baron Suire came out alarmed from the grotto, and sald to Berthaud: “My friend, we shall be overrun, it is sure. Double your corps of assistants; call all your men together.” The Hospitality of Our Lady of Salvation had the entire management for the mainten- ange of order and peace, for there existed nelther guardians nor police of any sort, and fop this reason the president of the associa- tign felt uneasy. But in all such LS rvatios Berthana was: a' host in ‘him: self, and reassured his chief. Do not fear. 1 will answer for everything, I will not stir from this until the procession at 4 o'clock has gone by.” However, he made a sign to call Gerard. “Give very strict orders to your men Only allow people to pass in who can show a card, and close them in, Tell them o hgld the rope firmly.” Boyond, from under the Ivy down from the rocks, the grotto appeared, with Its eternal glitter of candles. From a distance it appeared rather inslgnificant, regular, narrow and modest for the infinite grace it was supposed to contain—that made all bow with a pale fac Virgin's statue seemed like a mere white spot that moved apparently in tho seintillating breezes, heated by the little yellow flames. One had to streteh up to distinguish inside the grat ing oither the silver altar, the harmoufum now uncovered, all the heap of baquets and the exvoto:, that were nearly hidden by the smoky tapers. The weather was perfect A more brilllant sky mever covered such a crowd, and the soft breeze was delicious after. the storm of the preceding night that had relieved the intense heat of the two days of the pilgrimage. Gerard elbowed himselt around to give his orders. People were alresdy shoving. 1 want two more men here, neces ry, and streteh the rope well.” It was instinctive, invincible, The 20,000 persons who were there were drawn insensi- Dly toward the grotto, going to it either from some irre hHlvh- attraction or from a burn- ing curiosity to slack their thirst for the mysterious, Al eyes were turned that wiy, all the mouths, all the hands, all the Dbodies themselves were carried toward the pale luster of the tapers, toward the white spot, the moving marble Virgin. In order that the large space reserved for the in- valids just in front of tne grating should not be invaded by the growing crowd, a thick rope had been stretehed that was held by both hands by the stretcher bearer intervals of two or three yards hese men had orders to allow only the invalids to pass who presented the card of admis. slon to some hospital or some persons specially authorized to come in. The rope was lifted and allowed to fall behind the favored ones, but no other pleas to enter availed, They were oven somewhat rude, rather enjoying this guthority with which they wer invested !x but a single day Tn reality they were greatly pushed, and one had often to “he p .nnllnr and resist with all their might, not to be taken off thelr feet During the time that the benches in front of the grotto and the vast space reserved for the invalids was being filled Ly push carts, litters and the appendages of {llnoss. the fmmense crowd surgod abont the whol place. It started from the Place du Rosalr Jast itself on the promenade along the it Gave and the whole sidewalk, the entire wa was black with people, a human dorge that any elreulation was impossible. n the railing sat an interminable row of Women: some were evon standing up in order to see better, reflecting back the sun from thoir silk umbrellas, their lght gowns ABNr holiday attire. They had tried olear a way for the fnvalids to pass, but it waa continnally being closed or obstructed > that the bath chalrs and litters often were detained, almost stopped, until som onn eonld disengage them from the crowd & wa however, the onward march of a Jeelle flock, an innocent erowd, as meek s Jambs, whose very pushing was Involuntary 2 mass of blind people turning to the light of the canlles. Accldents never happened 1 pito of the excltement that increased Ukt by 1ttle and produced a kind of delirium of_{nith, Paron Suire ay that hung or four if agaln forced himself through Berthaud, do ses They are “Borthaud, moves more slowly and children.” an impatient gesture this cannot be every- for a while it the crowd, that tho fle crushing won Berthaud made time. “Ah, me! 1 where, Shut the grating necessary.” It concerned the file that had been or- ganized at the grotto throughout the entire ternoon. The faithful entered by the right 1 door, going out by the right hand the Baron; would all eried they “Shut the grating!" “that would be even worse; be crushed then,” Gerard happened to be ther talking for an