Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-13
BY THE LANTERN.

In the little living room of the presbytery,
where the closing day-a gloomy and cold
one of April-gave only a doubtful light
Mile. Lys, the niece of the able, was ar
ranging in the bottom Of the armure sur
plice and other clerical garments
From the street there 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;
the door lnocker, rudely sounded, made
| glasses shake, and the voice of Jean Bigorne,
the s.cristan, was beard by the young girl,
mingled with the clinking 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 sacr,stan.
Two men crowded past him, and he cried
out, choking with anger:
"Ah, the beggarsl the scoalndrels!"
jean, what is itY' she asked
"Whst is it! It is the Cossac3ss, madenroi-
seller and pushing forward he stopped,
seized one of the heavy silver candlesticks
| from table and stood straight again.
sit is also trur that they call me Jean
Bigorne, ex-sergeant Of the Twelfth dra-
goons, wounded by a 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 be. Jean, let them be-" said
Nile. Lys, very pale.
LET them BET But, madeynoiselle, the able
would never forgive me- 1t is not alone that
| this is Gods house-lot of brigands that you
are-it is the church of n. 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 reprlse jean.
"A thousand thundersp' roared the sa-
tristan; ''if you touch me-
One hand was raised to strike when the
grave voice of the Able Chanteloup asked:
"Wen, what are you doing, sergeante'
an Abbe-my commander"-
81 have cautioned you not to swear snch
| oaths. 1t is habit of the regiment which
YOU must lose in the service of God. What
do these men wantf' asked the abbe.
''rhe officer has billet Of Judgment here
! for the night A lodging-misery!"
"It is well; give him chamber"
"And which one, thena"
"Mine," said the able.
| thing between his teeth The officer started
to follow him TO room, when gesture OF
the able detained him.
t'Do YOU understand Frencht Yesa 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
be still if ball 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 aid the country
with my sword, have thought I might still
aid it with the cross. l 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 of man without defense.
NV poor Jean IS an old man, and my niece
come forward, Lys--is only a child. Before
God, who pardous and punKhes, l pat my
home under the protection of your honor as q
soldier Welcome, monsieuri"
In the evening, near 10 o'clock, M1k. Lys
retired to her chamber The CoSzack officer
had not vet returned to the house from the
village through which his men were bilieted,
! 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 leagues
away through the woods TO ask that the able
should GO to his house, where his mother lay
| at the point OF death and needed the Astcon-
| ISOLATION of the church.
az will 60" said the abba
Jean B;gorne looked at him
.Bus, NJ Able, +" said he you cannot think
OF going at such an hour The roads are bad,
it rains like beneshction and is 50 black there
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 meet
those brigands at all corners of the woods,
not counting that evil officer that you leave
here Surely it IS not prudent, n Able; IT is
| not prudent"
"Are you not here p replied the able And
he has not returned this evening, and may be
on duty all night For the rest, viii be back
| in two hours. Prepare the holy oil, and tel
Jan1ios 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
1T is enough, my commander" sad jean,
reSgredly.
1t was on tire stroke Of midnight when tbs
Able Chantelorrp returned his horse TO tie
tavern and regained. across fns sleeping
village, the lane that led up TO ais house. As
he walked along by the wall Of the church hs
| heard call:
Here, this way. II Able
you. Jeani how are you thereF' asked he.
aSsonfshed
IL is the officer, nv commanter He ~
| surned and pushed me cut when l vent to
| fasten tie door &c is intoxicated, the scoun-
| drel;"
, Az that moment window OF the prcsoT-
! terry was opeDed ana Nile. Lys, al N hsr
night garments dn-ordzed- with shoulders
| bare lsaned cat; bat q hand pressed upon
| ner mouth psrsoed Der back befOre soc could
! utter cry. ssd toe s-nothsred scoDd 81 q
| struggle could b heard n toe street
| TIE able threw himself Ike q na1rsar
/ upon us door that Jean saocx alsc VITA .
| terrible pesa; the tassznings gave way sn1
| struck noiSeiskiy sSsins. sas wall; and the
| two meo Aer ne the stairs, n>A- EsAca Aise
| LIS i,Si fallen sas,sessss
Jean" said tie able promptly, Urry
| h-- - hsr csansesr and restore Sc- Do seosel
| Yor eHe- tbe-e. nonA~rr: ana - pashsd
/ sywsrd enots-r room. tse 5ocr e. TAsca VS.
/ VICE op.E, ice oa6ce- whom reas scece nafi
| soha-e5
| Taer, facnS the cu,pri;. AID iocxiss sun
] ktxai2kt n ia ara. the Asbs Chassnasao