Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-21

soup; the steaming plates stood before
the two old men, but neither thought of
touching them.
The papers reported the horrors COM
United by the Communists, the destruction
Of The Tuileries, the Hotel de Vile. the
Ministry of Finance. the Courdes Complies.
dc. They related the massacre
of the hostages. the furious fighting in the
streets. and. lastly, the slaughter among
the ''enemies of society" by the avenging
Versailles troops.
Tisson looked up and said, with long
drawn breath of relief "God be praised.
The good cause has triumphed y
'Itmight well have triumphed with more
HUMANITY retorted Coste sullenly.
81 hope yon are not going to defend the
Commune Pi continued Tisson.
NO" replied Coste. turning pale, and
speaking in tremulous voice, II
am not going to do that. But | do think
the troops might have shown less blood
thirsty cruelty Fifty thousand
Think, Tisson. what that means.
Fifty thousand human lives have been sac
rificed! Fifty thousand! II is
dreadful They have shown
no mercy to women or children
they have been killing as if they
were destroying wild beasts"
"They have done right, cried Tisson.
Brave men. who have fought against
wild beasts-a murderous. infamous crew.
the scum of humanity, robbers, murderers,
incendiaries.' ~
'Tisson. Tisson, think of what You are
saying! You are speaking of Frenchmen.
ofour countrymen, our brothers"
"Your brothers, ifyou plcase-notm mine,
thank God. have nothing in common
with thieves and murderers.'
Nor have T.
you have-snce you dare TO defend
them
sDare,'' You must be out of
your senses, Tisson, to speak TO me in
this way
mo, am perfectly in my senses. and
! tell you calmly and deliberately that it
is shame--a burning shame-that you
should dare to say word in defence of
the COMMUNICATES. you ought to be
ashamed of yourself.n
'.Rscaii that word, Tisson. recall it, or
by ~
Shame! shame
The Colonel rose, pale as death, with
flaming eyes. He struck the table with
his clinched fist so that the plates and
glasses ratified. and he swore with fearful
oath that he would never sit down at that
table or put his foot in that house again
until Tisson begged his pardon and re-
tracted what he had said.
"And l declare" replied the Professor.
who of sudden had become strangely
calm, but was rs pale and trembling as
his wretched old iriend-"I declare, with
out the use of any blasphemous language.
that the words YOU require me to say shall
never pass my lips"
Then the Colonel went TO the door.
took his hat and stick and in moment,
without another word or look, was gone.
Tisson heard his heavy. hating step upon
the stair. The house door was opened
and shut again; then all was still--the
stiffness of death.
For three whole days the Colonel and
lie Professor lived on their passionate
wrath. Then their anger cooled. and both
began to understand what they had lost
The isolation consequent upon their es-
arrangement became unbearable. Coste
dared not leave his rooms for fear of
meeting his old friend; the Professorcrept
stealthily out of his house when obliged
to 60 to his lecture, and the two old hearts
longed for reconciliation. Yet it could
not be. They thoughtover again and again
their parting scene and remembered every
word and look.
HE should not have insulted me at his
own table, said the Colonel, and he felt
that he could not in honor, break the oath
he had sworn.
HE was entirely in the wrong, thought
the Professor. "IIow could he defend
the greatest rascals and criminals the
world has ever known?"
And he remembered with shudder
that he had solemnly vowed never to pro-
nounce the words which alone could induce
the Colonel to return to the house as a
friend.
One morning old Pascal came to the
Colonel.
"What have you done to my master,
sir ?" she asked with tears in her eyes. He
does not eat, he does not sleep. He sits
oil day long in his study without opening a
book or writing line. He will see no.
body he speaks to nobody he will die.
What have you done to HIM sirp Do
nelp my poor master
The Colonel had always treated the faith
full old servant with kind familiarity, and
he was quite ready to discuss the mat
ter with her.
"You see, Pascal" he said, in conclu-
sion. 81 have sworn upon my honor never
to re-enter his house until he has acknowl-
edged himself in the wrong-and cannot
break my word
at is a wicked thing to take an oath
when in anger" said the old woman
"Ask our Vicar, sir; ask the Bishop him
self. They will release you from your
VOW
Il have given my word. No human
being can help that. | must keep it,"
Tears stood in the dim eyes Of the old
soldier. He looked miserably sad, but he
spoke with so much determination that
Pascal felt she must give up all hope of
reconciling the two friends.
Soon after this the Professor daughters
came to pay their customary visit to their
father. Pascal told them what had hap
pened. They disliked the Colonel whose
manners they considered coarse and they
merely observed that no doubt their father
would soon find that the loss he deplored
now, was. in fact, gain. They were
about to say as much to their father, but
he stopped them angrily, telling them.
fi.... Ia Il