finstant to Raymonde, who was standing on the other side of the rope, holding a bowl of milk that she had brought to an old paralytic woman. So Berthaud ord him to place two men at the en- trance to the grating, witn instructions to let the pilgrims go in only ten at a time, When Gerard had executed this order and returned he found Berthaud with Raymonde, laughing and joking. As she moved away the two men exchanged looks, as she helped the paralytic woman to take a drink “She is lovely. And it Is decided you are to marry her, are you not? “I am going to ask her mother tonight. T hope you will go with me.” “Of course I will. You remember I told you to do it. It was most appropriate. The uncle will find you a berth in six menths."” A shove separated them, and Berthaud went off to convince himself if the line at the grotto being carried out without any pushing. For hours it had been kept up, the same uninterrupted crowd of men, women and children, all who wished, all whe passed by, come from the whole world All classes were also to be found in the gencral crowd—beggars in rags next to well groomed bourgeols, peasants and well dressed ladies, barehcaded mald servants, girls with naked feet, painted women with ribbons In their hair. The entrance was free to all; the mystery was open to all—to the un- believer as to the faithful, to those who came only from curiosity the same as those who penetrated with loving hear It was a slght to see, all filled alike with emotion, in the heated’ smell of the wax, somewhat stiffed by the heavy atmosphere that gath- ered under the roof, thelr eyes downcast, fearful lest they might slip on the iron gratings.” Many remained upright, did not even bow, with an uncasy expression of persons unaccustomed to enter a sanctuary. But the faithful crossed themselves, somie- times throwing letters, placing candles or boquets, Kissing the rocks below the Virgin, or else rubbing it with their beads, medals or small plous articles that were blessed b: this contact. So they passed on endlessly for s for months, for years, and it cemed as though the whole world must bave como to that corner in the rocks. All human wants and miseries were in line, in a hypnotic round, in search of happi- ness. When Berthaud had ascertained that things were going on everywhere as well as possibie he walked about as a simple spectator observing mankind. His only un- easiness was at the thought of the procession of the holy sacrament, when such a frenzy of excitement sometimes took place that accidents were alvays to be feared. This last day had begun o carnestly that he felt the erowds to be all ready to. make some commotion. The excitement culminated with the feverish journey, the repetition of the same canticles, the obstinate performance of the same religions ceremonies, the constant talk about miracles, the same fixed idea on the divine shrines of the grotto. Many did not sleep at all during the three nights, ana arrived in a state of waking hallucination, walking in a kind of exasperating dream. They took no rest; continuous praying acted like a stinging scourge to their souls. The cries to the Holy Virgin never ceased; priests succeeded one another in the pulpit, calling forth the universal sorrow, dirccting the de- spairing supplications of the masses, while all the time invalids remained in front of the pale marble statue, that smiled with hands clasped and eyes turned heavenward. At this moment the white pulpit to the right of the grotto, against the rock, was occupied by a priest from Toulouse whom Berthaud knew and to whom he listened with approbation. He was a large man, fluent in speech and celebrated for his prayerful ser- mons. Just here his prineipal success con- sisted in a pair of sound lungs and a violent way of uttering his phrases, crying out a sentence to be repeated by the entire crowd; for it was only a vociferation, interlarded with aves and paters. When the priest haa finished his rosary he stretched up on his short legs, uttered the first line of the litany he invented as he went along, that he cons ducted according to his own ideas, with whatever inspiration he possessed: “Mary, we love the And the crowd repeated in a lower tone, broken and confused: fary, we love thee. From that on it never stopped. The volcs of the priest rang out, the voice of the crowd repeated in a sorrowful murmur “Mary, thou art our only hope. Mary, thou art our only hope. Pure Virgin, maks us more pure among the pure. Powerful Virgin, save our sick ones. Powerful Vir- gin, save our sick ones.” Often when he couid think of nothing more or when he wished to futher enforce the appeal