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126 228 . the miracles of antichrist
An hour later, when Father Gondo and the
pilgrims came out to San Pasquale’s they saw
Margherita Cornado sitting on the platform below the
high-altar. She sat still, as if she were not aware that any
one was coming. But when Father Gondo was quite
near to her, she rushed up, as though she had been
lying in ambush, and threw herself upon him. She
seized him by the throat and wanted to smother him.
She was large, finely built and strong. A violent
struggle ensued and it was with great difficulty that
Father Gondo and two of the pilgrims were able to
subdue her. She was quite insane, and so wild, that
they were obliged to bind her.
The pilgrims had come in solemn procession, they
sang and held burning candles in their hands. It
was a long train, for many people from Diamante
had joined it. They who walked first stopped
singing immediately, they who came after, not having
noticed anything, continued to sing. So the news of
what had happened went from rank to rank, and
wherever it came the song ceased. It was hideous to
hear how it died away and changed into a low wail.
All the weary pilgrims understood that they had
gone in vain. All their toilsome wandering had been
useless. The bright hopes they had nourished during
their pilgrimage died within them ! The holy image
would have no solace to give them.
Even Father Gondo was terrified. It was a harder
blow for him than for any one else, because each one
of the others had only his own sorrow to think of,
but he bore all these people’s sorrow in his heart.
How should he be able to answer for all the hopes
he had awakened in them ?
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