Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, July 1, 1894, Page 18

«@PYRIGHT BY JAMES GORDON BENNETTs 1894+ E.UME OF LOURDES. of Zolo's Great FIRST DAY, CHAPTER 1—~The opening seens of Mhich was commenced in serial form dny's Boe of April 15, s In o eaf of the Arain,” which carrice the Very wick pile from Paris (o Lourdes, Among pligrims I8 Marie 40 Guorsaint, & younk woman cars haw been brdridden. She 1s y her father and (ho Abho Plecre Froment CHAPTER 11.~The Morre was the iy, TAving next them were M. his family Little Marie do wether, and fing a8 thiy grew' p. which results she could never by tHerre hecame n wriest. CHAPTER II1.—The suffering in the train is Inten: when It stops at Polrtiers half an hour for Tunch mecorded o her disensed foot by simply dipping 3¢ i the waters at Lour CHAPTER V feads nloud . book giving the hisiory i deseribes The elghtnen tmes she saw the visions in the grotto. Lourdes fs reached in the early mori- ing. As the train rolls into the station an un- known man dics, SECOND DAY CHAPTER L.—A vivid pieture ls given of the confusion when he invalids are landed and 1o the hospits CHAPTER_ 11.—The hospital Is greatly crowded, At § a. m, the procesaion to the GOt starts. Father Massais nsks the vast ongregation to pray for a grent miracle, as th Body of the man who dled in the train s to ) Immorsed o e pool in hopes that 1ife wil be entored. FEHATTER 111.—The abbe meots his old friend, Dr. Chawsalgne. The crowd forces the abhe (0 the pools. ~The dend man is brought in and smmersed No miracle occurs. On golng the abbe finds that Marie has been bathed with- aut_efr CHAPTER 1V.—Dr. Chassalgne accompanies the abbe to the Bureau of Cortific Rouquet, whose hideons by a fupus, declares the sore s steadily drying up. La Grivotte, who had been fn the zon oOF consumption, comes rushing in, snouting, I am cureat” CHAPTER V.—In the evening the abbe visits Marie, 8 ed and is Tosing her Taith. ~Invalias, continuing the story ot Bernnd ing how persecutions fol- Jowed upon the first mirncles. The recitation cheers them up, and restores Marle's faith. THIT v 3 CHAPTER T—Pierre discovers that Mme. Vol pilgrim, has come {0 Loy A G meet Mme. D ymonde and M gle Deyralonay hey Vst pl CHAVTER Marie, accompanied by her father and Witches the magnificent torchlight CHAT'TE Pierre takes Marie to the Erotto to remain throughout the night. —Tron Hulre, the dircctor, takes Plerre into the grotto and #hows him the mirculous spring. CHAPTER V.—Dr, Chassi tells Tlerre about his interview with Bernadette, and de- seribes the efforts of the Abbe Peymurale (o build a church at Lourdes. FOURTH DA CHAPTER T.—Marie is still confident of being eured. The death of Mme. Vetu is vividly portrayed. CHAPTER I1.—So great is the rush of peo plo to the grotto on the last day of the pi srims at Lourdes that women and children ar Curshed in wsion and severely in Jured. ) at religious fervor shown Auring the serv In “the midst, of it Trother Isidore diss, with his eyes fixed on the statue of the Virgin. FOURTHDAY. CHAPTER III. The Holy Sacrament was appointed to be borne by the plous Abbe Judaine in the procession at 4 o'clock. Ever since the Holy Virgin had cured his diseased eyes, a miracle that was still vaunted in all the Catholic newspapers, he was one of the glories of Lourdes; he was, therefore, al- ways given a prominent position and made an honored participant of all ceremonles. He made ready to leave the grotto at 3:30. But the extraordinary concourse of people alarmed him and he fearad to be late, unless he could manage some way to circumvent them. Fortunately, ald was at hand. ‘Now, abbe,” explained Berthaud, “do not try to go round by the rosary, for you will only be detained. The betfer plan is to take the zigzag paths. Wait, I will go ahead and you can follow.” He elbowed his way through the compact masses, opening a path for the priest, who overcame him with gratitude, “You are too kind. It is all my fault. T quite forgot, but then, good God, what are ‘we to do presently, when the procession must get past? Indeed, that procession troubled Berthaud. On ordinary occasions an uncommon degree of excitement always arose when the pro- cossion marched along. That obliged him to take special precautions. What might not happen in this jam of people—over 80,000 persons—wrought to such a fever of faith that they were ready for any kind of religious demonstration? So he could not resist improving this opportunity to give some wholesome advice. “Now, I beg you, abbe, do tell the clergy not to ‘allow any gaps to come between them, to walk along slowly, one right afier the other. And above all, hold the flags and banners very firmly, 5o that they may not be upset. As for you, abbe, see to it that the men who hold ‘the dals are strong, and fasten the linen around the stem of the movstrance, and do not hesitate to use both hands to carry it with all your strength.” TLough somewhat frightened by all these instructions, the priest continued his thanks “‘Of course, of course, you are most kind. “An, sir, how much I thank you for helping me to get through this awful crowd.” Already clear of the people, he hurried to the Basilica by the little, narrow, zig-zagging paths that ran up the side of the hill, while his companion plunged back into the sea of creatures to take up his post of watchful- ness. Just at that time Plerre, who was pulling Marie in her cart, struck the impenetrable wall of human beings on the side of the rosary. The maid at the hotel had waked him at 8 to go to fatch the young girl at the hospital. There was no hurry, They would have plenty of time to reach the grotto before the procession started. But this fmmense crowd, this irresistible wall that he could not plerce, began to cause great uneasiness. He would never get along with the cart he was dragging unless people were a little more obliging. “Excuse me, madame, please; I beg your pardon. Do you not see it Is for an in- valid But the Madies would not stir, hypnotized at the sight of the brilliant grotto in the “distance, to see which they were standing on tiptoe for fear something might be missed. Besides the noise of the litanies was 80 great just then that the supplica- tions of the young priest were quite lost. “Pray, stand aside, gentlemen, and allow me to pass. Please make room for an invalid. Do you not hear me?"’ no more than the women, made no motion to move, beside themselves and both blind and dumb in thelr ecstasy. ‘Throughout Marie smiled with serenity, as it unconsclous of any lmpediment, and sure that nothing In the world could hinder her cure. However, when Plerre did succoed in pusking into the midst of the surging multi- tude, the situation became really serious The crowd overwhelmed the frail vehicle on every side, and almost submerged it at times. At every few steps they were forced 1o stop, to wait and begin again to beg their way out. Plerre had never before felt so anxious in a large crowd. It was harmless ~and as innocent and passive as a flock of sheep, but a troublesome undercurrent might