he would repeat the same words three times, while the docile crowd would also repeat them three times, trembling under the unnerving lamentation that only increased its fever. The litanies continued, so Berthaud turned toward the grotto. Those who were passing inside had a wonderful sight of the sick people opposite them. The entire space ins side the ropes was filled by a thousand o twelve hundred ill people, brought hither by the national pilgrimage, and on this lovely day, under the pure blue sky, it was about tho.most distressing sight one could have. All three of the hospitals had emptied out thelr terrible wards. Furtherest away on the benches were scated the able bodied in- valids—those who gould still sit up. Many were women supported by cushions, others leancd against one another, the Strong sups porting thee weak. Nearcr to the grotte the very sick were strelched, even the pave. ment disappeared under this piteous flood, a Norrible, spreadmg, stagnant sea. Thers was a perfect mass of chairs, carts, mat. tresses and litters, Some of the invalids were in sort of gutterlike cofiins, rajsed and apparent, but the greater number were lying flat on the ground. Some were dressed, simply lying outside the plaid linen covers of the mattrosses. Others had been brought in their very beds, and only thelr pale heads and hands appéarcd outside the sheets. Few of these pallets wera eclcan. A few plls lows, dazzling white, trimined with ems broidery in a last coquetry, shone out amid the fearful misery of tho rest—a heup of rags, tumbled quilts and liven, soiled and filthy. They were all ercwded together, plled up as cach one arrived—men, women and children—the dressed with the undrassed, terneath the broad daylight Every disease was there In o that twice a day came out of the hos- pitals to cross through a horrified Lourdes. Heads eaten by eczema, foreheads markd, noses and mouths made by elephantiasis. Dropsical cases, swollen like bladders, rheumatics with twisted hands, swelled feet, like bags stuffed with rags and one case of water on the braln, whose enormous cranium, top heavy, hung way back. en there ‘were comsumptives, trembling with fever, exhausted by dysen: tory, with livid skin and thin as skeletons. « actions and deformities, twisted fram eroaked arms, necks turned the wrong way wretched beings cracked and put In im- wmovable postures like tragic masks. Poor Eirls with rickes, whose disease was shown by thelr waxen color, their frail necks already devoured by rununing sores; yellow tinted women, stupefied by the suffering of those who are belug eaten alive by can- thers again trembling, not darlng to Just then, that fearful shock to _their tumors, whose agonizing weight Is suffocating them On the benches sat deaf people, who heard nothing, but who sang all the same; blind persons, their heads upright, remaining for urs turned towad the statue of the Vir gin that they could not see. And there was also a crazy woman, {mbecile, her noso eaten off by some disease, her mouth black and empty, laughing with a terrible noise; while an epileptic lay in a pallor of death having had a recent fit, with froth at the corners of her mouth But all this {llne this tered no longer, since they were all there, sitting or lying with eyes fixed upon the grotto. Those poor diseased faces, the color of the carth, me transfigured and turned with hope, ~ Trembling hands were joined heavy eyelids found the strength to cpen, faint volces revived at the appeal of the priest. At first there were only Indistinct Trerars.. ke, Jikils. Fus of Wind FAME lost among the wil. Then the cry in- reased and spread over the entire crowd, from one end to the other of that immense plac ‘Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us,” cried the priest in his reon; volce. And the 4nvalids and pilgrims repeated Louder and louder “M , conceived us Then it ircreased and “Pure mother, holy mother, at thy feet. “Pure mother, holy mother, are at thy feet. “Queen of angels, speak but the word and our sick are healed."” “‘Queen of ‘angels, speak but the word and our sick are healed.” Over on the side of the pulpit M. Sabathler was sitting in the second row. He had been brought early, wishing to choose his place, as a frequent visitor knows the best corners. Then, too, he thought it a good idea to be as near as possible, under the very eyes, as it were, of the Virgin, as though it were necessary for her to sce her faithful ones in order not to forget them. During all tho seven years that he had come he cherised only this hope, to be noticed by her one of these days; to touch her, be cured, if not by choice at