Evening star., 1866-08-13
THB EVENING STAR.
THE PRIESTS STRaTaGFN

TO need comment here; vet one NAV OCCASION
ally happen upon unrecorded in cidents which
thoroughly sif;ed, make II still more evident
OF such character is the incident we are now
about TO relate
IL appears that one dark and stormy day as
good old prelate, Denjorian by NAM, was
Fastening, running along the Rue l.. beftan-
dine, wrapped snugly mp in his huge capp pcnin.
he was sccosted suddenly by tsll, strongly
built man, habited In huge CLOAK ana siouched
hat. which completely concealed mis- face. He
had alighted from a small, close covered cab,
which drew up to the walk just as the prelate
was passing.
they would have excited little or no wonder in
his mIsd at the time, for such nv sterious pro-
eeedings were then an every day occurrence,
were IL not that his attention was drawn more
particularly thereto by the mysterious person,
who placed himself directly before him saying
"You are father GagnIce. believer
al am, my son; what would you have Of
me-! returned the worthy prelate, startling
with surprise.
81 have come father a great distance to find
you: and i now wish you TO enter my cab and
go with you. where-and for what,~
TO attend the death bed of a friend, who
wishes the sacramen Mt administered before de-
parting from This life.'
Lead on, then, my man; will accompany
you: LEAD on.n
The worthy prela,e was never tardy in the
discharge of the duties of his holy order.
Thank you, ather; but first You must per-
nit me TO bIindfold your
but Ill permit nothing Of the kind, my
son" returned the old man, whose suspicious
were no becoming aroused.
"But say you must, most holy fatherr' was
the deep, determined reply.
al must not, nor Will notf
You must. and will or--die. For. If you re.
fuse. and resist me, will kill your' said the
man, while drawing small dirk from his
cloak.
Our worthy friend, the prelate, was now
thoroughly alarmed, but he tried hard TO con-
eeal this, by calmly Inquiring-
But why all this mystery, my sonl Why
this disguiser
81 have no time, n ow, father, to explain.
even If would; but you shall learn all IN
good time And father, TO quiet your fears
for see you are terrified-l do most solemnly
swear, upon the cross of your rosary, that no
harm shall come 10 you. provided you are dis
Greet There, now, come. Haste, for every
moment 10 me seems an hour!'
You mean then, no harm shall come to me
or minel"
Then, lead on; I'll go and submit to be
blindfolded, too"
"IhIs way, then, TO the cab"
Saying which, the stranger hastily led the
old man 70 the vehicle, showed him in, then en-
tering himself, closed the door. and fastening
II on the inside, gave the word 10 the driver,
and away they went.
Now father" continued he, "hold your head
down" with which he drew from his pocket a
handkerchief folded il neatly upon his knee:
and bound il firmly ever the closed eyes of the
old man, who submitted to all in perfect
silence; and then again the stranger spoke:
'And now, most holy father, you must sub.
NIT to another indignity-if so Won call itr,
"Ana what is that, my son!'
This. You must swear that you will never
see or hear during your present adventure.
do you understand and consentr'
al do, but will not. i am willing to comply
with everything conceive to be essential to
the happiness of ny children; but in this l
neither see reason nor necessity, and therefore
prefer TO use my own discretion in the mat
s'But have you no choice, father, in this case,,,
"I will exercise one, nevertheless"
al mean," returned the stranger, in the same
deep determined tone of voice, .If yoa insist
NIT you 10 exercise any choicet''
But VIII, in this respect, for in these mat
ters am net only accountable TO my God, but
also TO my church, my son.
With this, the stranger paused for a while
as If in deep thought and then, as if having
come 10 some definite resolve, replied:
"Well, well, suppose in this matter you
may have your own way; but If you dare d.
vulge a word out side of your sanctuary. Won
die; DO you hear. most holy father"
you naught, for these very precautions will
render you harmless"
True, true Iauttered the old man: with
which both relapsed into silence. while the
carriage went rum bling and rolling along
The rain still came down in torrents, while
ever and anon deep peal of thunder made
lnlng tIcmDie again.
''All things temporal must have an endo
thought the padre, land so mast this ride
eventually
At TINS moment, and as if in confirmation of
his sollloquy. the carriage did STOP but where
be was. of course, quite unable to Judge
prepare 10 alight- father, :" said the stranger
Il am ready my, SON.
.sCome, then"
Saying which the stranger. still boodea
took the priest by the arm, and thus helped
him TO descend; then led him across the stone
paved walk, by which our friend C,vho was
now. keenly alive TO every sign that would
indicate his wnereabouts) at once coniectured
that he was yet within the precincts Of Paris
and he was right thence up huge pair of
stone steps, then through q door-which he
also concluded was the front entrance-which
was Immediately closed by the person who
admitted them.
Nothing further passed between them as thew
thus went in and out, up and down throu Oh
the house, till presently they halted before a
doer, and in low voice the stranger said:
~ am now aoontto admit you 10 the presence
of the nyalid. When you hear the door shut,
take on the bandage: when you get through,
ring the little bell you will find on the table
and viii come. Now, father go in" saying
which, the mask opened the door, showed our
old friend in, and then hastily, but safely
closed II and was gone.
Now comes the singular part Of our story
No sooner did the priest find that the door
gas closed, than he hastily slipped the hand.
kerchief on, and attempted to gaze around.
but the effect of the light was too powerful for
ic" erCOuOs. dLQ ne was compelled 10 cover
them again out of sheer pain. Gradually
however, his eyes become accustomed TO nat
ural light and they opened wide indeed with
surprise, when they beheld the spiender Of the
apartment ne was IN. The furniture and de.
corations were o.! the most superb and costly
KIND, while the most refined taste, and scrupu-
lous care was manifested in the order and ar
rangement OF each and every article
Presently his gaze turned to q part of the
room he had not examined, and as be naturally
enough supposed, there stood splendid
ebony wood beds;ead, inlaid with pearl and
covered with cOnnterpane of white silk of
the most elaborate manufacture, beneath
which, between sheets of the finest linen, with
head bolstered up with pillows of down. re-
clined the form OF as fair creature as had
ever delighted the old mans gaze
She bent upon him long and pensiye
glance, which appealed at once to the old
prelaies heart; but finding at length that she
did not into nd 10 speak first, he lightly ap-
preached her side, saying in subdued tone
"Macam, am the priest, come to confess
you, and give you absolutiop, through the
mercy OF Jesus Christ, and his apostle Peter
Madam, are you ready-but-," continued he,
while bending upon her a looked of mingled
surprise and penetration-sbut you surely are
not going 10 die; II must be a mistake-you
still bear the bloom of health in your cheek,
your eyes sull glisten-and you now smile, as
never smiled a being on death g. bed before