Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-07-16

IL well. Peter Petrowitchl" and. throwing
herself upon her knees In front OF him.
she claspcd his cassock besoechingly.
"Bui this blood be said at last, re-
garding her with somber gaze. "this
blood thou wishest 10 10 shed--knowest
thou not II will rebound upon thine own
headf
II know IT, she answered. "and for Il
I abandon my hope of heaven. but thou
wilt avenge thyself. wheni Peter Petro-
witch. tell me. whenr
"Do-i thou wish me- resumed the
priest, ito fire nj him from ambuscade.
liz. bandit of the mountains'-to kill
from hidden lairi No. will not do H.
n IL u tho will of God that become the
instrum~n, of his vengeance. he viii
put him In my way.
Several months had passed since this
Interview between Peter Petrowitch and
his brothers wife. and the fate of the
Resurrection was near at hand. a day
when the Montsncgrin law commanded
a rcnunciation Of all surveillance upon
criminals. great or small. In order that
the mountain brigands should descend
into the villages To partake ~ Easter com
munion.
Dimitri Jegosch-the priest rviiccted--
would doubtless b. able to make prelim.
mary confession 10 some mountain her
init. bat under pain Of mortal sin was
bound TO come into his parish church To
finish his communion.
1T Il there he told himself. that
must await himl"
And on the morning % the fcte, tefore
the opening ~ the high mas, and while
the building was still silent and empty.
be approached the main altar and hid
under the folds Of its cloth something
which was long and heavy and which he
had carried beneath his cassock. The
sacristan. busy with the lighting of his
lapers. had socn neither the coming nor
the going ~ the priest. as be- TRANQUILITY
returned to don his saccriotal yesimenis
When be- came again bchind his line
of chorisicr loys aud singers of the choir.
tho church was nllcd with worshipcrs,
knecling upon the sto'cs Pcirowitcb
passed the chanoel gate without lifting
his head. anil standing thus. at the font
Of the sicTs. rcciicd the opening prayers.
| Tie had promised himself 20 refrain till
the conservation was pas-el. had be sen
Dimitri Jcgo-ch t~forc this was done. he
feared that b. would not D. master %
himself. and be wished neither to inter.
uIpt the Easter mass nor Ia touch tho
host With cnsanguined hands
tie remained. then. bis eycs-when
compelled to face the people In order 10
give them hi. blessing -nised to the
nave or fastened upon the scroll work ~
the arch Of the door And even ~ be-
| hal Predetermined. when be himself hal
taken the communion and IL was the
turn Of the faithful 10 approach the holy
table. be- lifted. with hand which did
not trcmble. the heavy ciboirc of consc-
Grated waters. and from left 10 right
along the chancsl rail began the dis,ribu.
ton.
Dimitn Jcgo-ch knolt upon the carpet
with the rvst ~ the faiihiul the priest
saw him bat did not stop or hesitate.
The words ~ the administration Cor.
pus Domini nostri. cusiodiat amman
tuam In viiam aternam!' came without
q break or quiver. a. TRANQUILITY and sol
EMMY be raised tho chAlice 10 the mur-
dercr's lips
"Amcnr' respoded Jegosch. resumins
his place
Peter Pctrowiich rcmounied the altar
steps "lle has communed." be- thought.
"minc enemy he has communed
Behind him rosc the swelling tones %
III. organ chant. then the voices sweet
and soft. or Joyous and loud. beflitins
the songs of an Easter morning. and
then Peter Pctruwitch turned about
lie had calculated well. In front of
him stood Dimitri Jegosch. a. plainly
visible In his lightly buttoncd coat a.
the gaudily arnycd and sacred person
ages painted upon the window glass
In another moment a ball from the
hand ~ the minister of God stretched
lifelc,s and bleeding upon tho door u
the church the murderer u his brother.
-Translatcd Tor The Argonaut from the
| French by T. 4 WaggeneT