least by long suffering. It merely asked for patience, and the firm- of his faith could not be shaken the in the world. But sometimes, tired by always expecting yet never receiving, he allowed himself distractions from con- tinuous prayer. He had permission to have his wife near him, and she was sitting on a camp chalr, while from time to time they exchanged their thoughts. “Dear wife, pull me up a little. T am sliding down and am most uncomfortable.” He was dressed in trousers and a waist- coat of thick wool, and sav on his mattress, leaning his back against a chalr that was turned upside down. u better?” asked Mme. Sabathier. , yes, yes."” ho became interested watching Brother Isidore, whom they had managed to bring after all, and who was lying ccv- ered up to his chin by the sheet, on the next mattress, his hands clasped over the coverlid. “Ah! poor man. It s very imprudent, but the Holy Virgin is all powerful when she so pleases.” He took up his beads again, when he once more was diverted by seeing Mme. Maze, who had just slipped inside the reserved circle, very thin, very discreet, and she had doubtless passed under one of the ropes while they were not looking. _She sat down on the very end of the bench and did not take up any more room than a little girl sitting quite still. Her narrow, tired look- ing face, her thirty-two years of faded blonde beauty spoke of an overwhelming. sorrow, an infinite despair. “So,” continued M. Sabathier to his wife, with a little motion of his chin, she is pray- ing for the conversion of her husband! You met tho lady this morning in a shop, did you not?" ““Yes.” answered Mme. Sabathier, “and I also talked about her with another lady who knows her. Her husband is a commercial traveler. He leaves her for six months at a time to go off with other women! He is very wild, but charming, and never leaves her without plenty of money. Only she adores him, and cannot feel reconciled to his neglect, so she has come to pray to the Holy Virgin to give him back to her. Just now, it seems, he is at Luchon with two ladies, and these two siste M. ‘Sabathier interrupted her by a mo- tion. He was gazing at the grotto and was once more the old intellectual professor, to whom matters of art were of the greatest importance. ““You see, they have spoiled the grotto by trying to beautify it too much. I am sure it must have been far better In its former rude state. It has lost character. And that awful little shop there to the left!” But here he was seized with a sudden remorse for his distraction. During all this time might not the Holy Virgin have re- membered one of his neighbors who was more fervent, more Intense than he? He re- sumed his patient air, his sunken eye, his yague thoughts to await the pleasure of reaven. Presently the sound of a fresh voico brought him out of these depths—out of the condition of annihilation of mind in which he had fallen. Another preacher had mounted the pulpit—a Capuchin this time—whose guttural cry, repeated with insistence, lashed the crowd with excitement. “‘Holy Virgin of virgins, blessed art thou. foly Virgin of virgins, blessed art thou “Turn not thy face from thy children, Holy Virgin of virgin “Turn not thy face from thy children, Holy Virgin of virgins.” “Holy Virgin of virgins, but breathe on our wounds and they will be healed.” “Holy Virgin of virgins, but breathe wounds and they will be healed.” On the end of the first bench in the mia- dle path that was packed, the entire Vigne- ron family had succeeded in seating thems sclves. They were all there—little Gustave, worn out, sitting with his cruteh betwee his knees, his mother at his side praying with all her heart; on the other side the aunt, Mme. Chaise, suffocating and harrassed by the pushing crowd, while M. Vigneron gazed at her silently with great attention. “What {s the matter, my dear? Do you feel 111?7" could scarcely breathe. do not know. T cannot feel my legs at all, and I am choking for air.” He could easily imagine that all this agi- tation, this crowding and heat experienced on a pilgrimage could not be very good for a disease of the heart! He certainly did not wish to see any ome die, and had never prayed for any such thing to the Virgin, It she had already granted his destre for advancement by the sudden death of his chief, 1t must have been only because tho latter had been already condemned of heaven. So, should Mme. Chalse die first and leave her fortune to Gustave, he could only bow before the will of God, who plana to have old people pass away before the younger ones. His unconscious hope could not, however, prevent him from exchanging a brief glance