be foit—a povaliar condition of excitement, ready to overwhelm them at any moment. In spite of his love for the poor and humble, these ugly faces, common sweaty features, bad breaths and old clothes turned his stomach. “Now, then, ladiss; come now, gentle- men, lei an invalid psst. Do make room, I beg you." The cart was drowned, tossed about on this yast sea. Yot the progress made was sure, | though it took many minutes to get over us many yards of the ground. At times the cart disappeared comipletely; nothing could be seen. Finally 1t did appear up noar the pools. A tender sympathy made it- self felt for this young, sick girl, so wasted by sufforiug, yet still so lovely. As the crowd gave way under the dotermined shov- ing of the priest peopie turned around and showed pity for the thin, sad face, set round with its oreole of blonde hair. Words of pity and admiration cireulated. Ah, the poor ehfld! Wae it not too cruel to be so infirm at her age? Might the Holy Virgin bo gra- clous to her? Others were surprised, struck by the ecstatic look she bore, with her bright eyes open to the future of her hope. She perceived her heaven. She would surely be | cured? It was by means of a roadway of astonishment, a kind of fraternal charity, .| that the little cart was able to steer through CHATTIER TV.—As the train starts Sophie Cou- | tenu gets In, Bhe tells the story of the cure | the floods of people. Pierre was in despair and was about to give up, when one of the stretcher bearers came to his ald by forcing a passage for the procossion, and this passage had been or dored by Berthaud to be kept straight by means of ropes held at intervals of two yards, After that he was able to drag Marie , and finally got her within the re- served space opposite the grotto, to the left It was fmpossible to stir. The crowd seemed to increase cvery second. It seemed to him as though the recollection of this painful trip to tho grotto through all that moving crowd was like a struggle through midocean, whose waves swept over him relentlessly and on every side. Ever since they left tne hospital Marle had not opened her lips. He now under- stood she wished to speak to him, so he leaned over her. “My father,” she asked, “is he here? FHas he come back yet from his_excursion?” He replied that M. de Guersaint had not come back yet, and had no doubt been de- tained against his wishes. She was satls- fied, and added, with a smile, “Ah, poor papa! How happy he will be when he finds T am curgd Pierre regarded her with emotional admira- tion. He never remembered to have seen her look so lovely since the slow destruction of ler iliness had gone on. Her halr, her only glory, coverd her with its golden flecce. Her head, with its refined, gentle look, had a dreamy look, with eyes melting away in their suffcring, her motionless features ap- pearing as though she had fallen asleep in some absorbing idea, to wait for a happy shock to waken her. She was far away from this world, and would return to it when God was willing. Thus the delicate child, still a maiden at 25, having stopped short at the moment when struck down by the accident that had retarded her sex and prevented her from being a woman, s now ready to welcome an angel’s visit, that miraculous shock that was to rouse her from her torpor and put her on her feet. Her morning's ccstasy continued, her hands were joined, her whoie being was wrapt and carried away from the world, from the mo- ment she contemplated tne image of the Holy Virgin, She prayed and offered herself, her soul and body. To Pierre it was a season of great trouble. He realized that the drama of his life as a priest was about to be played—that if faith was denied him at this crisis he would never attain it. With no wicked thoughts, but without resistance, longing with all his might, he also prayed to be cured together. Oh! to be convinced by seeing her healed; to believe together, to be saved together. He longed to be able to pray ardently as she did, but in spite of himselt he was pre- occupied by the crowds—that surging mass, in which he had so great difficulty to lose himself, to disappear, to become like a sim- ple forest leaf, whirled away with all the other leaves. e could not help from think- ing about Marie and analyzing her case. He was so conscious of her fascination, and influenced by these past four days, by the fever of the long journey, the excitement of fresh sights and sounds, those days spent at the grotto, the sleepless nights, excruci- ating pain and the leanings to illusions. In addition, the continued prayer, the canticles, the litanies that had shaken her very soul without ceasing. Still another priest had come after Father Massais, and he could hear the former, a small, dark man, offering cries to Jesus and the Virgin, with a snap- ping voice like the cracking of a whip, while Pather Massais and Father Fourcade, who stood at the foot of the pulpit, directed the prayers of the congregation, whose lamenta- tions rose higher and higher beneath the limpid rays of the sun. Suddenly a paralytic woman got up and walked toward the grotto, holding her crutch in the alr; and that crutch, high above the heads of the crowd, shaken like a flag, brought forth acclamations from the faith- ful. They were waiting In expectation of prodigies, with the certainty that they would take place, brilliant, innumerable! Eyes thought they saw them, they were announced by feverish voices! Another one cured! and yet another, and still another. A deaf Woman made to hear, a dumb one to speak, a consumptive resuscitated. How is that, a consumptive? Why, certainly, it happened every day! There was no possible surprise evinced, not even if an amputated limb had grown out again. The miracle became such a statb of nature, such a common thing, or- dinary through force of every day occurrence. To thelr overheated imaginations all incredi- ble tales appeared quite simple, in their logic, that it was expected from the Holy Virgin, And it was sirange to listen to the tales that circulated; the absolute certainty whenever an invalid cried out she cured. Still another! What, another cured? Some- times, however, a sad voice would be heard, ““Ah, she is cured! Is she not lucky?" Pierre had already felt this incredulous sensation when at the office of the verifica- tion. But here it was more so, for the ex- travagances he heard exasperated him, sald so simply with childlike smiles. He tried to become absorbed, mot to listen to them “Oh, God, cause my mind to be overcome that T can no longer understand, but just accept the unreal and the impossible.” For an instant he fancled he might undergo an examination, and he allowed himself to be carried away by the supplicating cry, “Saviour, heal our sick!" “‘Saviour, heal our siek!" He repeated it with all his might; he clasped his hands and gazed fix- edly at the Virgin's statue, almost glddy, and so that he fancled she was moving. Why could he not become like a child as wero so many others, since happiness was to be found in ignorance and falsehood? The contagion must