Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-24

which would outshine the pride and
boast Of their Cathedral
Secret meetings of tho citizens were
held and cours Of action decided on.
The times were rude, mems manners
rud,r still, the stranger had no friends,
no country in the dead Of night they
seized him as he lay asleep beneath the
monument Of his genius, dragged him
into the street, hurried him into pri-
vatc house close by and there one of tho
masked md cruel men passed rcd hot
sword across his unprotected eyes, which
robbed him Of his sight forever.
IN silence he bore all; tl,oy carried
him back to the church mud hid him
whore they had found him retiring
they looked hack and Jaw him kaoeling
apparently In prayer, his right hand
raised to Heaven, his sirhtloss orbs snf
fused with tears.
Bishop Bcrthold's rage knew no
bounds; every means at his command
was pat in motion TO find the pcrpctra-
tory Of this heInols crimo against de-
fcncelcss man, d stranger md u benolac
tor; but of no avail were his cndcnvors
Strasburg rcjoiced, Paris would boast
/
no more the cunning Of tho strangers
hand was neutralizod, his sight was
gone, no would work no more.
Ilc VIVA taken to the palace, but he
preferred to travel to some distant land,
and asked as favor before no went to
be allowed to spend the last night of his
stay alone in the Cathedral.
Unsuspcctingly his request was grant
cd. Prostrntc upon the altar stops he
spent the early hours Of the night, while
the stray worshippcrs at the shrincs
around Withdrew ono by ono till all were
gone. Calmly he waited till the last
footstcp echoed through the building;
| he heard tho sacristan close the doors,
aud the good old man giving him Chen
cdicitc" Withdrew TO his humble cell.
Then the tall stranger arose and in II
voice of suppressed passion, cried:
mngratcs, have thought and Iahorcd
MI my life for the accomplishment Of
one work | have achieved il and for
your bcucht," aud pointing to his eyes,
"tltis is my reward. What caro- ] for
your gold"
Just nj that moment the great bell IN
the tower, in clear, vibrating tones,
sirnck the solemn hour Of midnight and
harmonious chimes were pouring forth
sweet music from tho clock in the tran
sept. Tears started in tho sightlcss
eyes of the stranger:
"But | have sworn it, he cried, "and
must keep my oath"
Then feeling his way along The tran
sept to whore n ladder lay, used that
very day in hanging the splendid paint
ing of The death Of st. Schastiau; this
with grcat difficulty nc reared against
the case Of the clock : he climbed up
and entered. There in II transport Of
agony he tore apart all the delicate ma
chincry, the use of which he alone pos
possessed II knowledge; the parts to
concealed about his person, then with Il
short bar of steel he displaced and broke
apart the heavier wheels and pinons.
Descending, he replaced the ladder,
and opening tho door in tho north por
tic0, he cast his burden into the well,
and piled on stones and whatever no
could find above it.
The next day tho silence Of the clock |
attracted tho attention Of the officers Of !
the church. Soon all WAS discovered.
The stranger was sought for everywhere,
but no trace of him could be discovered. |
Great rewards were offered, not only to
the clock makers of Strasburg, but TO
all cities of the Empire who should sue
coed in repairing the IIorologo; those;
of Strashurg failcd, the other cities
would not allow any interference.
When Strasburg had her clock she
allowed mono to possess another like it;
now none would help her in hcrdistrcss.
So the marvellous clock stood idle in the |
church, until from ago and neglect it
threatened to fail hcadIong from its po-
s,ion; then it was removed.
Many years after when the story Of
the stranger was forgotten, u Canon of
the Cathedral stopping at q village some
forty miles from Strasburg, WIS called
about midnight to attend the bedside Of
dying men.
After the usual Offices for the dying
were performed and tho priest WIS lcav
ing tho chamber, rcmarking TO an altcn-
dant, that hc must start early to Stras-
burg Oh the morrow. The dying man
called on him to stny-a sad smile played
over his wan features, aud For the first
time the conicssor perceived that he was
blind.
Then he told him the stora of his life.
How he had been dismissed from his
convent How his love of science and
mechanism alone occupied lis thoughts,
sleeping and waking, outweighing his
love for Heaven or his salvation, how
having perfected his designs, he found
in Bishop icrthold patron worthy of
his genius. How he loved, how he idol
lied his own handiwork, and in secret
deemed himself far above aFl human
beings.
But that Heaven punished him for his