with his wife, whose mina was filled with the same involuntary wish. “Gustave, get back,” he cried, you bother your aunt.” Then as Raymonde passed, he said you have a glass of water to spare, one of our party feels very faint.” But Mme. Chaise made a gesture to refuse. She was feeling bette: breath was coming Lack, though with an effort: “No, no, thanks, I am much better. Ah! I was sure that I was choking this time.” She trembled with fear; her eyes wers haggard, her face blanched. She again clasped her hunds and besought the Holy Virgin to spare her from other attacks, to cure her, while the vigorous man and wife, good souls, made a solemn vow of happiness that had come to them at Lourdes, look- ing forward to an old age well earned after twenty years of honesty; the solid fortune that they should spend by and by in the country, cultivating flowers. Little Gustave had seen all, noticed all with his quick eye and intelligence that suffering had sharp. ened, He did not pray, but smiled to him- self with his' enigmatical and wavering smile. Why should he pray? Ho was quite aware the Holy Virgin would never cure bim; that he was doomed to die M. Vigneron could not remain long wit hout looking about at his nelghbors. 1In the mid- dle of the erowded aisle Mme. Diculafay has been placed, though 'ate in coming. Ho was move, fearing the suffering, mat- without sin, pray for went on faster thy children are thy children on our g Miss, astonished at all the fuxury, the sort of tufted cofin of white sijlk in which the young woman reposed, herself dressed in a rose colored peignolr trimmed with Valenclennes lace. Her husband, {ff his frock coat, and her aister, in a black wdwn of a simple yet marvelous elegance, sfood beside hor, while Abbe Judaine, kneelifik beside the invalid, said a fervent prayet! When the priest got up M. Vigneron atle' room for him on the bench by his side. Then he questioned him “Well, curate, how about that woman? 1s she any better?"’ Abbe Judaine made a -very sad r “Alas, 1o, T was so. fillod with hope. It was I who decided her family to come. Two years ago the Holy Virgin worked such an extraordinary miracle wpon me by curing my poor lost sight that I, again trusted to re- celve a proof of grace. However, I will not be_discouraged, we have until tomorrow.” M. Vigneron looked at the woman's face, whose pure oval and beautiful eyes were now completely destroyed, become like lead, like a mask of death in the midst of her lac “It is indeed very sad,” he murmured you only could have seen her last summoer," rosumed the priest. “Their country seat is at Saligny, In my parish, and I often dined with them. I cannot look at her elder sister, Mme, Josseur without feeling sad—that lady over there dressed in black—for she looked very much like her, only the Invalid was even prettier, one of the beauties of Parls Notice the brilliancy, compare that sover- elgn grace beside that pitaous young creature. It breaks my heart and teaches us a lesson.’ He paused a minute, The holy man was 0 natural, so without gufle of any sort, nor of quick intelligence to corrupt his faith yet showing an Innocent admiration for boauty, wealth, power, though he had cov- cted none of them. Still, he hazarded a doubt, a single scruple, that troubled his habitual serenity “I should bave preferred to have her come here with all their apparent luxury—more simply—because the Holy Virgin loves the humble, But I can ea-ily understand there are soclal obligations. Then, too, her hus- band and sister love her so much. Fancy, they have left everything—ho his business, she her amusements—so completely over- come at the idea of losing her that they always have tears fn_their eyes, and that absent look you may have noticed. So we must excuse them for wanting her to look well up to her very last hour.” M. Vigneron gave an approving nod. Ah! not alone did the rich men profit at the grotto, Servants, peasants, the poorest were here cured, while fine ladies turncd away with their fllnesses uncomforted in spite of thelr rich presents and large candles that they had burned. And he could not resist glancing at Mme. Chaise, who, quite restored, was resting in a comfortable man- ner. A murmur ran_through Abbe Judaine spoke again: ““There Is Father Massais going into the pul- pit. He is a saint. Listen to him.” He was well known and never made his appearance without all souls being thrilled by a subtle hope, for it was said that his fervor greatly aided the miracles. e was supposed to have a strong vet tender voice, greatly beloved of the Virgin. All heads were raised, and the emotion increased still more when Father