The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 30 June 1904, Page 23

The Storyteller

CATARINA The, glistening white walls and broad galleriete 1 of the sanatorium stood out clearly in the late afternoon sun. \ sense of coolnrsK and peace was leai't to it by the dark-green blinds on the windows and the broad greenrand-white striped awnings that, overarched the galleries. Tall, leafy pecan trees lifted their topmost branches above the cross that surmounted the cupola, and in the giarden old-fashioned flowers bloomed in profusion. The wide grounds surrounding the sanatorium were portioned off by the inevitable barbed-wire fence of the South. Beyond the flower gardens a gate through the fence led to an enclosure where on one side stood the Kitchens and laundry, and oh the other the little white chapel where tihe Sis,teis arid their nurses heard Mass every day. Beyond this, through a second gate, the stony path led to the farmyard stables and water-tower, whose windmill moved lazily in the light afternoon wind. Westward a long range of hills appeared dark against tftie horizon, in contrast with the magnificent southern sunset that stretched from North to South, making a golden splendor that lit up I/he opposite valley and hills, Nature in that charmed region was fair and beautiful ; as if to bring hope to the hearts that came there with bodies sick unto death It was nearly time for the Angelius bell, as back and forth in the garden walked a young girl with a basket and pair of scissors, cutting long stems of the roses that gTew in such profusion. Her hands, strong and shapely, grasped the thorny stems deftly as the clip, clip of her s erasers passed from stem to stem. The German doctor who attended the sanatorium, and who often watched her, said it was the way Catartna Olgin handled her patients , gentleness first, he thought, and then skill and strength. A door at the side of the house opened and the Mother Superior came out in the warm Sunshine and advanced towards the rose garden. The young nurse heard her coming and straightened up. ' You want me, Reverend Mother ?' she said. ' Not to call you away,' Catarina, but only to sfceak to you. The train from the city gets in about 6.30, and Dr. Amende is bringing a very sick patient, a young man m nearly the last stages of consumption. I •have had the south-west corner prepared for him and have detailed you to be his day nurse. Miss Fit/gerald will take the night nursing. It is a peculiar case,' she continued ' The young man has no near relations living. Dr Amend says he has been a lawyer in a Northern city and very high in his profession ; then he had an attack of pneumonia one winter two years ago, and has been going from bad to worse ever since.' ' Popr soul ' ' s'afld Catarina 'Is ho a Oatholic, Mother ? ' ' No,' answered the Superior, ' and that is the saddest part Dt. Amend says he has absolutely np belief.' ' The good God can find ways, Mother, and it is not yet too late, the faith may come ' ' Do all you can for his comfort, Catarina ; and for the rest we must pray.' The Mother returned to the house, while presently the! young girl went toward the chapel, and, disappearing within the door, gave her flowers to the sacristan, who was getting the chapel ready for the early Mass on the morrow, for it was April and the day before the glorious feast of Easter. ' Poor young man ! ' she thought, as she hurried babk to the sanatorium. ' it is nearly time for him to get here. Ah ! ' and she paused, ' there is the, whist'fc of his train.' Passing upstairs, she glanced into the cool interior of the large bedroom prepared for the expectant guest The white enamelled bed stood cross ways betwrcn two of the windows, looking out on one side toward the distalnt range of hills, on the other taking in t!he spire and cuoss of the little chapel. The sound of carriage wheels on the hard clay drive reached Catarina's ear, and she descended the wide oak staircase to the hall below. Tihe Mother was there before her, standing near the Qpen door. ' You had best get the wheeled chair, 1 she said. ' I doubt if the young man can walk.' The nurse opened a closet in the hall and wheeled out t|he chair. Together the two women passed out on the wide gallery just as the stage drove up. The doctor was the first to alright. A man between forty and fifty. Dr. Amend had been visiting physician at the sanatorium for many years. His patients knew him as a man of superior scientific and intellectual gifts. The broad, opeh forelheati, firm mouth and chin, sOiowed