spread, and soon Lo would be ‘nothing more than one grain of sand among the many sands, humble among the humblest, without asking what force subdued and crushed him. Just at that moment, when he felt sure the old Adam in him was dead, that he had subdued it by his will and intelligence, the dull work of thought began again his brain, in- vincible, incessant. In spite of his efort he veturned little by little to his inquiry of doudbt and seeking. What was the force that took him away from that crowd? Some vital fluld strong enough to determine what were really the cures effected, what ones were merely semblances. It was a phe- nomenon that no physiological student had ever worked out. Must he believe that the crowd was but a single being, able to increase tenfold on itself the power of auto- suggestion? Could he admit that in cer- tain moments of extreme exaltation a crowd became the-agent of some soverel; will that forced matter to ohey? It might be explained how the sudden strokes of healing were accomplished, in the very midst of the crowd, upon the most sincerely exalted subjects. ~ All the breaths were united in one breath, and the power that moved it was the lpower of consolation, of hope and of life. This thought of human charity touched Plerre. In another moment he was able to pull himself together, to pray for the healing of all, and greatly overcome by the thought that he was thus working a little for the cure of Marle. Without knowing the chain of thought suddenly remembered the consultation he had exacted over the young girl's case before they left for Lourdes. the room clearly, the gray wall paper, with blue flowers, doctors discuss and come t who had given certifi- He could see the marrow, speaking with practitioners, hummed the quick,” warm voice of his s and bold intelligence, treated coldly as an adven- was surprised a young man of vast whose confrer turous spirit. he remembered things that not know were Made clear by that singular phenomenon themselves known, seemed as under which Beauelair cure would be accomplished. was useless for Plerre to try to forget ain he saw Words came back to his mind and fille Beauclair and _he remained after the landing with a shock on her inflammation of from the horse, doubtedly some ligaments had been severed, heavy weight lower abdomen the limhs amounting to paralysis, then fol- lowed the slow repairs of the disorder, organ going back of itself to its normal posi- cessation of the painful, phenomenal suffer- ing, for the brain of this nervous child had been affected by the accident and could not be disabused of localizing the point of her motionless condition acquiring fresh even after she was cured the suffering still nervous state of consecutive no doubt aggravated by a poor con- nourishment, understood. plained easily false numbers of the other physicians who had taken charge of the case, who, perhaps, never had paid one visit, but went purely on facts, some believing it capable of the contrary gnosis and to be a tumor, upon a_ giving ter inquiring after the antecedents of ng hipped, regarding her disease by reason of the continuous ‘pain, the first violent shock reasons—the affected vision, the fiy the nature of the suffering that had loft the weight—intolerable, that sometimes filled even her throat in fear- determined breathe freely, to suffer no longe! her to her feet, cured, transfigured by some excitement of joy or exaltation. Once more Pierre tried to settle his mind, to neither hear nor see these visions of the past, for he felt it was a simple irreparable ruin of any belief in miracles. his efforts and the ardor with which he cried, “Jesus, son of David, heal our sick!" he still he still heard calm, smiling manner just how the miracle would be accomplished, thunderelap, at some se Under some would the muscles be unbound. wild transport of joy the Invalid would rise her legs suddenly relieved from the overpowering weight that had made them like lead for so many years, Just as if the weight had melted and run to But above all that horrible load . could put In spite of Beauclair tell It would be like a son of extreme emo- decisive circumstances Under some the ground. that crushed her breast and choked her throat, would at the same time depart in a prodigious release Was it not thus in’the middle ages, that those possessed of the the evil one through their mouth, one who had caused such ugony to their vir- Beauclair had even added that one day Marie would be a woman, with all the attributes for maternity, and with this rush, this awakening from the child life so delayed and broken from the deep dream of suffering, she would all at once be restored to perfect its bright eyes and radiant As Pierre gazed at Marte his trouble be- came greater to see her thus wretched and tmploringly pathetic hope centered in Our Lady of Lourdes, who Ah! if she might be saved damnation! Science lied as easily not belleve that gave back life. even at the price of But she was too ill. did, and he could this child, whose limbs could ever recover! into which he again fell his bleeding the chaos of with the delirious crowd without end avior, son of David, heal our sick! avior, son of David, heal our sick!" moment a stir crowd, and all heads were turn around and upward. of the Fourth Hour, somewhat late on this Whose' Cross was now under one monumental There was such a commotion, such instinctive surging toward made frantic gestures stretcher bearers to push back the crowd by pulling the ropes more tight. overwhelmed back, with wounded hands, and it ended by enlarging the passage reserved for the pro- pass slowl: walked a_superb *‘Sulsse silver, who was followed by the processional bearers carrying a high cross rounded by from all the different pilgrimages, with their banners and standards of velvet and satin, oidered in metals and gay colored silks, ornamented by painting: These men for aressed in blue and delegations bearing the name; c of the Artisans this inscription: Then came the clergy, Catholie Club.” in surplices fifty in golden chasubles, resembling stars. Laudate Sion S was royal, of purple silk, festooned selected on Underneath canopy, between the two priests who assisted him, Abbe Judaine held the Holy Sacrament, his ten fingers tightly closed, as Berthaud recommended His uneasy showed that he dreaded the pushing of that surging crowd, and how fearful he was of harm coming to the heavy, yet divine, mon- strance that was breaking his wrists by its pemed like another sun, the blinding sun- beams, that caused the whole procession to walk in a glol 3 was a confused mass of pilgrims, a tramping enthusiasm faithful and curious souls, wh wake made by was roused, following in th the rolling wave of human being A few moments after Father got up again into the pulpit, and this time Ne had concelved another form of worship. After those burning eries of faith, of hope had uttered, manded that here should be suddenly abso- lute silence, lips, might speak in secret with God during instantaneous with closed those moments of dumb vows, in which all touching and most extraordinary The solemnity was intense, and one could hear the passing desira to live. Then Father Mas- BEE: SUNDAY, s1la asked the Inyglids alono to spoak, to supplicate God tolkgrant them what they needed from His potency. Then followed & piteous lamentationshundreds of broken and faltoring voiees raised in a concert of tears, rd, Jesus, It Phau wilt Thou canst cure me! 