Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-08-12

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There was one moment, durinI
the progress Of the service, at whicl
the nuns detected that tears wer,
trickling fast over the stranger
cheeks. 1t was when the Pate
Noster was said.
On the termination OF the mid
night mass, the priest made sign tC
the two nuns, who Immediately lei
the room. As soon as they wer,
alone, he thus addressed the stranger
My son, if you have imbrueC
your hands in the blood of the mar
tyred king, confide in me and in my
sacred Office. Repentance so deer
and sincere as yours appears to be
may efface even the crime Of regi
eide in the eyes oil Cod
Holy father,' replied the otheI
in trembling accents, mo man is less
guilty than | am of shedding the
kings blood
Il would fain believe you,' an.
swered the priest, but remember
my son, that you cannot be absolved
Of the crime of regicide because you
have not co-operated in it. Those
who had the power Of defending
their king, and who, having that
power, still left the sword in the
scabbard, will be called TO render a
heavy account at the day of judg.
ment before the king OF kings.i
DO you think, then, father mur.
mered the stranger, 'that all indirect
participaiions are visited with punish.
menl? Is the soldier guilty Of the
death Of Louis who obeyed the order
TO guard the scaffoldl'
The priest hesitated.
Il should be ashamed continued
the other, betraying by his express
sion some satisfaction at the dilemma
in which he had placed the old man,
q should be ashamed oI offering you
any pecuniary recompense for such
a funeral service as you have csle-
brated. II is only possible to repay
an act so noble by an offering which
is priceless. Honor me BY accepting
this sacred relic. The day perhaps
will come when you will understand
its value
So saying, he presented 10 the
priest a small box, extremely light ir
weight, which the aged ecclesiastiC
took, as il were involuntarily; fol
he felt awed by the solemn tones N
which the man spoke as he offered it
Briefly expressing his thanks for the
mysterious present, the priest con-
Quoted his guest into the outer room,
where the two nuns remained in al
tendance.
The house you now inhabit,' said
the stranger, addressing the nuns as
well as the priest, belongs 10 a land
lord who outwardly affects extreme
republicanism, but who is at heart
devoted TO the royal cause. He
was formerly a hunlsman in the
service OF one OF the BOurbOns. So
long as you remain in this house you
are safer than in any other place in
France. Remain here, therefore,
Persons worthy Of trust will scpply
all your necessities, and you will be
able TO await in safety the prospect
Of better times. In year from this
day, on the 2lst Of January. should
you still remain the occupants OT
this miserable abode, will return TO
repeat with you the celebration o:
to nights expiatory mass H c
paused abruptly, bowed without
adding another word, and left the
room. Sister Agatha Immediately
opened the box, and discovered in il
handkerchief, made Of the finest
cambric, and soiled with marks oI
perspiration. They unlolded il
eagerly and then found that it was
defaced in certain places with dark
stains.
These stains are blood stGinsP ex.
claimed The priest.
The handkerchief is marked with
the royal crownr cried Sister Aga
tha.
Both the nuns dropped the pre-.
cipus relic, marked by the king:
blood, with horror. To their simple
minds. the mystery which was at
tached to the stranger now CeePened
fearfuIly. As for the priest, from
that moment he ceased, even in
thought, to attempt identifying his
visitor, or discovering the means by
which he had become possessed ol
| the royal handkerchief.
i Throughout the atrocities practi-
lsed during a year Of the Reign ol
Terror, the three refugees were
safely guarded by the same Protec-
ling interference ever at work for
their advantage. AT first they re-
ceived large supplies OF iuel and
provision; then the two nuns iound
reason TO imagine that one ol their
own sex had become associated win
their invisible protector, Tor they
were furnished with the necessary
linen and clothing which enabled
them to 90 out without attracting
.t,.n,;on by any peculiarities oi