Fourcade was perceived at the foot of the pulpit, lean- ing on the shoulder of his well loved brother, preferred before all. others, and there he remained to listen also to him. His gouty foot had given him°great pain ever since the morning, and it Yequired a vast amount of pluck to stand up’'there, smiling. The growing exaltation of 'the crowd made him happy, and he foretold prodigies, brilliant cures, to the glory of ‘Mary and of Jesus. Once in the pulpit, Fathér Massats did not speak immediately. “He' ‘looked very tall, thin and pale, with an ascetic face, that his discolored beard made to look longer than ever. His eyes sparkled and his large, eloquent lips were_pguted’ out. “Lord, save us, for we perish And the crowd, carried ‘away, repeated in a fever that augmented dach minute: Lord, save us, for’we ‘perish!”’ He opened his arms, calling out his. loud cry, as if to tear it from his hidden breast: “Lord, if Thou. wilt,'Thou canst cure me. Lord, it Thou wilt, Thon canst cure me. I am not worthy, O Lotd, fhat Thou shouldst enter my house. Say but the word and I shall be healed. 1 am' not worthy, O Lord, that Thou shouldst enter my house. but the word, and I shall be healed. Martha, Brother Isidore's sister, had. begun to talk in a low volee with Mme. Sabathier, near whom she had finally come to sit. had become acquainted at the hospital, and in the sympathy of so much suffering the malid servant told the woman of higher life how greatly troubled she felt about her brother, for she could see plainly he was at his last gasp. The Holy Virgin must hurry if she was going to cure him. It was a miracle that he had been brought alive to the grotto. In her resignation the poor, simple creature Qid not even shed a tear. But her heart was so full that her rare words seemed to choke her. Then, as a flood of past recol- lections swept over her, she broke her silence and derived some comfort in speaking. ‘‘We were fourteen at home, at Saint-Yacut, near Vannes. Big as he was, he was always delicate, and for that reason he remained with our durate, who ended by placing him at the Christian schools. The oldest chil- dren took what there was, but I preferred to enter service. A lady from Paris took me back with her five vears ago. Ah, what trouble there is in life! Every one has so much_trouble.” “You are right, my good girl,” answered Mme. Sabathier, looking at her husband, who was repeating every sentence with de- votion after Father Massals. “Then,” continued Martha, “when I knew last month that Isidore had returned from the tropical countries, where he had been a missionary, and had brought from there a fearful disease. Then when I hastened to see him he told me that unless he came at once to Lourdes he would die, but that it was impossible to take the trip, because he had no one to accompany him. Then I had saved 24 francs, so I left my place and we started together. You see, madame, I love him dearly, because when I was small he used to fetch me raspberries from the curate’s, and all the rest of them used to beat me''— She fell again into silence, her face drawn by sorrow, aithough no tears could flow from thos ves that burned from watching Only a few words came now. “Look at him, madame; is it not sad? Oh! my God, his poor cheeks, his pooor chin, his poor face’— It was, indeed, a sad sight. Tt sickened Mme. Sabathier to see Brother Isidore look yellow, %o gray and icy in his agony of sweat. Nothing was seen outside of the clothes but his clasped hands and his face, framed in long black hair; but if the waxen hands appeared already dead, If the long, sad face no longer moved a feature, the eyes were still alive; those eyes of inextingulsha- ble love, whose fire was sufficient to lighten his dying face like that of Christ on the Cross. Never was 'greater contrast than that between the low’ peasant brow, the stupld and dull features, and the divine splendor that now shohe from that poor hu- man mask, devastated, sanctificd by suffer- ing, rendered sublime’in #ts last hour in the dying flame of its faith.