'Lord Jesus, have pity on Thy child, who 18 dying of %! Lord Jesus, that I may see, that | may.hear, that I may be able to walk again!" A shat’p volce of a little girl, light andvivacious as a flute, dom- inated over the universal sob and repeated in the distan “Sgve the others! Save the others, Lord Jesus! Tears flowed trom every eye, hpplications poured from all hearts’ and made leven the most frivo- lous feel charitable (fo a sublime disorder that incited them tg tear open their hearts It they might this give to their nelghbors their own youth and health, Father Mas- sais, without allgwing this enthusiasm to be checked, again’ took up his cry, lashing the crowd ‘once more, while Father Four- cade, settling himself on one of the pulpit steps, lifted his streaming face toward heaven to beseech God to come down. The processi as coming; the delega- tions, the priests were standing right and left, and as the dais entercd the place re- served for the invalids in Srontof the grotto, when they perceived the host, the holy sac- rament shin'ng In the sun in the hands of Abbe Judaine, there was no longer any turther direction possible, all volces wero blended, a vertigo carried away every de- sire. The cries, the calls, the pra s were lost In groans. Bodies were lifted from their miserable pallets, trembling arms were outstretched and folded hands seemed to try to stop the miracle as it passed by. Lord Jesus, save us, for we perish,” “‘Lord Josus, we who adoré Thee, heal us,” “Lord Jesus, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God! Save us,” Three times these despairing voices uttered the supreme lamentation, in their exasperation, In a clamor that plerced the very sky, and the tears inoreased, inundating the burning faces that wero tranefigured by the longing for salvation. Ior an instant the e ment becam: o intense, the instinctive movement toward the holy sacrament seemed s {rresistible that Berthaud made a chain of all the stretch bearers who were about. It was a mancuver of extreme protection. A regular wall of men formed to the left and right of the dals, each one firmly locked. in the neck of the one next him, forming a kind of living hedge. There was not a crack; nothing could pass through. But these human barriers did not suffice to keep out the passion of those famishing for life, those desirous of touch- ing, of kissing Jesus, and they oscillated, shoved back against the dais they were protecting, while even the dals fitself was in a continual danger of being upset, rolled wn under the mass of persons, like some holy vessel in peril of shipwreck. Just at the beight of this holy excite- ment, amid the supplications and ®obs, as when during a storm the heavens are opened and a thunderbolt descends, the miricles bogan. A paralytic woman got up and threw down her crutches. There was a plercing cry. A woman appeared standing on her mattress, wrapped in a white cover, as though in a shroud, and it was said she was a half dead consumptive who was restored. Time after time grace was shown. A blind woman saw the grotto distinetly, as though a flame; a dumb woman_fell on her two knees, praising the Holy Virgin in a loud, clear voice, and all prostrated themselves at once at the feet of Our Lady of Lourdes, overcome by joy and gratitude. Pierre had not taken his eyes off Marie, and what he saw filled him with tenderness. The invalid's eyés, still open, had grown larger, while her poor, pale face, with its heavy expression, ad contracted ‘as though she were sufferink fearfully. She did not speak, thinking, no doubt, that her illness had returned forever, in despair. Then, suddenly, as the hdly sacrament passed and sho saw Its golden splendor In the sun- light, she was dizzled and thought she had been ‘struck by lighthing. Her eyes bright- encd again, they bnce more re 1 their flame ot life, they shone like stars. Her face, beneath its renewed vigor, became ani- mated and flushed, smiling with the lo of happiness and health. He saw her sud- denly rise, stand 1p {u her seat, sway back- ward and forward, stammering, able to ut- ter this single caressing word: “Ob, my dear; oh, my deay fripnd!” He approached quickly to hold her up, but she pushed him jaside by a gesture, and steadied herself, so lovely, so touching, in her dress of black woolen stuff, in the slippers that she always wore, tall ‘and thin, surrounded as by a nimbus, formed by her beautiful golden hair that was only covered by a bit of lace. Her virgin body sus- tained some terrible shocks, as though a mighty fermentation had regenerated it. At first the legs were released from those binding chains, then as she felt the blood pour through her, the life blood of a woman, a wife and a mother, the final agony was attained, an enormous load came up into her throat from her stomach. This time it did not stop there, mor choke her, but poured from her mouth and rughed away in a cry of sublime joy: “I am cured! I am cured!” Then followed an extraordinary sight. The covering fell from her feet. She triumphed. Her face was superb in its brilliancy. ~Her cry of healing had sounded out with such power that the entire concourse of people were struck. She only existed, was to be looked at, as she stood there, large, radiant and divine: “I am cured! I am cured!” Pierre began to weep in the violent emotion that he felt in his heart. Tears poured afresh down his cheeks. In the midst of the enthusiasm, the exclamations, the praises, the fantic excitement came nearer and nearer, carried on by the in- explicable emotion of the thousands of pilgrims that thronged about to see. Ap- plause could be heard, a perfect fury of ap- plause, that rolled like thunder from onc end of the town to the other. Father Fourcade waved his arms, and finally, from the pulpit, Father Massais made himself heard “God hath visited us, my dear brothers, my beloved sisters. ‘Magnificat anima mea Dominum.’ " All the voices, those thousands of voices, intoned_the chant of adoration and grati: tude. The procession was stopped. Abbe Judaine had reached the grotto with the monstrance, but he waited there before glving the benediction. Outside the grating stood the dais, surrounded by priests i chasubles and surplices, shining like snow and gold, In the rays of the setting sun. Marie remained kneeling, sobbing, and all during the singing of the chant she made a burring act of faith and love. But the crowd wished to sce her walk, and happy voices called. A group surrounded her that nearly litted her up and pushed her toward the Bureau of Certifications, in order to prove the miracle to be as clear as the sunlight Her cart was forgotten. Pierre followed her, while she who had not used her limbs for seven years advanced, stammering. hesitating with adorable awkwardness, with the uneasy air of a little child that takes its first steps; and it was o touching, so delicious, that he could only think of the tremendous happitiess of secing her youth thus removed. Ah! beloved friend of his youth, dearly loved in the past, she would at least be the beautiful and charming woman that the young girl of former years had bid falr to become, when in the little garden at Neuilly she was 80 pretty and gay bencath those great trees whose Idaves dunced in the sunlight. The crowd continued to acclaim, and an fmmense concourse accompanied her. All were awalting her, stationed near the door, with feverish impatience, atter she had gone into the office, to which only Pierre was admitted besides her. That afternoon there were very few people at the Bureau of Certifications. The little square room, with its overheated wooden walls, Its rudimentary furniture, its straw chairs and two tables, of unequal height, was occupled, outside the customary officials by only some five or six doctors, all sitting and sile In front of the tables the chief of the Service of the Pools and two young priests were making up the registry and sorting the papers, while Father Dargelis, at {he end of one table, was writiug notes for Wis paper. Just then Dr. Bonamy was en- gaged In examining the lupus of Elise Rovquet, who had been for the third time to certify the increasing cure of her sore. “At any rate, gentlemen,” cried the doctor, “haye you ever sten a lupus of this sort mend so rapidly? I am aware that a work has appeared on faith healing, in which it says that certain sores are of nervous origin. Only nothing Is less palpable in this case of lupus, and I defy any commission of doctors to meet and agree together to ex- plain the cure of this lady by any ordinary means." He paused and turned toward Father Dargells. “Have you noted, father, that JULY 1, 1894, the suppuration has ceased ontirely and that the skin s becoming a natural color?" Ho did not walt for an answer, for Mario returned, followed by Pierre, and he in- stantly guessed the lucky stroke of fortune that had come to him by the beaming air of the cured girl. She was fascinating, Just made to attract and convert the multi- tudes. Ho quickly sent FEilise Rouquet away, asked the mame of the new comer and called for the books from one of the young priests. Then as she trembled he wished her to sit down in one of the arm ohairs, ““Oh, no, no,” she cried. “I am so happy to be ablo to use my logs. Plorre had glanced about, hoping to find Dr. Chassaigne, but was sorry not to find him. He stood apart and waited while they searched through the untidy drawers, unable to find the necessary puper. “Let me see,” repeated Dr. Bonamy “Marie de Guersuint, Marie de Guersaint, I certainly have seen’ that name.” Rabvin at lust discovered the papers, classified in the wrong alphabatical list, and when the doctor ascertained the two certificates therein conta'ned he was much xelted Yow, this I8 very Interesting, gontle- men. 1 beg you will listen attentively. This young lady whom you see wa with a ser'ous affection of the marrow 1t there should be any doubt felt, th certificates are enough to convince the most incredulous, for they are signed by two physicians of the faculty of Paris, whose names are well known awnong all our con- bl He passed the certificates to one of the doctors present, who read them with slight nods, It was undeniable. Those signa- tures were those of honest and clever prac- titioners. “Well, gentlemen, if the diagnosis Is not contested, and it never can be when an in- valid brings documents of such value, we must now examine what modifications have been produced in the condition of this lady. But before ho questioned her he turned and addressed Pforre: ‘‘Abbe, you came from Paris with Mlle. de Guersaint, 1 believe. Did you happen to talk with the doctors before you started?' The priest felt a shiver that froze him, even in his great joy. “I was prosent at the consultation, sir.” Once more the scene came before him. He saw again the two grave and solemn doctors. He saw Beauclair standing while his associ- ates corrected their certificates to be alike. Should he put these aside and speak of the other diagnosis, that which allowed a scien- tific explanation of the cure? The miracle had been foretold, ruined beforehand. ou will notice, gentiemen,” again said Dr. Bonamy, “that the presence of the abbe gives a new force to these proofs. Now madomoiselle will tell s exactly what she elt." He leaned on Father Dargelis’ shoulder. and advised him not to forget to give Plerre a place in the account as an eye witness. “My God, gentlemen, how can I tell?” said Marie ‘in her breathless volce, broken by happiness. “Ever since yesterday I was sure of being cured. Yet just now, when the tingling came in my logs, I feared lest it might be only a fresh attack. 1 did doubt for an instant. Then the tingling stopped, but it recommenced as soon as I began to pray again. Oh, I prayed. I prayed with all my soul. I ended by giving myself up as though I had been a child. ‘Holy Virgin, Our Lady of Lourdes, do with me what thou wilt.” The tingling stopped no more. It seemed as though my blood was boiling, and a volce cried, ‘Stand up, stand up.’ 1 felt the miracle like a great cracking of my bones, of all my flesh, as if 1 were struck by lightning. Very pale, Pierre listened. Beauclair had, indeed, said that the cure would come as suddenly as lightning whenever, under some fnfluence of over-excited imagination, some powerful wakening of her will should produce a similar_effect. “My legs were first set free by the Holy Virgin,” she continued. “I had a distinct sensation that bands of iron were slding down my skin like broken chains. Then the awful welght that always crushed me on my left hip seemed to surge, and I thought I was dying, it was so fearful. But it passed by my breast, past my throat, and it came into my mouth, from which I spit it violently out. It was all over. I no longer was possessed of disease—it had flown.” She made the tired motion of some night bird that flaps its wings and ceased smiling at Pierre, who was utterly undone. Beau- clair had foretold all this, using almost the same words, the same descriptions. In every point the prognostication had been realized; there was nothing in it but a foreseen and natural phenomenon. Rabins had followed the account with round eyes, with the fnterest of a limited devotion, haunted by the fdea of hell. “It was the devil,” he cried. “She spat out_the_devil.” Dr. Bonamy silenced him, being wiser, and turning to the physicians, said: “Gentlemen, you know we try here never to pronounce ‘that great word ‘miracle.’ But here is a fact, and I am curious to know how you can explain it by natural means. For seven years mademoiselle has suffered from a serlous paralysis, evidently due to an afliction of the marrow. If it were denied, there are the certificates, indisputable. She neither walked nor could make a motion without pain, and had reached such a con- dition of complete exhaustion that a fatal termination was apprehended. Suddenly she gets up, walks, laughs and beams. The paralysis has entirely disapprared. No pain remains. She is as well as you or L. Lok at her, gentlemen. Approach, examine her. | Tell me how it all happened.” He triumphed. Not one of the doctors spoke. Two, doubtless practical Catholics, approved by an eaergetic shake of the head. The others remained motionless, rather bored, little desirous of being placed upon record down to this history. A small, thin ane, however, whose eyes were shining be- hind great spectacles, finally got up to look at Marie nearby. He took one of her hands, examined the pupils of her eyes and seemed simply preoccupied by the look of trans- figuration that covered her face. Then, with a courteous air, not willing to even discuss, he returned to his seat. *“This case surpasses sclence, that is all I can verify," corcluded Dr. Bonamy, victoriously. I must add that there is here no state of con- valesence to be found; health has returned all at once, full and entire. Look at mademolselle, Her bright appearance, her piuk complexion, her features have regained their lively state. Of course the separation of the tissues will continue rather slowly, but one can almost say that the young lady has been born again. Is that not so, abbe, you who see her so often; do you recognize her now?" Pierre stammered: “It is true; it is true. Again Dr. Bonamy leaned over Father Dargelis' shoulder, who had finished his notes, a sort of compiete official report They exchanged words in a low tone and after some further consultation the doctor said ““Abbe, as you were present at these won- ders, you will not refuse to sign this very exact account that the reverend father has just prepared for the journal of the grotto Must he sign that page of error and lics? He was seized by a feeling of revolt and was on the point of crying out the truth, But the weight of his cloth forbade him, and above all Marie's divine joy filled his heart. He was 80 permeated with happiness to see her saved. As they were not questioning her now, she had come and was leaning on his arm, continuing to smile at him with her lovely éyes. ““Oh, my friend,” she said very softly, “do thank the Holy Virgin. She has been 0 good! Now I am well, beauti- ful and young! And how happy my father, my poor, dear father, will be!” =~ So Pierre signed. Everything In him went against it, but it was sufficient that she was saved. He would have considered it as sacrilege to touch the faith of this child— that great faith that had caused her cure When Marie came out the acclamations be- the crowd clapped their hands The miracle was now official Charitable people, fearing lest she might be fatigued and require the use of her cart, that she had abandoned in front of the grotto, had fetched it to the bureau of certifications. When she saw it she was filled with emotion. Ah, that cart, in which she had lived so many pars, that moving coffin in which she had sometimes thought herself buried alive. How many tears, how much despair, how many bad days it had witnessed! Al at once she thought that if she had suffered in it for so long it should also take part in her triumphs. It was a sudden Inspiration, a saintly folly that made her grasp the handle Just at that moment the procession was passing, coming back from the grotto, whers Abbe Judaine had pronounced the benedic- tion. And Marie, dragging her cart, placed herself behind the canopy. Iu her slippers, her head covered by its bit of lace, sho also ! walked with panting breast, her face held high and superb, dragging along her cart of misery, that moving tomb in which she had CHAPTER 1V, Pierre had followed Marte, und now found himeclf Just bohind the canopy with hor, as though they had been caught up in the puft of glory that caused her to drag her cart in triumph. Dut the awful shoving was so tremondons, so tempestuons that he would surely have fallen If a rough hand had not sustained him, “Do _you fear? Give me your arm, other- wise we shall not be able to keep our feet.” He turned and recognized with surprise Father Massals, who had left Father Four- | eade in the pulpit to accompany the canopy. He was actuated by an extraordinary fover- fsh strength that enabled him to push ahcad, as olld s u rock, his eyes like firehrands, his visage exalted, though covered jwith sweat “Do take care! Give me your arm!" A frosh human wave had nearly swamped them, %o Plerre surrondered himself to this terrible man, whom he recollected had been a fellow student of the seminary. What a strange meeting! And how he longed to poseess such a degree of faith, but faith whose strength even now caused him to ery out, amid choking sobs, the ardent supplica- fon “Lord Jesus, cure our sick! Lord Josus, heal our sick!" The cry never stopped behind the canopy, for there was always to be found there ¢ crier charged with the duty of keeping down any signs of falling enthusiasm of faith | Sometimes the voice was thick and gross, at other times It was piercing and shrill. That of the priest was imperious and ending by breaking with his emotion “Lord Josus, heal our stek! Lord Jesus, cure our sick The news of Marie's astounding cure, of that miracle, whose marvels were to fill all Christendom, had already spread from one end of Lourdes to the other, and accounted for the increased fury of the masses. The contagious delirium that caused every one to flock round the Holy Sacrament rolled on unchecked like a flood at high tide. Each one yielded to the unconscious desire to sce her, ‘to tonch her, to be cured, to be happy. God was near, and the invalids were not the only ones who sought life; all were seized by the necessity for happiness, that lifted them with bleeding, open hearts and empty hands, Berthaud, who doubted this excessive love, had made a point to come with his me He ordered and watched, that the double row of stretcher bearers on both sides of the canopy should not be severed Close in more, more; hold each other's arms tight. These young people, chosen from among the strongest, had hard work to do this. The wall against which they struggled was like- wise shoulder to shoulder, arms linked about waist and neck, that gave and rebounded at every moment under these involuntary as- saults. No one admitted that he pushed and thus it was a continual bubbling of waters that came from profound distances and that threatened to overwhelm, When the canopy reached the middle of the square of the rosary Abbe Judaine thought that he would go no further. Sev- eral cross currents were met in the vast square that made the rush come from cvery side. He therefore stopfped under the can- opy, beaten like a sail before the wind. He held the holy sacrament very high up by his two hands, fearful lest some one shoving from behind should throw it down, for he knew very well that the golden monstrance shining under the bright sun was the point of intcrest to all these people, the