Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-19
tFrom the Youths Companion.I
The Mystery Of the Village.

In the southern part of France, about
seventy miles from the Mediterranean is
a!place called Tranteique. 1t is now hard
" more than a small town, and possesses
not above thousand inhabitants; but in
the latter part of the last century it was
more than ten times its present size, and
its church, now In ruins, was one of the
most beautiful ever seen in that part of
the country.
The church was finished in the year
1895, and was, for long time, the great
object of curiosity for miles around. 1t
was of the Gothic and Romanesque style
of architecture, and was not only finely
proportional on the exterior, but had
within magnifcence of decoration that
astOnlshed one more and more, the
longer he gazed upon it.
The church, unlike some of the older
ones standing at that time, had mag
nifcent organ. This had been paid for
by a separate subscription, raised in
small sums by the common people, and
having been built by skillful workmen
in Bordeaux, was at length set up in the
church amid considerable enthusiasm
and excitement.
But who should play this grand instru-
ment?
Glow should q competent organist be
selected?
The people were greatly interested in
the matter, and discussed it ON the cor
ner of the roues, in the brasseriee, or
taverns, and for period of six or eight
weeks you might be sure, if you saw
more than two people talking earnestly
together, that they were celebrating
I,o ri, o3 11+
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 person to play it. And the de-
cision being thus left to the multitude,
the most feasible plan that was suggest
ed was that all should go, on an appoint
ed day, to the church, and should then
listen to the playing of the various can
didatee.
There were, in all, nearly a score OF
aspiring musicians in and near the town,
and each of these, hoping for favorable
decision for himself, gave no end of lit
tie suppers and parties, so that the in
huential ones among the townsmen Jared
sumptuously frem all.
But out of the entire number there
were two, between whom the choice real
1y lay. These were Baptiste Lacombe
and Raoul Tegot
The former of these had lived in the
town only five years. He had come
from Burgess, so he said, and although
he had astonished everybody by hisskill,
he had not been liked, from the first.
He was very reserved and parsimonious,
and his eye never met, frankly, the per-
son 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 village
maidens, and had been so inconsolable
at her death, which occurred when Fran
co.'s was baby, that he never thought
more of marriage; but devoted himself
to his child and his art.
He was certainly very able musician,
and, being SO universally liked, many
people urged that public performance
be dispensed with, and that he be elected
at once. But although Baptiste La
combe was not liked, his skill found many
admirers; and, besides, it was fatter1ng
W tno worthy country IOlK 10 In1nK OF
sitting solemnly in judgment at the great
church; and so 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 arrangements pre-
viously made, at nine o'clock in the fore
noon, the three great doors of the church
were thrown open and the throng, order
ly and even dignifed, entered and filed
the edifce.
The seats, which, in French churches
and cathedrals, are movable, had all been
taken away, and the crowd quite filled
the whole space. All male inhabitants
of the town who were over twenty years