The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-12-20
THE WORLD Is GOVERNED TOO MUCH.
.EXANDRIA, La WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 1871. 4

gone far when lie discovered, by llooi
marks, a place where cattle seemed I,
lin the habit Of wading through, o
, coming to drink. ap''
The river appeared to he shallow; 8,
he urged his unwilling horse into il
, and had got about half way across
. when the aniniai began to plunge an,
struggle violently. sinking, at tn,
: same time, as if drawn down hy som,
Invisible power. Aware, now, 'tl,a
The lad fallen into one Of those quick
sands which are not uncommon in tina,
part Of France, the good father knew
that to throw himself from his hons
would be certain death, as the water
was not deep enough to swim in and
the hungry sand at the bottom wa.
gaping for him. He held upon hi,
horse, therefore, and shouted for Help
The water was gaining upon him, q.
the terrified horse sank deeper and
deeper in the treacherous stream. Up,
up it came, until it reached the saddle.
flaps, and then his knees; and he had
given himself up for lost, when distan,
sllou's came in response to his, 4whicl,
were growing feeLler with .eacl, rope
|tition. g
And now a man burst his way
through the brusllwood on the river
bank. and laying lis ax upon a tall,
slender young tree, cnt it down Will,
fonr or five rapid strokes, leaning it 81
it falls out upon the water, its topmost
branclles just brushing the sinking
horseman in its fall. Grasping the
bonehs With all his remaining strength,
tile priest was drawn to the bank By
the woodsman, fainting and scnseless,
however, and with hardly visible
spark of life.
When Father Allard recovered con-
scionsness, he fnnnd himself In small
but comfortable room. Seeing him
open his eyes a bnxnm young woman,
who was bathing his temples, uttered
an exclamation Of joy, calling him by
name; and now. as his dizzy senses
frightened, what WINS bis surprise 10
fluid his attendant the lost Spiridc! Ex-
plantations ensned. and NIL .was made
rs clear as day, without recourse to
| marvel or miracle.
Presently Laroche, who had been
rugaSvu rim NJ
some Of the. Deighbers in extricasing
the, priest's hore, came in; and the meet
lug was an affecting one between the
two, each Of whom had leep thus won
derfally appointed BY Providence to
preserve the other,,itlan m :
;"My conscious ! is clear now" said
Father Allard. Tt:Heassn has surely
pasdoDed the little fiction framed by
me; else why s7-.."
"But hold, reverend father" cried
Laroche, ipterrapting him; there was
no fiction in the case; you said that 1
was carried away upon n angels
wings, and 70 ! was, and this is the
angel that saved mc!' land he langh-
ingly threw his arms around his pretty
wife, and lIugged her to his side. .''' q
Poctical jnstite might now have been
we'll satisfied, but have few words
further toadd upon the subject.
Laroche, who vas now employed NJ
forester upon an estate, was enabled
ny the assistance ;bf Father Allar,l to
return to his nufive village, where, not
long hitter, he obtainrsi an appointment
to the very kecpership formerly held
by the assassin Landry. The history
attending his miraculous escape and
re-appearance gsve him an extraordi-
nary influence, among the peasantry.
Stories lose nothing By circulation. He
eventually became a sanctitied person-
age 10 the community; and rudeiy-
carved efigy pf him is still seen in the
old chapel Of the parish, With a pair Of
| angels wings hssyeringeves him.. s..,.
4