Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-21
BY THE LANTERN.


glasses shake, and the voice OF Jean biS"rne,
the sacristan, was heard by the young giri.
mingled with the clinking OF spurs and con-
fusion Of sabers dragging over the pavement
81 the corridor
She raised herself, frightened, when the
ioor was suddenly opened by the sacristan-
Two men crowded past him, and be cried
out, choking with anger:
"Ah, the beggars, the scoundrelsF
Jean, what is itf" she asked
What is in II is the Cossacks, msdemoi-
eliel" and pushing forward be stoppsi,
.eized one Of the heavy silver candiessicas
from table and stood straight again
ut ii also true that they call me Jean
8igorne. ex-sergeant Of the Twelfth dra-
,oans, wounded by hayonet at Arcoia, BY
/. saber stroke AT Lutzen, almost killed at
Marengo and nearly buried at Jena, and do
not adyise you to advance, you others.
Let them be, Jean, let them BE-" said
Nile. Lys, very pale.
Let tnem bei But, mademoiselle, the ants
would never forgive me. 1t is not alone that
this is Gods house-lot OF brisands that you
,re--it is the church Of ~ ChaAteloup, and
because he i cure now I. does not hinder that
ne was always my commander and got no
hurt from you under the emperor"
One Of the men advanced 70 repalss Jean.
"A thousand thunders" roared the -
cristan; IF you touch me-
One band was raised TO strike when the
grave voice Of the Able ChAnteioup asked:
"Wen, what are you doing, sergeAntr
IN Alchemy commander
Il have cautioned you not to swear such
oaths 1t is habi. Of the regiment which
you must lose in the service of God What
do these men wantF' asked the able
1.-The officer has billet Of lodgment here
for the night. A lodging -niiseryl'
at is we'll give him a chamber"
And which one, them
Mine" said the able
Jean bowed his head and growled some
thing between his teeth The officer startsl
to follow him to a room, when a gesture Of
the able detained him.
DO you understand French. Yesl Then
a word, pray The man who receives you
has been soldier as you are. He was five
years commander in the guard, and would
he still If bail had not shattered two fingers
at Wagram."
And the able showed his right hand, which
had lost its middle fingers,
Not being able longer to all the country
L
aid it with the cross | was educated in pro
found Christian sentiments, and have become
a priest And my ministry commands me To
be today, between you and the country to
which YOU come an enemy, an Intermediary
Of peace and cancellation. Enter, monsieur.
You are in home % man witlIon: defense
Ny poor Jean is an oil man, and M niece
come forward. Lys--is only child. Before
Col, who pardons and Furnishes, put my
home under Interpretation of your honor a
soldier Welcome, morsieurT
IL the evening, near 10 o'clock, Nile. Lys
retired to her chamber The Cossack officer
had not yet returned TO the house from the
village through which his men were billeted,
although the most Of them looked in at the
tavern, when Bgorne came to tell the able
that man, dripping with rain and covered
with mud, bad Just arrived from two leagues
away through the woods to ask that the ahbe
should 20 10 his house. where his mother lay
at the point of death and needed tue last CON
ISOLATION Of tie church,
II will GO" said the able.
Jean Bigorne looked at him
but, NJ Able. said he. "you cannot think
Of going at such an hour The roads are bad,
it rains like "A beuellction and is so black there
that the devil goes with his tail down. my
commander
Give me my bat replied the able
"But 1t is not Gods will You will meet
those brigands at all corners OF the woods,
not counting that evil officer that you leave
here Surely it is not prudent, NJ Able: it is
not prudent
"Are you not herer- replied the able "Aod
he has not returned this evening, and may be
on duty all night For the rest, will he back
in two hours. Prepare the holy OIL and tell
Janniot at the tavern to saddle horse for
me- It IS the good God who calls me TO that
friend who is going to him. Go"
at is enough, my commander" said Jean,
resignedly,
1t was on the stroke Of midnight when the
Able Chanteloup returned his horse TO tie
tavern and regained, across the sleeping
village, the lane that leA NJ to bis house. As
he walked along by the wall of the church hi
heard call:
Here, this way, NJ Abbeln
You, Jeanl how are you thereT asked he,
astonished.
at is the officer, my commander. He re
turned and pushed me out when l went to
fasten the door He Is intoxicated, the scnun-
drein
At that moment window Of the presby-
terry was opened and Mile Lys. all in her
night garments disordered with shoulders
bare, leaned out; but hand pressed upon
her mouth pushed her back before she conld
utter cry, and the smothered sound Of q
struggle could be heard in the street.
The able threw himself like . mailman
upon the door that Jean shook also with a
terrible push; the fastenings gave way and
struck noiseessly against the wall; and the
two men few up the stairs, near which Mile
Lys had fallen senseless.
Jean" said the able promptly, carry
her to her chamber and restore her to sense
You enter there, monsieur" and he pushed
toward another room, the door of which was
wide open, the officer whom that scene had
sobered
Then, facing the culprit, and looking him
straight In the eyes, the Abbe Chanteloup
said:
Listen to mel At Bergame, during the
campaign in Italy, was made lieutenant,
The place was surrendered and one Of my
men. who ,ad bravely done his duty in that
campaign, that evening stole watch had
the robbsr shot. In Egypt my orderly, a
dragoon who bad helped save my life at the
Pyramids, struck dervish who was coming
out Of a mosque. had that man dismissed
from the army. At Wagram, finally, sur
prised the ol,>S, officer Of my squadron, Of
which had been commander for five years,
trying to ruin woman myself killed the
villain
The Cossack bowed. but said nothing. The
able continued:
"You are to your soldiers the example Of
discipline and honor You have stained 1t,
monsieur If had not arrived In time you
would have committed here in my home an
tnfamy-sullied q home which left under
the safeguard Of your loyalty. 1t is neces-
@ry that you shall account to me; and IL you
refuse shall compel you. Forget then, that
am priest, and remember only that wss
. soldier"
The Able Chanteloup approached tho wall
and took down from its place under Q cross
the cavalry saber which had served him
through the great wars.
Come, monsieur" said he then Jean,
bring lantern and follow US"
As they passed by the chamber where
Nile. Lys sat alone. sobbing, with hsr face
between her hands. the abbe entered
II have defended you from tears, my
child he said Your father died fighting
this shameless enemy-you ought then to b
strong" And then with the utmost tender
nes: Embrace me, my little one-
The girl threw her arms around the abbe's
neck. who pressed her to his heart and then,
himself, said:
Remain upon your knees, my child, and
pray for him who Is 10 der
The three men descended, traverssd the
vestry and the wings of the church. drowned
In shadow, where the lantern of ths sacristan
scintillated like little golden star
The abbe passed b.eind the great altar,