“God.”
The man bent for a moment over the little white hand, and then immediately left the house.
CHAPTER 18
Monsignor Lafelle in his interview with Carmen had thrown out a hint of certain rumors regarding her; but the days passed, and the girl awoke not to their significance. Then, one morning, her attention was attracted by a newspaper report of the farewell address of a young priest about to leave his flock. When she opened the paper and caught sight of the news item she gave a little cry, and immediately forgot all else in her absorption in the closing words:
“––and I have known no other ambition since the day that little waif from a distant land strayed into my life, lighting the dead lamp of my faith with the torch of her own flaming spirituality. She said she had a message for the people up here. Would to God she might know that her message had borne fruit!”
The newspaper slipped from the girl’s hands to the floor. Her eyes, big and shining, stared straight before her. “And I will lead the blind by a way that they know not––” she murmured.
The telephone rang. It was Miss Wall, ready now for the postponed ride. Carmen clapped her hands and sang for joy as she summoned the car and made her preparations. “We’ll go over to his church,” she said aloud. “We’ll find him!” She hurried back to the newspaper to get the address of the church from which he had spoken the preceding day. “They will know where he is,” she said happily. “Oh, isn’t it just wonderful!”