"News of one who has long been lost; news concerning a member of our holy order; the dear sister who has consecrated her life to charity, and who, under my fostering care, has long since redeemed her past—Sister Magdalen."
The words almost unnerve John; he has a feeling that perhaps Heaven means to be kind and allow him the bliss he craves.
"Ah! madame, you know my secret. It is true. I would find her, would hear from her own lips the story of the past. I believe you can help me. She has occupied this house."
"That very chair upon which you are seated sustained her fainting form one afternoon when she came in. I thought she was dying. In her hand she carried a paper, an American daily. I glanced at it to see if I could learn the truth, and saw it there as plain as day. She had read a notice of a fire in Chicago where a young man named John Craig, said to be a medical student, perished."
"Did she see that account? It was cruel. The next day's paper refuted the lie, and explained how he escaped," says John, warmly.
"Yes, I saw it. She would give us no rest until we procured a later copy of the same paper, and there she read the truth. Sister Magdalen was all smiles from that hour; she said that Heaven had indeed answered her prayer."
"Tell me, is she here now?" holding his breath with suspense.
"Oh! no, she went away several weeks ago. We shall not see her again unless she chances to be one of three lay delegates now on their way here from a sister sanctuary."
"Then you can give me hope; let me know where I may find her?"
"If I see my duty in that way, Doctor Craig," is the astonishing reply he receives.