Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-06

held flowers, artiStlcailr grouped with
long grasses and ferns. BY and-bv
remarked upon their beatty The Cure
sighed. Yes. madame. they are pret-
ty, but how soon they fade, even the.
most beautiful am taking then,
there" and he signe,. toward the little
churchyArd. with its mouldering crosses
and mOSS-grown tGmbs
81 did not know that vOu had friends.
there, monsieur" | said presently.
81 have no friends. madame. Par
don'-with Il courteous bow You
have been kind to NE. There was one
once who loved me. and she is there"
We had begun to speak in French.
The Cure speaks English well. bu. with
a sur: OF restraint In his own tongue
he is tervid. eloquent
She is dead tnen?" | asked.
''For ten years. You will know,
madame'-wth quick glance into my
iace, AS IL to assure himself of my sym
pathy--''my mothers brother was Cure
ot ST. Simon many years ago. My faith
Ell died, and came here. My uncle
had great love for children. and there
was il!tle one who played about the
house. Her mother was dead, and her
iather, grave. stern man, kept the
Cures garden. She had long. fair hair,
and eyes like yours, madane-a voice
like 4 bird, and always happy. That
was Estells'
The Cure paused, and his long, thin
hnsers closed nervously about the H. "
ers Presently he goes on:
we always played together. She
is the princess; ain the Knight. come
to rescue her fir m the giant. Then my
uncle. the Cure, would tell us tales o!
the Revolution, to which We listen Won
deringly. Alter that Estelle is Marie
Antoinette; AN the king When we
part she throws her arms about my
neck, with real tears TN her cheeks The
days pass on. WAS older than my years.
madame, and Estelie too had grown i
woman. One day the Cure saws: MY
son. yoG will go to Paris. The path
which YOU must tread is one OF crucitiA-
ion Then, madame, | was wicked.
The blessed saints forgive me.
cursed the vows which had made Of me
priest. For days l struggled with the
tempter. Once a wild thought of fight
came to me; a flight to some distant
land, a new lite with Estelle By fasting
and by PRAYER l conquered, and the
Holy Mother aided me- When return
ed. madame, heard that Eslelle was
married. 1ou will believe me, madame,
hoped that she was happy. Ipraycd
the saints that no word OF mine had dis.
| turbed her peace. But one day saw
her, madame. pale and wan. with tae
shade Of 4 great sorrow i'll her eyes
My heart was wrung. held out NY
hands .Esteller She drew away. ant
bent her head iowly.
- pray YOU. good iather. to let nle
pass
Madame. the words pierced me lik,
Z sword. The name the Holy Virgin
| forgive me how | hated it from he3
my head upon my breast. Then she
angry. You will bless me- She said.
! took the Cures flowers gently from
his hands. lie was crushing them il
his close grasp. He did not seem tc
heed it. but went on hastily:
| How could bless her, madame?
hnclt upon the dusty road. Bless me
Estelle Tor thou art near the angels
whi!r alas, am one of those most evil
ones went again to Paris, and thei
soon it happened my uncle, the Cure
died. and the Superior sent me in hi:
place. When | came back. madame
they told me she WAS dead "
The Cure dropped his face in hi:
hands. The warm sun sitting through
the leaves tlecks his solemn barb witt
gold the drow>v hum of bees comes Il
us softly In the far distance there il
the tinkle Of 4 sheep bell am file,
with profound pity, but say nothing
! Nature 5 soothing voice is speaking I,
him. By-snd-by he lifts his face
You will think this very wrong
madame p with IL chIldlike wistfulnes
in the soft. dark eyes
NO" | say gently. You know nj,
faith is different; in my church it is IL
SIN tor a priest to marry When thinl
OF n sorrow like this, my friend. do yo'
wonder that | think my church holds til
true gospel"
He lung out his hands desbairingly
mo. no, madame, must not listen
is my only comfort tina, was right. Bu
sect WAS not only myseli-sometime
his face again. When he looked up h
WAS very pare. Ills uauu WAS usI ~
side his robe, over his heart.
at is not SO often, madame" he sal
family. Il am content quite. l,
! right
said nothing What was there TO b
said? lie stretched out his hand for tn
flowers. Il ..ill 60. madame. 1t is nc
coed to be with YOU. You are too sorry
too kind"
As he draws his hand ont of his rob
notice on it drop of blood. "Wha
is that, my friend?'
The Cure bushes little, and wipe
it hastily away That? Oh, il
nothing, madame" Then. AS my eye
still question him, he looks down. 81
is little cross, madame, which | hav
over my heart. When | do wrong y
now. it is remembrance"
| had seen one of these crosses once
thing which filled me with shudderin
horror. While he had been speaking h
was all the time pressing this steel tol
ture into his flesh, ! gave him tn
flowers silently. He walked away a ste
or two, then came back and stood clio,
beside me. MADAME. he said in
strangely troubled voice; there IT
tears on your cheeks Just now yo
grew quite white. | thank you. 1t
: not right for me to take much pleasure
but Your kindness is comfort. | woulG
madame that we were OF one faith"
Dear friend said, which faith d
5 you think makes its follower the happ
i estr-vours or uIine!'
He sniled compassionately. I'VE ar
: not here, madame. for happiness
) shook my head You are far bt
yond me. friend, on the cold. whit
mountains love best the valley au
, the sunshine. God is nearest me there.
E He only smiled again. These wcr
' hereto doctrines. | pointed to III
) friend the butterfly. swinging lazily Q
4 bending grass. Look there
/ happiness. said. Listen to the bird.
= " hat is it they are singing9 Is ma
A alone of all Gods creatures doomed t
e constant misery?"
| The Cures face clouded. 1T is
mystery, madame. We must believe.
| Then believe too, my friend, th;'
l God, who is above all, above the buttcl
: tiy, and the birds. and the sunshine. All
: above you and me, will see and recog
nize TIE good in each
Il believe that, madame
And try and believe" | said, rs Ii
3 moved away, "a little more in the sur
| shine, 4 little less in the clouds"
r He gives me no answer beyond hi
; grave bow but | hope Gods messag
, 4