~=Flesh was annihi- lated, nothing now remained but a regard, a transcendent light. | Gver since they had placed him there Brother Isidore had adttaken his eyes from the statue of the Virgin, To him nothing else existed. He did not,see the enormous crowd; he did not even hear the priest's cries, those Incessanticries that so excited the populace. Only lx;faus were alive, and they were fixed on irgin, never mors to be turned away. | drank it in until death, {n a last desiEe tg vaniah, to be ab- sorbed by her. His mputlj opened for an in stant, and an expression of celestial happi- ness covered his visage. Mhen he moved no more, his eyes remdfed’ wide open, obsti- ately gazing at thel Bvhite statue. everal moments passed. Martha felt a cold shiver that froze her very marrow: Oh, say, Madame, look!” Over anxious Mme. Sabathler pretended not to understand, What is it my good girl?" ‘“‘Look, my brether, look! He does not move. He has opened his mouth, and since then moves no more! Both of them shuddered jn the certainty that he was dead. He had passed away without @ gasp, without a moan, as if his lite had gone out through a look, by means of his passionate gaze filled with love. He had expired looking at the Virgin, and noth. ing could have boen such a blessing, 50 he continued to gaze with his dead eyes as though with ineffable bliss. “Try to close his eyes,” muemurod Sabathier. “Then we will know for sure Martha had risen, and leaning so that she might not be noticed, she tried to close the eyes with & trembling foger. But each poor young the crowd, and Mime. PRICE, g PUEOLOBCOLORADG gpRs. CHIOAGD TO OENVER I COLORADO 87R8 | FUEBLO | DENVER To_oowven Our Blg — 37, Lovis = NEW ORCEANS Don't fail to go (o tc should you so desire, [ TUROTGHT ETTAAAN SLERFE SYRTEN, | WITHOUT GHANGE Where to Go this Summer The Direct Line to MANITOU and PIKE'S PEAK is the Great Rock Island Route TICKET TAKES YOU THROUGH DENVER, GOING OR RETURNING, AT THE 6AME OR TAKE THE DIRECT MANITOU LINE. (BEE MAP) ; gmcnnp, ROCK |3L!ND 7&7PADIHE RAILWAY. Me FARLAN| | Wichita¥y [ AUN DAILY ERTRTS is the train Manitou second morning. Quick trip, Dining Cars, Chair Cars, and superb Puliman Slecpers op of Pike's Peak by the Cog Railroad JNO. SEBASTIAN, Leaves Chicago at 10 o'clock every night and arrives at Most excellent equipment. Wonderful experience. Ticket Agent can tell you all wbout it and sell you ticket with your Colorado Tourist Ticket, n'l l’nsscngvr Agent. Your or addressing The onlv Tine runmnn’ thrmmh sh‘cpcrs to Denver, Colondo Springs and Pueblo. Coloradotrain leaves Omaha daily at 1:35 p.m. Full partlculars and berth reservations secured by c lllnrv on CHAS. KENNEDY, G. N.-W. P. A 1602 Farnam time the eyes reopened, looking again, ob stinately, at the Virgin. He was dead, ana she had to leave his eyes wide open, overs wholmed by a never ending ecstacy. “Ah, it is all over, it is all over, Madame, she muttered. Two tears crept from her heavy eyelids and rolled down her cheeks, while Mme. Sabathier took her hand to make her stop. Whispers had already been heard, and an uneasy feeling was spreading. But what could be done? In the midst of such a rabble during the prayers the body could not be removed without the risk of producing a disastrous effect. It was better to leave it there and walt for a favorable time. No one was scandalized. He had not looked any more like dead ten minutes ago, and every one would think those flaming eyes were still alive with their ardent appeal to the divine tenderness of the Holy Virgin. Only a few persons, just near by, knew of it. M. Sabathier, suspicious, had questioned his wife by a sign, and, informed by a dumb, but long affirmation, had given himselt up again to prayer, pale before that mysterious power of death, when one is asking always to.live. The Vignerons were greatly inter- ested, and leaning forward, whispered, as it it were the result of some street accident, one of those many bits of news that the father often brought home from his office in Paris, and that they talked about for the en- tire evening. Mme. Josseur had turned round, had murmured a word in M. Dieulafay’s ear, then they again took up the contemplation of their own dear invalid, while the Abbe Judaine, informed by M. Vigneron, had knelt down and was repeating in a low volce the prayers for the dead. Was he not a saint, this missionary, come back from murderous lands with his mortal wound in his hip, to die thus beneath the smiles of the Holy Virgin? Mme. Maze longed to die, too, and resolved to supplicate heaven to remove her also if it was not possible to give her back her husband’s love. But Father Massais’ cry sounded again, striking with a desperate force in a sobbing breath: “Jesus, Son of David, I must perish; save me!” And the crowd likewise sobbed with him: esus, son of David, I must perish; save me!" Then one after another the appeals seemed to grow louder and louder as he expatiated on all the miseries of this world: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on Thy children and on Thy sick! “Jesus, Son of David, have children and on Thy sicl “Jesus, Son of David, come down, them, that they may live!” ““Jesus, Son of David, come down, them, that they may