White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-07-07


and the sweat stood in big drops upon hi
furroweG brow. His countenancc, sucl
of it as was visible above the thick, whit
beard, was kind and gentle in its look
though there was a strange cleaning O
the eyes that was not SO easily to be read
Goods blessing rest upon thee, ny
children" he uttered, as he entered tn
room.
Welcome. father" fervently respond
ed Pierre.
"Bless thee, my son." added the Ben
edictine, sinking into a chair, and throw.
ing back his cowl, thereby revealing thu
whole of his head, the top of which wa,
either bald or shaver. 81 have travelled
far to-day, and am foot-sore and oppres
sed. fear cannot reach the city as
had hoped, for even now night is falling
upon the earth"
"You can have shelter here, holy faith.
err" said the farmer. "My roof is ever
ready to cover the weary, and my board
holds enough for those that hunger. Here
is seat at our table,"
mot now, my son-not now. Wait
till l have rested"
And there the old man sat, while the
family went on with their meal, and Pi-
ere Lafont forgot that he was. Catholic.
In fact. it made no difference to the noble
hearted Huguenot of what religion a man
might be when he applied to him for sue
cor, and hence it was so hard for him to
understand why others should be so in
tolerant. He had not in his heart place
for revenge. even against Catholic And
then this Benedictine looked so kind and
gentle, and his smile was so genial-only
those eyes, so large and dark-they look
ed most strange. But Pierre feared moth
ing.
Several times when Adele raised her
head. she found the gaze Of the monk
fixed keenly upon her. OF course she
was somewhat startled, but then she knew
not why she should fear, for the monk
said he had Just come from the Lower
Seine, and certainly he could know of
nothing what had transpired in the city.
As soon as the meal was finished, the
monk sat up and ate very sparingly of the
victuals that were placed before him.
While he was eating, Adele went out and
sat down upon a rough, wooden bench.
which the farmer had constructed beneath
huge oak. She sat here alone, and was
bordering upon the startling events that
had transpired. when she felt touch up
on the shoulder. She looked up. and
was not little startled when she saw the
Benedictine standing over her. lie leaned
upon his staff, and gazed steadily into her
face for some moments.
"Be not alarmed, my daughter" he
said, ''for surely no one could mean harm
to such as you. l have sought you be-
cause your countenance struck me as be-
ing familiar. 1 have come towards Paris
for the purpose of seeking a maiden call
ed Adele St. Aulnay. Could you inform
me where l might find her %
Adele was more startled now than ever,
and she returned no answer to the ques-
ton.
care not you the maiden of whom l
speak ?" the monk asked, after a silence
Of some moments, and at the same time
gazing steadily into her face.
A moment Adele hesitated. She looked
up once more into those strange eyes, and
at length she murmured -
"You know me, holy father"
81 thought so. child. And now do
you not know me ?"
81 do not, sir"
"Do you not remember Aymar ?"
"How? My uncle ?"
Certainly"
"You are Aymar-my uncle-my kind,
good uncle ?"
"Most surely 1 am"
Again Adele looked earnestly into the
Benedictine's face, and she knew that he
was her uncle-that he was the man who
had in years gone BY, protected her child
hood-and yet she could not but tremble
as she gazed upon him. There was some
thing in his countenance that brought up
other memories, and they were as vague
as the landscape at midnight.
81 am glad that l have found thee.
gentle Adele" the monk resumed "for l
had set my heart upon seeing you once
more. OF course l cannot remain upon
earth many more dsys-I felt my life, tide
running fast on its ebb, and determined
to seek you. When you were but help
less infant, 1 made an oath that would
protect you. or see you protected. l
found out Madame Roland, after / took
YOU from the convent at Clermont, and
to her 1 entrusted you. Has she not
proved faithful ?" i
"Oh, yes - very faithful" returned
Adele. She was moved even to tender
ness by the old mans words and tones
but vet she shuddered again when she
gazed up into his face. 1t was surely
Aymar. She knew It. Then why was
she afraid She could not tell.
"Do you still remain with Madame
Roland 2" the monk asked.
81 have been with her until very re-
Gently" -,
"Ah and have you left her now :"
Adele hesitated. But at length she
made mn her mind, and she told Aymar
the whole story of her meeting with Nal
grida, and the result thereof. When she
finished the tale. the old man brought his
staff heavily upon the ground. and at the
same time uttered q malediction upon the
head of the base Jesuit. :.
"MaIorida ." he murmured to himself
7 srral1 hava heard that name. Let me