The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-10-31
ABSTINENCE.


Translated from the French II Emile z"la for the
is.nvcr Republican.
when the vicar rose i'm the pulpit with
his brsHad flowing surplicc at scraphi
the little baroness was sitting
In her usual place next tai the gaping
moth Of "a register. before the chapel OF
the holy angels. A look nf tranquil heati-
tude suflussd her face. After tho usual
prayer and the following medic alive pause.
the vicar slcli.atcly touched Ms lips with
- fine cainbric handkerchief. then he out
stretched his arms, like ~ seraphim about
TO take flight, bent his head and spoke.
His vs,ise an first, under the vast vaults of
the church, seemed like the n,urrnur OF a
distant stream, like the tender. %plaintivc
whisper of the wine In the trees. Then
6eCa1nc "a tcmIn.st. and his voice rolled
down the sslifice with the majestic roar of
thunder. Still at times, however aud even
in the midst Of his most formidable thun-
der bolsa. his tones suddenly grew soft
and tender. like delicate sunhs.ams in the
somber hurricane of his cloqusncc.
Al the first insrsns'r through the lea ves.
the little baroness had cIrlt.d herself
snugiy in the pose tat once f~acinatinR and
aho,a to enjoy all tlm. nns,ssc Of % well
known symphony. She seemed ds.lightctl
with the exquisite. sof,ncss of the musical
phrases at th. debut, then she followed,
with the close attention of IL conuoisscur
swelling Of his voice, mp to- the climax
of the final storm. managed with such
perf.c skill, and when the Voice reached
it's full Development, when il actually
t~hundcrssi, drcpcned and broadencd by
could scarcely refrain from IA disci Get IL.
uc bravo and a. nod of satisfaction.
From that moment the ~ongregati hs.-
Fine dcvo,s~s were all fain, with Tin. in,an.
sity of their appreciation.
II.
The vicar, however, was certainly say
ing something; his music accompanied
words. He was preaching abstinence; he
was e.. ing TAI give. IAN idea of how agree
able the modification Of his creatures
must liz. to God. In the attitude of a great
white bird, hc leaned over the pulpit and
"ighcd:
brothers and sisters, when, like Christ,
we should all carry our cross, crown our
barefoot<si, over the rocks and the
The little baroness. no doubt. cousid-
droolesl her cyelid- slowly, m a half mcs-
nerizcd manner. Besides. the Wears
=s sSmpni.n,. '. nnt sin, n.f f..l ,"i s.r - Tps Ir;fsin %,
into a sweet r..vcric. full of secret voiu,S-
tuousI..s-. while she followed the rapid
flo n of his uls.ln4iious words.
Directly bs,fors, her shs, SAW one of the
long windows of the choir, grey with the
fog. The rain could scarcely have ceased.
The dear child had come tai the sermon
through thu heaviest Of storms. One must
put up with a. little discomfort for the
sake of religion. Her coachman had been
tlrench.si. she herself had wet the tip of
her delicate boot stepping from the ear
riage Ia the pavement. Her coupe, how
like AN alcove. But then IL il ~drcadfully
dreary tai watch through the dripping
Panes AN endless file Of hurrying uInbreI-
las along tile sidewalks. And then again,
if IL had not been for the rain she might
have come in her Victoria. IL would GER
tainiy have been cln.ericr. She sincerely
hoped the vicar would moi hurry through,
his ss,riSon. TOR in that ease she would
have To wait for her carriage. as she Ger.
.s.1.y 1,AA s..a ah.. 1.a ~
padding about through mud and rain,
and she. calculated that IL he kept up az
have voice enough to last two hours; her
councilman would cosns. ton late she fcls
il. Thcsa. anxictics interferSd slightly
The vicar, with An outburst of wrath
TINT shook his whole frame, his hair
thrown back. with threatening fists, -
prey to tire spirit of rcvenR still thun-
"woe unto you. women. IL you rcfuse Ia
Uf. your rr,nors4. tl,e fragrant oil of your
repentance! Oh, hear nae! tremhle and
fall weeping on the stones. You can only
merit divine forgiveness and attain the
glory Of triumph ny entering the .purga-
tory OF s.nance opened 20 you by the
srition. by "a on the steps OF shs
altar, your brows pale with fasting and
mortihcatiou, by suffering the anguish of
The iissie baroness suddenly rousst
from her anxietie. 10y this friRhtful elm
...:n nSda as,. sSls r;.h sis a; ;n shs%Sn sn Sr;c ssor
Ones duty was very ~plain-there wal
20 he done hut 90 retire into soms
dark, damp and frss,xin9 retreat and theI
lash ones self 90 death? She couil sex
mo other way oat Of IL. Then she driftes
back To her reverics; she WAS wrapped In
q feeling Of physical well being. n sort o
a tender es.stncy. She was con,fortabl,
s.entx.d on a low chair with n broad hiRi
bark. and beneath her feet was an en-
cushion that protected her from
the chill OF tlse STONE. Her head wa
sIi0i,tly thrown hack and she ioosenet
bcr fancy through she long dusk.