the man's power and strength of minti, while the blue eyes looking at you from behind gold-rimmed spectacles spoke at once of the noble and spiritual nature tdiat was indeed the foundation and bulwark of all the doctor's gifts. In figure he was not above medium height of strong and sturdy build, and his strength was now being used to half lift, half carry a tall, emaciated figure closely mu filed in wraps, which he placed tenderly in the wheeled chair, which had been brought close to tiie steps that leu up to the gallery ' There you are, 1 said the doctor cheerily. ' I know yiolu will take good care of him, Reverend Mother ' ' You are welcome,' said the Mother in her sweet low voice ' Perhaps you would like to go right to your room,' she added. ' Yes,' was the answer, in a weary tone of peculiar refinement. lam very tired and would like tto ko to bed at once.' No one saw the start that Oatarina Olgin cave as she heard the sound of his voice. For one moment she shrank back, then resolutely placed her hand on the bar of ttfie chair and commenced wheeling it into the hqUse Later when her patient was in bed, and the night nurse bad taken her place, Catarina haid sought the chapel and Knelt motionlesis before* the red sanctuary lieht for nearly an hour The radiance of the paschal mooh made the sanatorium nearly as bright as day, and she walked nSed a repose ni and o 'rtf h " "*" fOT mUCh " nu^t'saiT' an O d V read n^me c ' 6^ 0 ' *TO Ple " e ' The nurse obeyed, and after seeing that he was comfortably settled she opened her book- and began to r£3. The- unabd laid back wearily with closed eyes, the while h« white, almost bloodless . h amds hung listlessly over thought, as the muse read on ; and how like her tones To" n T , Wh °, had passed out of hls lif * ten ySrs agp ' lie had nottced it the first evening he had come ajd had given a sudden, .startled glance at her face onfy fo Sn d 5 nt ftrjt s>g!ht it was\n almost painful one ti I* K X J^ maide raya * es on Catarina Olgin's ?one fl li U i ip \ h - ad too™* tokened, the eye brows were SXfn thn the , s V n so dec Vh Pitted and scarred that ,, Sin i ll f' ¥?d? d ymi saw white > even teeth, and the fX ugMness that ' her faCC WaS "**™» d After a few weeks the man forgot she was plain, amd thought only of how good she was and how comfortable she made him in his long, weary struggle with he dread disease that had la.d him low. As he thus taqht he nurse read on, until by and by she saw by no! - ?n? n ?!? !n rr XTK T K hC , WaS , asleep :9 o she closed her book and. folding her hands, looked long and sadly at the sleeping man It was a fine face on which her eyes rested. The temples and cheeks were wasted by illness but it could not destroy the delicate chiselling of eyebrow and nose, the fine, sensitive mouth and well-mod-Cuti fTti arK ? 6 PS ~' We]ll Ca 'tanna Olgm knew how behSS'the moSesf lM nn s CyeS **"* *>* «™ ** A fierce pain, that had been growing stronger and stronger all these weeks, was tugging at her heart Ten years ap;o they had been engaged to be miarried How old was she then *> twe-nty years ; and the man before her had been twenty-five The Mother had called him young, but he was now thirty-five and she was thirty I-Ijow long those ten years seemed ' She had met him on a steamer goijig to Europe, and he had iomed them on the other side a<nd had travelled uit'h them until they had finally become engaged. But in spite of going regularly with her to Mass in the glorious European cathedrals, he had openly professed n,o belief, and it was fihis which had finally partad them. Joh,n Carter loved the beautiful Spanish girl with his whole soul, but pride made him unwilling to agree to the usual conditions of a marriage between a Catholic and a Protestant, and Catarina, profoundly religious e\cr> then, had finally decided she could not marry him Ilajd she done Avrong. she thought ; and remembering all the misery that usually results from siuch a union, her heart cried out No, a thousand times No ! She had remained two years in Europe after John returned to America. Then came the loss of her father's fortune, and his death, and Ca'tarina had returned to her old home in San Antonio. Her gu'ar'diaai, an elderly man, a devout Catholic, and an old friend of her father's —of American birth, wibh a Spanish name and descenthad proposed to her, and Catarina had consented. But she had been a wife only six weeks when a fall from his horse so injured the Sertor Olgfn that he haid died in a few hours, and Catarina, left a widow, >and without near relations, longing for some active work and occupation, had entered a training school for nurses, and after her two years' course and graduation had been appointed o/ne of the nurses at the Sisters' sanatorium in the beautiful hiil country, some thirty miles ntorth of San

