Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 47: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

38 “GO0O0OD-BY, BEST AND KINDEST SISTER.” know of this wicked world? Think of it, Father, she went away with scarcely a dollar in her purse. Where is she? What has become of her? Is shecold orhungry? These are the questions which torture my brain every hour in the day.”’ ‘‘It is indeed a cross to bear, my child, but you must not rebel,’’ said the priest. ‘‘Your faith——’’ ‘‘T have no longer any faith; I do not care whether I live or die or what becomes of me.’’ ‘You are excited, Rose, and do not comprehend the awful nature of your remarks,’’ rejoined the old man, sorrow- fully, rising. ‘‘I will leave you for the present and return.’"’ ‘‘As you please, Father, but you cannot persuade me to look upon this as other than a horrible, undeserved afflic- tion, nor can all your'‘well-meant rebukes impress meas they once could. Iam a different woman, and I have lost my faith. Don’t mistake me, though,’’ she went on, more calmly. ‘‘I know you are good and true—a saint on earth, if there ever was one, and that you are only endeavoring to aid me in your own kind way, but what can you know of grief—you, whose duty it is to soothe and comfort—you, who have no earthly joys or sorrows, whose whole life is one of submission and obedience? I am a common mortal with all the faults and weaknesses of my kind, and I can- not submit uncomplainingly. Consider, if you must, that I have been tried and found wanting, but I warn you, do not try to reclaim me, for it will be a thankless task, and you will only succeed in exasperating me. Hereafter I shall have neither love nor charity in my heart for anybody, and I wish to be left alone, that is all.’ Grieved to the heart, the good man took his departure, brooding deeply over the calamity which had befallen a CORNIELOOO KS, EO) im