God they desired to embrace, to lose themselves in Him, ready for annihilation. So, quite un- strung, he turned his anxious face toward Berthaud. “Do not allow any one to go by,"” called out the latter to his assoclates. “*No one; this or- der must be obeyed, do you hear? But supplicating voices were raised, wretches were sobbing with outstretched arms and open lips, with the mad desire that made them come to kneel at the feet of the priest. What a mercy to be thrown down, trampled upon by the procession. An infirm man held out his withered hand, convinced that it would again be useful if only he be allowed to touch the monstrance. A dumb girl pushed herself by with her strong shoul- ders, furiously, to loosen her tongue by one kiss. Many more cried, implored and ended by clenching their fists against the cruel per- sons who refused a_healing to the sufferings of their souls and miserable bodies. The password was absolute, for they feared some fearful accident. There was one woman, however, the sight of whom touched every heart. = Miserably clad, her head bare, her face covered with tears, she held in her arms a little boy about 10 vears old, whose two legs hung down. useless, paralyzed. He was far too heavy for her feeble strength, but she did not seem to feel the weight. She had brought her son. She imiplored the bearers with a sullen obstinacy that could not be overcome by either words or pushing. Finally Abbe Judaine, greatly touched, called to her by a sign. Obedient to the offi- cial pity, in spite of the danger of opening a breach, two of the stretcher bearcrs separ- ated, and the woman precipitated herself and her ‘burden down before the priest, For a moment lie placed the foot of the holy sacra- ment on the child’s head. The mother pressed her own lips upon it. - Then as they moved on once more she remained behind the canopy, following the procession, her hair flying, and trembling under the too heavy load that was breaking her shoulders. They crossed the Place de Rosaire with the utmost difficulty. Then began the ascent, the glorious ascent by the monumental ram- part, while up above, against the sky, the Basilica reared its slender spire, from which rang out a carillon of chimes telling of the triumph of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was to this apotheosis that the canopy was slowly | suffered, and the crowd applauded her, the | | frenzied erowd that follow after. | torest. The Mhighor up they climbed the | more did the Place da Rosaire and the gare den paths extend below their eyes, black I and filled with people. It was a wh tribe in a blrd's-eye-view—an ant hill more | and more busy In the distant scene. { Do look,” he flnally romarked to Plerre. v it not grand, ts it not fine? Indeed, this will noc be a bad year.” To him Lourdes was, above all, the audi- ence chamber for the Propaganda, where he gratified his political bitterness by rejolcing Inthe numerons pilgrimages that e thought to bo disagreenble to the government. Ah! It they couid only bring hither workingmen from the oities and creato a Catholio democracy ! Last yoar.” he continued, “hardly 200,- 000 pilgrime came here. This year I trust that number will be surpassed And with his good natured manner, In spite of his sectarlan passions, he said: Indeed, & while ago when there was suoh A crush I was pleased! 1 kept thinking, 18 a succoss, it's a succoss.'” Plerre was not listening. He was quite struck by the wonderful sight, The crowd streteched out before him as they climbod Nigler up the hillslde, the magnificent valloy that lay at his feot, widening out indefinitely until it was lost in the fatuous horizon of the mountains, filled him with & trewbling —admiration. His uneasiness seemed to swell sel grow larger, and he looked at Marie to attract her at tention to the lovely view by a wide sweep of his arm, The motion deceived her for sho did not take fn the material side of the picture fn her prosent state of spirftual exaltation. She fancied he took fn the whole earth as & Witnoss of the prodigious favors that the Holy Virgin had showered on them, for sha imagined he had also recetved his share of the miracle, and that her sudden rostoration, her return to health, had lkewise lifted him, her dearest friend and nofghbor, to the samw divine streng nd that his soul had b saved from unbelief and restored to How coull he have been present at marvelous cure and not be convinced? besides, she had prayed so hard the Ight at the grotto! She saw him all her excessive joy, transfigured, too, woep- ing and laughing, given up to God. And ft lashed her on to greater happiness, She dragged her cart without fatigue-~indeed, would have dragged it for miles and miles, even higher up to inaccessible heights, to the dazzling glories of Paradise, It sho might have carried their double cross to this re- sounding mount, her own ransom and the ransom of her friend. Oh, Pierre, Pierre,” she stammered, “is it not good to have this great happiness together, together? I had longed so ardently for it, and Sk was willing. Sho has saved you by saving me. Yes, I felt your very soul melt in my soul. Tell me that our mutt s have been granted, that 1 have obtained your salvation as you have obtained mine."” He understocd her mistake and shuddered, “If you Knew what a mortal agony it would be to me to come up here alone to the light. Oh, to be among the elect with out you, to go up above without y But with you, Plerre, It Is a delight 1 to- gether! Happy forever! T feol such strength to be happ; trength enough to support the whole world! But_he could not answer the truth, so he lied, revolting a the idea of spoiling her great and pure felicity. “Yes, yes, bn happy, Marie, for I am very happy myself, and all our troubles are forgotten.” e in his fnmost soul he felt a great and sudden break, as though the stroke of an ax had separated them from one another. Up to now In all their common sufferings she had always remained the little girl friend, the first woman he had ever ingenuously desired, that he had always felt to be his ywn, since she could belong to no ono elge. And she was cured and he was left alone in his hell, to say to himself that she could never again belong to him. This horriblo thought so overcame him that he turned away his eyes, unwilling to witness the prodigious happiness in which she exulted. The canticle continued, as Father Massal ring nothing, eceing nothing, all filled with burning gratitude toward God, begap the last tersicle in a thundering volce Sicut locutos est ad patres nostros, Abras ham, et semen ejus in saecula,” One more rampart to go up, one more effort (o make on this mountain side, with its large, slippery paving rtones! So the orocession moved on and the ascension con- tinued in the broad daylight! —There was Just one more turn; the wheels of the cart grated against the granite stones. Higher and higher it rolled upward till it touched tha very border of heaven. Then suddenly the canopy was seen to bo at the summit of those gigantlc ram- parts, in frontof the door