St. Landry democrat., 1881-11-05

Wnere ne might De.
The next day the missing organist did
not appear, and his friends began to in
quire and to search for him. But they
were wholly unsuccessful. A little boy
said that he had seen him 90 into the
church with Monsieur Lacombe early
that morning; but Monsieur Lacombe
said, very distinctly and with some We
hemence that the missing man had left
the church an hour later to 90 to cot
tage at the edge of the town, where he
was to give lesson in singing.
So the affair Law wrapt in mystery.
There were many surmises, but nothing
definite was known. A few expressed
suspicion of the rival candidate, but the
suspicion was too great to be thrown
rashly upon anybody. Thus no prog
ress in the inquiry was made. A hui
man life did not mean so much in those
stormy days after the Revolution as for
merly, and the mysterious disappear
ance, without being in the least cleared
up, gradually faded from mems minds
and passed out of their conversation.
Months and years passed away, and
nothing was known OF the young man.
His son. now come to the years of man
hood, always declared that his father
would not have been absent from the
trial willingly, and he firmly believed
that he had met with a violent death.
More than this he would not say; but
sometimes when he looked toward
Monsieur Baptiste Lacombe-still the
respected organist of the church his
eyes were observed to flash meaningly.
There was to be a grand tete in the
church, and a great preparation was
made. AS the organ needed repairs, it
was decided to repair it thoroughly;
and one of the builders from Bordeaux
was sent for.
He was to come on Thursday; but he
CHANGED to arrive the day before, and
was to begin work early the following
morning. That night, light glimmered
out of the darkness of the gallery OF
the church.
Two days passed. The repairing of
the organ went on, but there was much
to be done and it might take a week.
One afternoon, as Francois passed
through the center of the village, two
men came hurriedly out of the town.
house and fastened away toward the
church 1t was the organ-builder, very
much excited, and one of the officials
of the town. The young man, ventur-
ing on his well-known skill as an
organist, followed them; and the three
entered the building. A few worship
pers were at the great altar, and the
sacred edifice seemed unusually quiet
and peaceful
The organ-builder seemed too agi-
tated to answer the questions that the
town official asked him, but led the
way quickly to the organ-loft. Put
your foot on that pedal!' he said, ex-
citedly, pointing to a particular one of
the scale.
The official was too bewildered to
comply, and Francois did it for him.
Now try the next onem said he.
Francois did so, but no sound came;
only queer, intermittent rumbling
like bounding and rebounding.
1t does not sound,n said the organ
builder. "Follow me and | will show
you why
cit never has sounded since the
great trial-day, years ago. muttered
the young man. But he followed on.
They clambered up a rickety stair
case. still more rickety ladder, and
came to platform at a level with the
top of the organ; and all around them,
reaching up out of the dim light below,
were the open pipes. Passing hurried
ly around on narrow plank to the
back of the organ, their agitated guide
paused before a row of immense pedal
pipes, and without allowing his own
eyes to look, he held the light that he
carried for the others.
Both looked down into the cavernous
tube that he indicated, and both start
ed back in surprise and fear.
cit is a mans legs!' gasped the
frightened town official.
After the first moment of surprise |
had passed. they began to get back
their wits; and the young man advised
that they send for several strong men
and lift out the pipe.
This seemed sensible, and in half |
hour the men were at hand and the
pipe was drawn down to the level of the
organ-loft and laid horizontally. The
workmen had been informed of the ma
ture of their work, and all were under
intense excitement. The pipe was
very long, and the body was at least
five feet from the top. One of the
workmen reached in a pole having
hook at the end, and the next minute
drew forth the dead body of the SIMS
ter old organist, Baptiste Lacombe.
There was pause of silent horror.
Nobody cared particularly Tor the dead
man, but the manner of his death was
terrible.
''How did it happen?" whispered
one
perhaps it was suicide" answered
ano ther.
They began to more closely examine
the large tube. Francois Tegot, who,
although thus far cooler than the 9th
ers, now seemed unable to stand, point
ed to the hand of the dead man, which
was tightly clenched upol small cord.