Paula the Waldensian - Eva Lecomte
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"When did you begin to pray?"<br />
"From <strong>the</strong> time that <strong>Paula</strong> entered <strong>the</strong> house, sir."<br />
"I suspected that."<br />
"Now, please don't go and rebuke her, sir. If you only knew how she<br />
loves you, and how she prays for you and Catalina. Oh, sir, how many times<br />
she has made me blush for shame."<br />
"How so, my good Teresa?"<br />
"That's a fact, sir. I used to think to myself, 'You're a pretty good<br />
woman, you have suffered much in your life, you work hard, you don't do<br />
any harm to anybody, surely you will go to heaven.' But when I saw <strong>Paula</strong><br />
and <strong>the</strong> reality of her religion, and how she loved God, oh, <strong>the</strong>n, sir, I<br />
comprehended for <strong>the</strong> first time in my life that I was a sinner worthy of hell,<br />
and I prayed to God that He would pardon me."<br />
"And--did He do it?"<br />
"The Saviour assures us, sir, that 'He that cometh to Him, He will in no<br />
wise cast out.' So I dare to believe that He has pardoned me" Teresa was pale<br />
with emotion. It was <strong>the</strong> first time that she had confessed <strong>the</strong> Lord before<br />
men, and it cost her a good deal to do so to my fa<strong>the</strong>r. He was apparently too<br />
depressed to be angry. After a moment of silence he said, "Where is <strong>Paula</strong>?"<br />
"I sent her to <strong>the</strong> drug store, sir, to get certain medicines that <strong>the</strong> doctor<br />
ordered."<br />
"When she returns, send her to Catalina's room. I shall remain <strong>the</strong>re<br />
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