The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-05-26
and banged accordingly. I PreyiCas

and hanged accordingly. Previous
to his execution, however, he made o
clean breast of it, to Father SAllard,
confessing that he had murdered the
farmer for his money, killing him
with the stake cut from the hedge by
young Laroche, which, as. he stated
singularly enough, suggested to him
the idea of committing the crime.
Two years elapsed, and Father Al
lard had been promoted to parish
at distance of some fifty miles from
the one which he had been pastor for
SO many years. salsi D. =.
Shortly after his arrival there, his
duties led him to take journey on
horseback, some miles into the inte-
rior of the parish of which he had
charge. Part Of q road travelled by
him wound through swampy forest
region; and, after ride of severaI
miles, he came to a sluggish stream
that had formerly been SPAWNED by .
bridge, of which nothing but the
abutments remained, however, The
priest turned his horses head and
rode along the bank Of. the river,
hoping to find another bridge, or, at
least, a ford. by which he could cross
to the further side; nor had he gone
far when he discerned, by hoof-
marks, a place where cattle seemed
to be in the habit of wading through,
mr. covn;nur - a~:.,lr-
The river appeared to be Shallow |;
SO he urged bis unwilling horse into
it, and had got about half way, across
when the animal began to plunge
and struggle violently, sinking, at
the same time, as if drawn. down
by some invisible power. Aware,
now, that he had fallen into one OF
those quicksands which are not I'M
common in that part of France, the
good father knew that to throw him
self from his horse would be certain
death, as the water was not deep
enough to swim in, and the hungry
sand at the bottom was gaping for
him. He held up his horse, there
fore, and shouted for help.
The water was gaining upon him,
as the terrified horse sank deeper and
deeper in the treacherons stream.
Up, up it came, until it reached the
saddle-fiaps, and then his knees and
he had given himself up for lost,
when distant shouts came iii response
to his, which were growing feebier
with each repetition.
And now a man burst his way
through the brushwood on the river
bank, and laying his axe upon a tall,
slender young tree, cuts it down with
four or five rapid strokes, leaning it
so it falls out upon the water, its top
most branches just brushing the
sinking horseman in its fall. Grasp
ing the boughs with all his remain
ing strength, the priest was drawn to
the bank by the wOodsman, fainting
and senseless, however, and with
hardly a visible spark of life.
When Father Allard recovered
consciousness, he found himself in a
small, but comfortable room. See
ing him open his eyes a buxom
young woman, who was bathing his
temples, uttered an exclamation OF
joy, calling him by name; and now.
as his dizzy senses frightened, what
was his surprise to find his attendant
the lost Spiride! Explanations en-
sued, and all was made as clear as
day, without recourse to marvel OF
miracle.
Presently Larpche, who had been
engaged with the assistance of some
of the neiglibors in extricating the
priests horse. came in; and the meet
ing was an affecting one between the
two, each of whom had been thus
wonderfully appointed by Provi.
dence to preserve the other. SIT
"My conscience is clear now," said
Father Allard. "Heaven has surely
pardOned the little fiction framed by
me; else why -" 'Hl-ssr w. J
"But hold, reverend father" cried
Laroche, interrupting him; "there
was do fiction i'm the case; you said
That was carried away upon an an
gels wings, and so l was, and this is
the angel that saved mev-aad he
laughingly threw his arms around
his pretty wife, and Rugged her to
his side s. ~.
Poetical justice might now have
been well satisfied, but l have a few
words further to add upon this sub.
ject. .i %
Larpche, who was now employed
as forester upon an estate, was en-
abled by the assistance of Father AL
lard to return to his native village
where, not long after, he obtained an
appointment to the very keepershiI
formerly held by the assassin Landry
The history attending his miraculous
escape and re-appearance gave hin
an extraordinary influence among thu
peasantry. Stories lose nothing b,
circulation. He eventually became ;
sanetified parsonage in the commini
ty; anda rudely-carved effigy of hin
is still seen in the oldrchspel of tn,
parish, with a pair Of angels wing
lowering over him. "F| ~ :.