Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-02-28

Y Wv u tsou w h''h Nv hi'
domicile. Nevertheless he skirted the
church-wall, and finally took up his po-
sition under the porch, without making
the slightest noise. The church
doors had been left vide open, be-
cause of the heat, and within u
profound silence reiPned, broken only
uy the outbursts OF the preachers voice
from the pulpit, and the mad music of
the crickets from the neighboring trees.
rhe priest had only just commenced his
sermon and the peasant women in tie r
rows of straw-bottomed chairs, were
either listening or yielding to the drow.
siness OF the hot day.
1t was the beaile who first perceived
the enormous shadow Of the hon upon
the wall Of the porch. He let his hal
lerl fall 10 the pavement, and cried
out in = voice half-choked by terror
There's the lion!"
The whole congregation was imme-
diately seized with unutterable terror.
Chairs and benches were overturned in
ell directions. Some ri,hed toward
the organ-loft, others to the door OF the
sacristy, others 10 the high altar. White
NJ sheets, and with ewes wild with lear.
the women shrieked heiples,lv or
uttered naineless cri,s. The children
yelled. ari called npon Their mothers
T. s.. :. them. Sew. rsl pessan. women
ain, led Of fright, and huldlcd to-
getl-r in the nave, actually holding
their breath from terror.
People trampled each other on the
pulpit stains behind the altar on either
side OF the sanctuary railing. Prayer.
books, chaplets, benches, stools, can.
dlesticks and censors we're scattered on
the floor. The beadle hal barricaded
himself within the confessional; the
chanter, whore face WAS fully lit by
gush of light from the window, was
livid. and his knees were knocking to-
gether almost violently enough to
break the bones. A little boy that had
squeezed himself under big chair
thrust ont from betwixt the rungs q
face comicslly distorted by tears Of
terror. The sacristan had run up the
steeple stairs, and was ringing the bell
with oil his might, a. II there was
con6ag' alton to be eytinguished. The
few women who had succeeded in get
ting out Of the church with the first
rush, were running throu all tae
streets of the village, THROWING up
their arms. and screaming for help.
The priest slone-who, from the
height Of his pulpit-hsd seen the Wild
beast walk quietly awsy--tried to re.
establish some calm among the faithful.
But his voice was lost in the tumult Of
the panic; and already, from all the
houses. drinking.places, club.rooms.
tsverns, ETC., men were running to the
scene armed with Lefaucheux revolvsrs,
pitchforks. spits, and billiard queues.
The lion, indeed, had very quietly re.
traced his way to the mensgerie, as
soon "a he had heard the beadle's hal.
herd fall on the church pavement
Madame Augusts ct once rushed az her
boarder. raining laahes upon him
with her whip, and hurried him into the
cage. with many kicks in the hinder
portion OF his emacisted body.
But the whole village had been Ter.
rifSed.
Headed by the tar. collector, who had
taken down an old revolver from his
panoply, the peasants poured into the
booth and, in spite Of the supplications
and even tears Of the lion-tamer, who
clasped their knees in her vain despa air,
they put the muzzles Of their weapons
to the poor brutes head and blew his
brains ont. One peasant even carried
his ferocity 30 far ~ to shove billiard.
cue down the lions throat. The
village folks seemed 10 have been
wrought up to Q pitch Of unhesrd Of
fury; aud every possible term Of abuse
invective. and insult were lavished upon
the wretched animals carcass.
"And now" shouted the tax collector
TO Nine. Anguste, who had almost
tainted with grief, nov this will teach
you that I have never been afraid ol
lionsl"
Madame Auguste long remained
motionless with grief and despair. .Hel
lion represented all her earthly posses
sions, her only resources besides. he
had grown old In the menagerie, and
his submission, his docility, we're extra.
ordinary. She would not think OF re.
naming any longer in the milst Of such
people; and she gave orlers to psck ~
and leave town tina. very evening.
But ut the approa h Of nigitIall the
sky ciouled up quickly and heavily. 4
furious wind came whistling through
tile trees, tearing away the leaves On |
whirling them abroad, and the thunder
began TO roar in the distance.
Nevertheless, Madame Anguste's two
Wagons left the village by the high road.
The storm burst over the country. BE.
tween the shafts OF the travelling wagon
trotted . great big mule from whose
TANKS the rsin-wster poured In streams.
The old horse who pulled the other
vehicle containing the carcass Of the
lion, hung his head sadly under the
furious downpour. The thunder rolled
msdlv overhead; and, BY the light OF