Ainttonio. It was while she was taking care of a r>oor Ootared woman om the outskirts of tfhe city that she had contracted (the smallpox which had so ravaged her beauty, and now the man who had loved her so passionately d!d not know her ; the change in her name had completed the disguise. It was better so, sihe thought better so. But oh ! if she could win his s*xul before he died ' Dear Heart of Christ, herp me ' ' was her inward prayer. ' I cannot let him die without Thee ' A fit of coughing racked the ngure bhat, had been lying so motionless. aiTTT the brown eyes opened, m their clear depths a look of dumb appeal. Catarma arose these were times when she could scarcely trust herself when she saw the look in the man's eyes, aaid contrasted hi* present state with the strong, vigorous manhood she had once known. ' I will [Wheel you to the top of the] hill/ she said ; you like that sunset view.' Senor^OlAhf ' an S Wered : ' ou are vcr ? S^d to me. As they started along the path up the hill the docttors gig} drove i«n the gate, and, handing the re.ns to Dis colored boy. he sprang out and came toward Mem uivc him to me, nurse,' he said in his cheory voice. I will be his " Withers the Wan " ' - 1 f m * h f wan on e, doctor, 1 said the young man with a smile that irradiated his whole face, as he looked at the sturdy, vigorous frame bcfoic him (.Jtanna Wt them and went intto the house, and £h- a \l d f 1^ 1^ hls P atl ent to the top of the h.H behind the chapel, where they were m full sight of the fat a i;ftc b rn U^ OO u UU n ntalnS """^ in the The sick man raised himself to aji erect position and gazed ong and silently at the exquisite scene No .sound broke the stillness save the tickling of a bell that seemed to come from a herd of cattle that a swarthy Mexican was driving home. } 'Doctor,' said John, turning his head toward where the elder man stood, « how long a time have I got to Wfl * D « r ,"iA m » nd turnpd hIS fare t<ow *rd the speaker, and i^hihnH ?£ a mo , ment b°foreb ° fore he an -™^ The blue eye^ behind the spectacles were beautiful with the man's strong tenderness as he replied : ' I think three months ' tian Se n H ? m h^H he i doctor had t0 answer a harder <I«^ otTeV-fe^^S-sa^o^' 011 "^ " h * r in7Jt c ii ime^ m&y bC longer or or ter.' he said. ' and i^Vadtd r after the pain will come the joy • "'ummaiing, liko^m^ i" an f°?* hi * head - ' I ""PC I akha.ll die and Z w f. ce h a V dl th ° Ugh my llfc ' Wllth aIL '**> h °P^ an« aims, will be broken and incomplete ' ' My dear friend,' the doctor said, ' your l.fe will m ( You _», II have won the crown of a vietor.ous mi,f,i ■ m^nSsoSTok^s^U' " I>W>in « * said. ° an 7 ° U comfort u - s Poor fellows, doctor,' he the'orS °pIZ Ye a lift> ' uas the answer • ' but soul- atrf£ 7 alohe can heal yo u in b «dy and ' and He Wll! do so in the life beyond ' The strong faith anti vitality of the elder nvam seemed to dominate the younger. 'The Via Crucis would be easier, doctoj-,' he said if there were more men like yo<ii ' ' He lay hack in hiis chair drinking in the warm sunshine and the sweet odor of the yucca plant that bloomed near them. A mocking-bird sang in the tree overhead and he waited until the sound ceased ere he spoke again ' Doctor.' he said, • you know I am all alone - 4 no relations, no near friend's except those far away in the North, and whom I do not w r a,nt now , hut there is one 1 long to see before I die. I do not know where she is, but I can give you an address that may reach her. Catarina Zegris is her name. I am sure that where\er she is she would come to me if you will write and try "(o find her.' The softf rustle of a skirt was heard as Catarina drew near Even the doctor's usually keen eyes failed to see how pale she was, and there was a note almost of pathos in her sweet voice as slie addressed her patient and said : ' I fear it is getting late for you to stay out. 1

'To be store, 1 said the doctor briskly ; and as the nurse began to wheel the chair down the hill, he added I will visit my other patients and then aome to your room aaid you can gl ve me the address you spoke of.' I 11 have it ready, doctor,' the sick man answered co oor^ rC n e T°' ntl l Pa > SS ?- The dyiQ S m * n c ™ no longer s ° r , lea ™ his b(?d - The warm snnhght streams m J k J a^ d nurses and yi^e T s, with tender practised hands, do all they can to ease his suffering but ex en human skill is powerless now to save him Jam in ion" 0 . bcM ?. IC 4 u "t tune the doctor had been obliged C a tlr n, // b f ,f at ri hat the letler he had written to Latanna /egns had been returned from the dead-letter S'furnf^f h ae ' ucUntl^ h « decided there was n" tntng iurtner to be done. It was one afternoon early in October when Catholierll^tZL^ y"y "° Ur , IOVC Was one hl Ver <Z noner mat took you from me The yoimg nurse bent over him, in her face ufcsDeakw^^"^ them once raorc «* p'-iti™:?!