The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-20
THE ROBBER OF ST. GERvAIs.


One cold, clustering morning, late
in the fall, man who walked with a
crutch and q short staff was on the
road from Lodove to st. Gervais, in the
department of Herault, away in the
southern part of France. The traveller
was an old man, perhaps five and fifty,
with face very dark from long and
constant exposure, and with stone
gray beard and mustache. An old
gray overcoat completely enveloped his
person, but it was plainly to be seen
that he had only one leg. The road
was very muddy and a cold, drizzling
mist was falling, and though it was
well into the evening yet there was
light enough to distinguish the way, for
away beyond the clouds and the mist a
bright moon was shining, and though
even its whereabouts could not be made
out, yet it served TO make visible what
must otherwise have been enveloped in
utter darkness.
The old man hobbies on, planting his
crutch and staff carefully on the
treacherous ground, and thus he passed
out slowly on his way. 1t was near
nine o'clock when he reached the little
copse of swamp-wood that lay at the
edge of the village of St. Gervais.
Here it was somewhat darker, and he
made his way more carefully. He had
just reached the edge of the copse when
his attention was attracted by noise
close by him, and in a moment more q
human being stood in the road before
hn eli orbt
built person, as the old man could dis
tinctly see, and most probably youth.
He had surely come from the wood.
"Har' uttered the traveller, "what
now, eh? '
Your money, or your lifer' was the
reply, given abruptly but somewhat
TREMENDOUSLY.
"You don't mean itP''
6 do" the youth said more firmly.
And be quick, too, for I've no time
to waste. You see this pistol. 1t con-
tains two balls. Give me money or they
both go through your headr'
Ten thousand thunders, boy! you
wouldn't kill me just for the sake of
little money-perhaps only the few sous
that are necessary to pay for my nights
lodgingsP'
"And why not kill you for that as
well as die myself for the want of itP
Ay. and worse, too. Come-quickr'
There was resoluteness in the
youths tones which proved him to be
in earnest, but yet they had cast of
eagerness and pathos which proved him
20 be a new beginner at this kind of
work.
Die, did you sayp" returned the old
man, more in pity than in anger. GA
boy like you talk of dying, and with
such pluck, tooP You are crazyp"
Will you give me money, or must
l shoot your" ."...
No sooner were these words out of
the BOYS mouth than up came the old
mans staff, and the pistol went flying
across the road into the mud.
"There-you've got rid of very
dangerous weapon; and don't you never
use it again in such q fashion. Now,
who are yeP'
The youth stood for a few moments
as if undecided how to act.
Hold on" continued the old man,
as the young stranger started as though
he would turn away. "Don't be afraid,
for l may give you that of my own free
will which 1 would never give to any
living man upon compulsion. But tell
mel have faced death thousand
times, and have killed many men, but
l have done it for France-for my
country. But why should you face
death thus? In the night-on the high
way-in your own home and at the
expense of countrymanp Why is itp"
"Nothing-never mind. You said
you would give me money. Give it to
me, in Heavens name"
"Holdr' answered the traveller
"Your home is not far from here"
Home! D, what is home to the
starvingp'
The old man was moved, for there
was depth of agony in the tones of
the youth voice which was not to be
withstood by any one possessing ordi-
nary feelings.
"What is your nameP" he asked.
"Never mind"
but l won't expose you"
"TrulyP'
81 will not"
"But why should 1 tell you? You
have disarmed me, and l am at your
mercy. Yet, as God is my Judge, had
known you were an old soldier | would
not have stopped you. / would have
lain in the woods and starved first.
Give me money-a few sous"
"Tell me your name"
The youth hesitated, but finally he
replied: elf you are true soldier l
should take your word. My name is
Pierre Chollet."
"And have you no parentsP"
"a mother"
'sAnd she lives not far from hereP"
mot far"
"And she is starvingP"
cay"
"Then let us hasten and find her.
may help her, and, moreover, get lodg-