of the Basllica, ou the stone balcony that overlooked the plain. Abbe Judaine advanced, holding up in the air by both hands the holy sacra- ment. Near him Marie had halted with her cart, her heart beating by her walk, her face scarlet In the golden halo of het unbound hair. Behind them the clerg were ranged, with their snowy surplices, thelg shining chasubles, while the bauners waved and flags floated, dotting the white baluse trades, and then followed a moment of in- tense solemnity. From above nothing could be finer. First the crowd below was like a human sea, in its somber hue, with the unceasing swell, restle:s, unceasing, in which here and there #might bd distinguished little white spots of faces raised Koward ma basilica, waiting for the benediction, as far as the eye could reach, from the Place de Rosaire, in all the paths, the av- enues and squares, to the old town in the distance, the little pale faces were multl plied, innumernble, without end; all anx- ious, ‘with eyes fixed on that august threshold where the sky was about to open. On the other side the immense amphitheater of the hills, the mounts and mountains rais- ing their peaks to the infinite and losing themselves in the blue ether. To the north, beyond the torrent on the lower steeps, amid the trees, were the number convents—the Carmelites, the Assump reaching, toward the high door of the sanc- tuary that seemed open to the infinite, above that immense crowd, whose surging, like tho sea, below all over the streets and squares, kept up its grumblings. The magnificent in his blue and silver, had al- rived at the cupola of the Rosary with the processional cross, overlboking the vast esplanade of roofs. = The delega- tions of the pilgrims enrolled their line of march. Their silken and velvet ban- ners, with the gay coloring, floated in the fire-lighted horizon of the setting sun. Then the resplendent clergy, the priests in thelr snowy surplices, the priests in gold chasubles, looked like strings of stars. The incense holders were singing before the canopy that went upward and onward, though no vi:ible means of support was to be seen, as if some invisible force—un- seen angels—were carrying it In a glorious ascension to the open doors of heaven it- sell. Songs burst forth and voices no longer claimed a healing for the sick, now that they did not form part of the crowd. The miracle had been wrought and it was celebrated by loud voices, ringing bells, by a quivering gayety in all the alr. “Magnificat anima mea Dominum Again the canticle of praise thit had been sung at the grotto burst from all hearts: “Etexius altavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo!" Marie partook of this glorious ascension by means of the colossal ramparts toward the basilica of light with an increasing overflow of happiness. Each step she took upward seemed to bring fresh strength her restored limbs gained solidity, thougl they had been useless for so long. The very cart that she dragged so victoriously was a kind of revenge against her illness, that hell from which the Holy Virgin had delivered her; and, although the handle hurt her hands, she insisted on taking it all the way with her, to throw it at the feet of God. No obstacle impeded her; she laughed in the midst of great tears, her breast heaving, her step like that of a warrior. On the way one of her slippers had come unfastened, and the lace scarf had fallen from her head to her shoulders, but she walked on just the same, bon neted by her lovely blonde hair, her fa bedming in ruch an awakening of will and strength that the heavy cart she pulled be hind her bounded over the rough paviug stones like a child's toy wagon Pierre had_remained with Father Mas- sais near to Marle, the former having kept hold of his arm. In the midst of his tr mendous revulsion of feeling he had been unable to reflect. His companion's son orous volce deafened him. “Peposuit potentes de sede ot exaltavit humiles. On the other side, to his right, Berthaud was following the canopy, quite easy now in his mind. He had given his orders to ceaso keeping 8o close a “cordon” of men, and now regarded the human sea that was ssing the procession with a degree of in- the Dominicans, the Sisters of evers—all were bathed in a rose colored tion, catching the tints of the setting Above them rose masses of woodlands, up to the heights of Buala, that went past the “Serre de Yulos” overtopped by Miramont, To the south deep valleys opened out, narrow gorges between walls of glant rocks whose bases sank in the bluish shadows of the ground, while their tops shone forth with tha farewell glories of the sun. On that sida the hills of Viseus were purple, a coral promontory that barred the sleeping lake in the sapphire-clear cther, But to the east opposite the horizon again strotched out wide to the cross roads of the seven valleys, The chateau that had formerly protected the reads now stood on the rock at whose basa ran_the € with its dungeons, its high walls, the ancient fortress with its black profile And beyc the new town, gay in the midst of its gardens, a swarm of white £ des and great hotels, of furnished houses and fine shcps, with ail their windows il- luminated like great fires; while behind the chateau old Lourdes reared itself cons fusedly, its discolored roofs looking misty under the red sunlight this late hour the little Gers and the big Gers, these two enormous mounds of naked rock, dotte with wild grasses, behind which the royal rb was setting, looked like some neutral backgrou two purplish curtains violently drawn across the horizon. Abbe Judaine, opposite all this vastness, lifted the holy sacrament in his two hands higher yet and higher, o slowly moved It from one end of the horizon to the other and made a great sign of the cross in the open sky. To the left he salu the con- vents, th heights of Buala, th Serre du Yulos, le Miramont; to the right he saluted the great hewn blocks of of stone In the obscure valleys, the purple hills of Visens; pposite he saluted the two towns, the chateau skirted by the Gave, the little Gers and the great Gers, already slumber- ing; and he saluted the woods, the streams, the mountains, the indistinct chains of dis: tant peaks, the whole world beyond the visible horizon! “Peace on earth; hope and consolation to_man!" Below the crowds trembled beneath the great sign of the cross that covered them ali It semed like somoe passing breath of divinity rolling over that billow of little white faces, as numerous as the waves of the ocean. A murmur of adoration went up; all mouths declared the glory of God, when the mons strance, struck by the full rays of the setting sun, appearsd like a new sun-—a sun of gold t ing out the emblem of the cross In Hnes of flame on the edge of the sky. The bauners, the clergy, Abbe Judaine, under the canopy, were already going into the basilica, when Marie, just as she was about to enter, t0o, without letting go the handle of her cart, was stopped by two ladies, who kissed her and wept over her, i They were Mme. lo Jonquiere and her daughs