Evening journal., 1890-02-20
BY THE LANTERN.


1874 At Mesnil-sous-Bois, in Champagne.l
In the little living room Of the presbytery,
where the closing day-a gloomy and cold
one Of April-gave only a doubtful light
Nile Lys, the niece Of the able, was ar
ranging in the bottom Of the armure a sur
plce and other clerical garments
From the eetthere came up vague sounds
Of calling voices, and through the mist, like
shifting fires, passed the unsteady CLEANS Of
moving lanterns.
All at once in front Of the house the pave
ment resounded to the tramp of many horses;
tho door lsnocber, rudely sounded, made
gasses shake, and the voice of Jean Bigorne,
the sacristan, was heard by the young girl,
mingled with the blinking Of spurs and con-
fusion Of sabers dragging over the pavement
Of the corridor.
She raised herself, frightened, when the
door was suddenly opened by the sacristan.
Two men crowded past him, and he cried
out, choking with anger;
"Ah, the beggarsl the scoundrelstn
''Jean, what is itg" she asked.
"What is itl It is the Cossaclzs, modemoi-
selleln and pushing forward he stopped,
seized ono Of the heavy silver candlesticks
from table and stood straight again
1T is also true that they call me Jean
Bigorne, ex-sergeant of the Twelfth dra-
goons, wounded by bayonet at Arcola, by
saber stroke at Lutzen, almost killed at
Marengo and nearly buried at Jena, and do
not advise you to advance, you Others"
"Let them he, Jean, let them be,n said
Mile. Lys, very pale.
"Let them boz But, mademoiselle, the able
would never forgive me. It is not alone that
this is Gods house--lot Of brigands that you
are--it is the church of M. Chanteloup, and
because he is cure now it does not hinder that
he was always my commander and got no
hurt from you under the emperor"
One of the men advanced to repulse Jean.
"a thousand thundersln roared the sa-
cristan; "if you touch me"-
One hand was raised TO strike when the
grave voice Of the Able Chanteloup asked:
"Well, what are you doing sergeantr
IN Alchemy commandern-
~ have cautioned you not TO swear such
oaths. II is habit of the regiment which
you must lose in the service of God. What
do these men wantP asked the able.
1.-THE officer has billet of Judgment here
for the night. A lodging misery"
1T is well; give him a chamber"
"And which one, then2"
"Mine, said the able.
Jean bowed his head and growled some
thing between his teeth Tho officer started
to follow him to a room, when a gesture Of
the able detained him.
$40 you understand Frcnchg Yesl Then
q word, pray. The man who receives You
has been a soldier, as you are. He was five
years commander in the guard, and would
be still If a bah had not shattered two fingers
at Wagram.n
And tho able showed his righthand, which
had lost its middle fingers.
Mot being able longer to aid the country
with my sword, have thought might still
aid it with the cross. l was educated in pro-
found Christian sentiments, and have become
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 a home of a man without defense.
My poor Jean is an old man, and my niece
come forward, Lys-is only child Before
God, who pardons and Furnishes, l put my
home under the protection Of your honor as
soldier Welcome, monsieurw
In the evening, near 10 o'clock, Mile. Lys
retired to her chamber The Cossack officer
had not yet returned to tho house from the
village through which his men were billeted
although the most of them looked in at the
tavern, when Bigorne came to tell the able
that man. dripping with rain and covered
with mud, had just arrived from two league:
away through the woods TO ask that the able
should 60 to his house, where his mother lay
at the point Of death aud needed the last con
ISOLATION Of the church.
Il will 90, said the able.
Jean Bigorne looked at him.
"But, NJ Able, p said he, ''you cannot thinl
OF going at such an hour. The roads are bad
it rains like benediction and is so black Their,
that the devil goes with his tail down, my
commander
Give me my hat" replied the able
''But it is not Gods will You will NEE
those brgands at oil corners Of the woods
not counting that evil officer that you leavi
here. Surely it is not prudent NJ. Able; it 1
not prudent
"Are you not hereg' replied the able. "An,
he has not returned this evening, and may b
on duty all night. For tho rest, will be bacl
in two hours. Prepare the holy oil, and tel
Janniot at the tavern to saddle a horse fo
! me. It is the good God who calls me to tina
friend who is going to him. Coz
st is enough, my commander" said Jean
resignedly.
It was on the stroke Of midnight when tn
Able Chanteloup returned his horse to tn
tavern and regained, across the sleepin,
village, the lane that led up to his house. A
be walked along by the wall Of the church ;
heard a call:
"Here, this way, M. Abbew
you, Jeanl how are you theren asked he
astonished.
1T IS the officer, my commander. He re
turned and pushed me ont when / went &
fasten the door Ho is intoxicated, the scom
drclrn
At that moment a window of the presby
terry was opened aud Mile Lys all in he
night garments disordered, with shoulder
bare, leaned out; but hand pressed upo
her mouth pushed her back before she coul
inter cry, and the smothered sound Of
struggle could be heard in the street.
The abhe threw himself like a madma
upon the door that Jean shook also with
terrible push; the fastenings gave way ant
struck noiselessly against the wall; and th
two men few up the stairs, near which NIL,
Lys had fallen. senseless
jean" said the abbe promptly, "carr
her 70 her chamber and restore her to sense
You enter there. monsieur" and he pushe
toward another room, tho door Of which wa
wide open, the officer whom that scene ha
sobered
Then, facing the culprit, and looking hir
} straight "a the eyes, the Able Chantelou
said:
Listen TO mel At Bergame, during tn
campaign in Italy, was made Lieutenant
The place was surrendered and one OF m
u