live!” It was delirium. Father Fourcade at the bottom of the pulpit, won over by the ex- traordinary passion that overflowed all hearts, had raised his arm, thundering forth his threats against heaven. And ever did the exaltation increase before the wind of desire, whose breath bowed the crowd more and more, and even the curiosity seckers who were sitting on the railing along the River Gave grew pale beneath their parasols. Miserable humanity was clamor- ing from the bottom of its abyss of suff ing, and the call passed over the heads of all present, so that there was but one agonized congregation, denying death and calling upon God to decree eternal life. A, lite! life! all these wretches, all these death stricken creatures from far away iands, who had come through so many abstacle: that was their only wish; they longed only to lve; In a disordered heed to live again they demanded to live forever. Oh, Saviour! no matter what may be our sorrow, no matter how we suffer to live, heal us, make us to live again, to suffer afresh ail that we have already endured! » matter how unhappy we are, we want to be thus. It Is not heaven we ask, we want the earth, to have it as late as possible, never to leave it at all, if Thy power deigns to go so far! And even if we only ask for a physical cu we still need @ moral one, too, and we ask for happiness, that happiness whose sole mercy on Thy heal heal St. Omabha, Neb. THE ONLY GREAT SHOW THIS SUMMER SELLS BROTHERS’ ENORMOUS UNITED R. R. SHOWS AUGMENTED BY ALL THAT IS Grand and Gorgeous. A CYCLONE OF SUCCESS. 25 ce within reach of all. - CENTS ADMITS TO COMBINED SHOWS - CIRCUS, MENAGERIE AND ‘HIPPODROME 215 ¢ A REMARKABLE RECORD BREAKER—THOUSANDS TURNED AWAY AT EVERY PERFORMANCE COLOSSAL 3-RING CIRCUS Royal Roman Hippodrome Sports, Huge Elevated Stages, 50-( agerie, Gladiatorial Combat. Aviary, Ar Afri ibian Caravan. age Mene i Aquarium, Australian Spectacular Pageants and Trans-Pacific Wild Beast Exhibit. OMAHA, SATURDAY, JUNE 30. Exhlblllon Crounds 20th and charles Streats, Presenting Fvery Act and all Now F Sea Lions, JPROGRESSIVE, EERLESS, WAIT FOR IT! 2 SEE IT! Beginning Satrday desire fills us with burning thirst. Oh, Saviour, make us happy and strong; let us live, give us life!” This wild cry, the furious desire for life, pronounced by Father Massals, broke out in tears and cries from every heart: “Oh, Saviour, Son of David, heal our sick!" “Oh, ' Saviour, Son of David, heal stk Berthaud was obliged to rush forward twice to prevent the ropes from being broken Ly the unconscious pushing of the masses. In despair, uselessly, Baron Suire made gestures and besought help, for the grotto was now invaded and the line had resolved itself into a trampling flock, moving along as it wished to go. In vain Gerard again left Raymonde and went himself to stand at the entrance of the grating, trying to establish order by letting in only ten persons at once, He was shoved and swept to one side. The people, who were all excited exalted, entered, passing like a torrent through the grotto illuminated by candles, throwing lette and bouquets to the Haly Virgin or kissing the rock that millions of burning lips bad polished. It was faith let 1oo! a great force that nothing could stop. Gerard, crushed against the grating, over heard two peasant women, caught in the rowd, remark on the spectacle of the in- valids lying before them One of them was struck by the pale face of Brother Isidore, with his great eyes staring open, fixed on the Virgin's statue She crossed herself and murmured, overcome by a devoted admira tion ‘Oh! look at that one. How he Is pray fng with his whole h and how he gazes at Our Lady of Lourd The other peasant answered “She will surely cure him, he Is so hand- some Thus the dead man, in his act of love and faith, that he continued in his lonely state, touchied all hearts by the infinite purpose of his regard, and was still a cause for the our | Great, e E The Big Half-Dollar Show has Lowered its Pri ated, embracing all of the Celebrities of the Avenic World. 200 STARTLING ACTS in Three e 25, 1 8 cparate Rings and Two Elevatod Stages Ithas all the Great Equestr ennes, Equstrians, 30-Horse Riders, E1u- cated Horses, Trainsd Ponles, Performing Elephants, Trained Seals and Trained Hippopotami, Trained Storks, Rooster Orchestra Comical Clowns, Jolly Jesters, Gladiators, Jockeys, Charloteers. Bicyclists Leapers. Dancers, in fact all (he champion performers of America and Europe grouped in an Unprecedentad Programme. SELLS BROTHERS’ BIG SHOW of the World Is the Ganerous Master of the Situation. 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