^ of pirn", K^T* \' h S Sa ' d ' ' All ltec m °"lhs feT a^'ST" T " C C '°' ld Menmi «° "" -*e-h,t yS'TL aoo\e trie sh'une had been carved by one of thr £S "'a™'™ 1 hCt hCan ' hTOVy Wlth its Should she reveal herself to him, she ttioueht Th™ deS )C r,o" g If : crr :j"t C ! lanse '» "« appcaScc™" Int ,„„ + , ould **> t0 ° Krvat a .shock for him in mrs "'Cikenod state. The renunciation ol US }a.irs iR o must be carried out to the very end She ha., reached the shrmc now, and claspitii her hatidi as she .sank on h w knees, she raised he? eyes to the lender ones of the Mother of Sorrows -MOlM 01 Sr/^r^e co^ssX l on iiie sun went down and the twilight deepened but still the woman knelt and prayed. U <-M^ne«, mv It was a week later. £.' 1 'L^ed"-" If you """ «»* * —' T^SS i!K The doctor's face glowed, and from the heart of ' Praise God and the blessed saints ! ' she said loyally. I will send at once for Father Lewis ' t t S 'J VT , doctoT answer od. ' there is no time! to lose I doubt if he will live two days longer ' Then he went back to the cool, airy room, which he had thought many times seemed like a sanctuary as he watt hod the gradual purification of the noble soul whose iw'cM 16 to reach otlt after faith he ha ' d iKxUy °° mPro- ' It will all be arranged in half an hour,' he said in Ins kind, sonorous voice. ' HaVe you any special wishes my dear friend ?' ' ' ' Yes, 1 the other answered, ' I would like yo*u and the Mother to be my godparents, and I want my two nurses to be present.' ' It shall all be done as you want, my deer son,' was the answer. After the ceremony of baptism, on the following morning, the blessed sacraments of Holy Communion and

Extreme Unction were administered, and John lay calm and happy. His beautiful brown eye«, m their hollow depths, were full of a strange spiritual, light The Mother came through the hall, ahd mcetimg Catarina, stopped her. ' Do, you tecl able to sit up to-night, my child ' 7 ' she said ' I shall have to send the nighit nurse to a \eary sick woman to-night, and jf you will ta;ke the watch from 12 o'clock, Sister Rosalie can take your pla^e from 6 o'< lock until midnight, d.uimg which tune yo|u can sleep.' ' Reverend Molhei,' stud the you,ug niu,se At 12 o'clock that night she was back to the sickiOtom and Sister Rosalie had departed. The man seemed asleep, and after moving lightly around the room to see that all was in order, Catarma se'atcd herself near the bed. Sister Rosalie had whispered tp her that he had asked to have the light put out and Iftie Venetian bhtnd drawn up, so the moonbeams would come mlo the ropm ; it was therefore dark save for this silvery ligjit For over an hour tlie patient slept , then his breathing began t () giow .rapid and labored. He had not coughed at all since sine came om duty, Catarina remembered ; nor for some hours previous, as Sister Rosalie had whispered ere she left tlie room Spftly Caianma arose and approached the bed and laid her strong, light fingers on his pulse, which she found icebic and inteimittent. Quickly she readied for her thernuoineter, and presently removing it, went into Ihe ball w»heie a merit lamp was burning Yes, his temperature had lallen very low, and there was no time to lose. Slie pressed two electric bells, one to summon the Mother, the othei for the doctor, who h\ed m a collage near the sanatorium. Even as she did so she heard him call ' Calaiina,' and in an instant she was back by his bedside. There had come over him one of those hallucinations common to his disease, only in tins ca,se he had divined what really existed. Catarma,' said tlie \oice, so weak it was now, ' Catanna, am I dreaming, or is it you 7 ' Tenderly she gathered him in her arms and rested his head on her shoulder , there was no need for further self-denial or concealment now, for the dying eyes could not see. ' \es, my beloved,' s^lie answered, ' it is I, Catarina. I have loved and prayed for you all these years ' There was no question in his mind as to how she came there , it was enough that his .sjnntual flnsight had reached out and divined it was she. There was a sigh of utter content, tshen a, gasping for breath. ' Sing— to— me— Catarina,' he said. Although her heart was breaking, she began to sing, her voice softly rising and falling with the intensity of her own joy and pain— ' Jesus, the veiy thought of rlhcer lhce With sweetness fills the breast, But sweeter far Thy face to see, And m Thy presence rest ' She sang tb the end of the glorious hymn, and as the last sound died on the air the soul she had loved so purely and devotedly took Ihght — ' The Catholic World.'