out a cap, and a long night-dress profusely trimmed with lace, and in a trembling voice said : "I shall die soon as I have confessed, then dress me in those things; it is my last act of coquetry.' "She then embraced me with many tears, and continued I can speak, but it strangles me to talk; I am choking-give me air!' "I burst into tears and opened the window, and in a few minutes the priest entered. I moved forward to receive him, but when he understood in whose house he was, he seemed to fear an unwelcome reception. "You need not fear, Father,' said I, as he approached, 'come in boldly.' Having remained a short time by the bedside, he left the room, saying to me as he went out : She has lived the life of a sinner, but she will die the death of a Christian.' "In a few minutes he returned, accompanied by a young chorister bearing a crucifix, and preceded by a sacristan who was ringing a bell to announce that God was approaching near to a dying woman. "They all three entered the bed-chamber which had once rung with such strange words, but which was now transformed into a holy temple. "I sank on my knees. How long the impression made on me by this scene will last, I know not, but I believe that to the last day of my life nothing will ever affect me so much. "The priest, having anointed her brow, hands, and feet with the holy oil, recited a short prayer, and Marguerite was thus prepared to enter heaven, where she will no doubt go, if God has seen the trials of her life and the sanctity of her death. "From that time forward she neither spoke nor moved, and twenty times I should have thought her dead, if I had not heard her labored breathing."-Camille. |