The Red Cloud chief., 1881-12-15
THE MYSTERY OF THE VILLAGE.

I'm the southern part of France, about
seventy miles from the Mediterranean.
Is a place called r IL is now
hardly more than a small town, and
:. possesses not above "A Thousand inhab-
J itants; but in the latter part of the last
century il was more than ten times its
present size. and its church. 10Y in
ruins, was then one of the most beau
tiful eve seen in that part of the coun-
try.
This church was finished in the year
1895. and was. for a long time, the
great object of curiosity for miles
around. Ii was of the Gothic and
Romanesque STYLE of architecture, and
was not only finely proportioned on
the interior. but had, within, n magnih-
renee of decoration that astonished
one more and more, the longer he gazed
upon it.
The church, unlike some of the older
ones standing at that time, had n mag
nificent organ. This had been paid
for by a separate subscription, raised in
small sums by the common people, and.
having been built by skilKul workmen
In Bordeaux, was at length set up in
the church amid considerable enthu-
siasm and excitement.
But who should play this grand in
ttrument?
How should a competent organist be
selected?
The people were greatly interested in
the matter, and discussed it on the cor
ner of the rueS, in the braSs:riss. or
tayerns, and for n period Of six or eight
s-haEa x-an n,trhs h. cnra rA, Som
more than W. people talking earnestly
together, that they were celebrating
upon the choice of an organist.
Since the people, both high and low.
had so freely contributed for the pur-
chase of the organ, it was thought very
proper that they should be allowed to
choose a person to play it. And the
decision being thus left TO the multi
tude, the most feasible plan that WAS
suggested was that all should 20, on an
appointed day, to the church, and
should then listen to the playing of the
various candidates.
There were. in all, nearly a score of
aspiring musicians in and near the
town. and each of these, hoping for a
favorable decision for himself, gave no
end of little suppers and parties, SO
that the influential ones among the
townsmeh Jared sumptuously from all.
But out of the entire number there
were two. between whom the choice
really lay. These were Baptiste La
combe and Raoul Tegot.
The former of these had lived in the
town only five years. He had come
from Bruges, SO he said, and although
he astonished everybody by his skill. he
had not been liked, from the first He
was very reserved and parsimonious.
and his eye never met. frankly, the
person with whom he talked. But no
harm was known of him. and he found
In Tranteigue plenty of exercise for his
art
Raoul Tegot, on the contrary, was q
native of the town; and, together with
his young son.. Francois, was beloved
by all. He had married one of the vii
lage maidens, and had been so incon-
solable at her death, which occurred
when Francois was a baby, that he new
er thought more of marriage: but de-
voted himself to his child and his art
He was certainly a very able must
clan, and, being so universally liked.
many people urged that a public per-
Torrance be dispensed with, and that
he be elected at nee. But although
,Baptiste Lacomb was not liked, his skill
found many admirers; and. besides, ii
was flattering 10 the worthy country
folk TO think of sitting solemnly in judg-
ment at the great church; and Sc the
proposed plan was adhered to.
Finally. the weeks of anticipation
came to an end. the appointed day was
at hand, and, according to the arrange
ments previously made, at nine o'clock
In the forenoon. the three great doom
of the church were swung open andthe
throng, orderly and even dignifed, en-
, tered and filed the ediice.
The seats. which, in French churches
!, and cathedrals, are movable, had all
been taken away, and the crowd quite
filed the whole space. All male in.
habitants of the town who were over
! twenty years of age were to vote. and
each, the town-oficials and the poorest
artisan alike, had one ballot
The great and beautiful organ took up
nearly the whole of the large gallery
over the entrance and extended up and
p into the clear-story until it was mingled
with the supports of the roof.
In the organ-loft the candidates were
crowded together in eager expectation,
and the glances that passed from one
to another were nov the kindliest.
Each Of them had been allowed several