Jimmy Malone took iverything I had to give, and he
left me alone for fiftane years, with my three little dead babies,
that died because I'd no heart to desire life for thim, and he took
my youth, and he took my womanhood, and he took my man--" Mary
arose in primitive rage. "You naden't bother!" she said. "I'm going
straight to Dannie meself."
"Don't!" said Father Michael softly. "Don't do that, Mary! It isn't
the accepted way. There is a better! Let him come to you."
"But he won't come! He don't know! He's in Jimmy's grip tighter in
death than he was in life." Mary began to sob again.
"He will come," said Father Michael. "Be calm! Wait a little, my
child. After all these years, don't spoil a love that has been
almost unequaled in holiness and beauty, by anger at the dead. Let
me go to Dannie. We are good friends. I can tell him Jimmy made a
confession to me, that he was trying to repeat to him, when
punishment, far more awful than anything you have suffered,
overtook him. Always remember, Mary, he died unshriven!" Mary began
to shiver. "Your suffering is over," continued the priest. "You
have many good years yet that you may spend with Dannie; God will
give you living children, I am sure. Think of the years Jimmy's
secret has hounded and driven him! Think of the penalty he must pay
before he gets a glimpse of paradise, if he be not eternally lost!"
"I have!" exclaimed Mary. "And it is nothing to the fact that he
took Dannie from me, and yet kept him in my home while he possessed
me himsilf for years.
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