Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1891-10-27

II
/ upon the mnlutsln. The traveller.
found Themselves plunged In profound
darkness, aud to avoid a fall lnio the
hole. that surrounded them were forced
To- feel their way with the points II their
cllmhlng poles. They hal long ,go left
the regular road a. follow little path
along the side IL the mountain, as Il wa'
q nearer route. cutting or some seven ar
eight mile. Of the perilou. journey.
10 the left ~ them va. a f,ihomlc.s
sbyss: Ca the right a PERCEPTIONS clin,
bristling with bushc. bending bencath q
heavy weight Of snow. They talked no
morr. hut advanced with caution, feeling
for ~. place. to put their feet.
4. the ascent continued burning
sweat. which froke almost q. soon as u
appeared. broks oat all over them from
their oppressed throits thcsbrr1th es-
caIe,l w hoir.e aud labor~i pinting.,
and their temple. thrnhbcli as II they
would burst. They exhausted thcm-
..lyc, In effort. 10 keep Ia the pathway,
bending Ia the ground 90 avoid the force
~ the Wind-compellcl IN som. places
to .,V. themsclyc. by cllnging to the
rocks, In other. by crawling upon their
faces.
The good old cure was forced to leave
his cloak in the bushes. where the tenn
p,st hal carried u, ani where u iap-
pei about like the sills ~ . vessel.
for . long time the cure hal Kept up a
stout heart, bat At lcugth hi. strength
began Ia fall him, ani he turned to hl.
companion, crying ~ a broken voice
Il 1. hard work. my boy, for an old
gr,vbcari lie me :"
"Sh,ll carry YOU, ". 10 Curf'
"No, my child, no: one of us must
have Ch,nce ~ escape
"londsr I, the forest" the peasant
.xclalm,,l "a idenly: "l,t "a. remain
there until dnylishi thea We can ~ on."
Hut the priest refused. "Our days
arr numbered" 4" sah he. "but only fcN
hours separate Dcmetrius Blanc from
the judgment II Cod. Remain Ia the
forr.t your.eli, my boy; as for mc, ]
must ~ on."
Fifty yard. farther, ani they could
distinguish the hf.t shadoNy line ~
vhl;cncd tr--., the beginning of IA" for
e.t. They commenced "a run, bat the
cold irofc them. the wlni whlpp~i their
faces, the snow heat upon th.m from
every direction and the peril increased
with every ,tsp. once under the tires
they hal q moments respite, bat only .
moments. They we're now travelling
by chance, bcsilder-d and hclplessly
submitting o. all the horror and terror
~ their position, stumbling over the
rock. concealed bencath the snow and
slipping. falling ani rising. only Ia fall
again.
eve canno, ~ any further. VI. le
Cure. .ald Antoine AZ last, "Nc have
nothlng to guide us."
III priest dii not rrply, bat, drawing
|. match FROM his pocket. he managed to
light the lantern, which hal gone out Ia
the struggle on the mountain, nni look
"a abput him. Antoine, pale, without q
hat. his hsnds torn by ~. rocks and hl.
clOthr. In tltirrs stood bcslle him, but
no, trace 20 "a. road could d. seen.
"Autoinr, NV sou, aid the old cure ten
drrly. II AK your pardon iut having
brought you With me. should have
come alone
Dl.rr.pcctful for the first time In biz
life, the pcaon' only shrugged hls
shoulders. "Emhrac- mr, my p"or
chlld'" the curr continued, almost Ia
tears. ani Antoine fcll upon hi breast
weeping bitterly. eve must ~ on,
Antolnc." AID the cure AZ last; III Ne
rrm,ln here wc shall 20 "a sleep, ani 10
.lc-p !. death"
Again they took up their p,lniul
march. hat the Nbbc lIrU-x had relied
too much upon hi. strength; he stag
srrrd q. h- walked. hl. limb. wcrr Ike
lead, and hi. braln bcnumbc'l With cold.
II am Thirsty" sah b. suddenly, go
thlr.ty!" And STOPPING down BE- took
up handful II snow ani lifted u Ia his
llps: bat the pe,.aut checked him.
"Nuu must not 10 that. VI. le Cure,
AID he, "you must have a little pa
tlenC-."
Al AZ once the old min staggered and
fell. Antoine dropped the lantern and
caught him Ia hi arms. "Dlye me a
drink, b. whispered ialnily; IL die OF
thlr,t."
Aniolne uttered a cry ~ despair.
"IIslp, hslp'" he shouted. "a II ther.
were any one to hear la that dcsolaie
solitude. "a holy man l. diving for want
of q little water" lll. voice rose even
aboY. the nOl.. ~ the wind ani tempest,
bat no other voice responded Ia the aT-
peal. "lnto thy hands, oh, iord'--the
cure murmurvi.
Antoine knelt beside him, tears ~
grief aud pain falling from hi' eye. up
on the freezing ne.h of the good old
Abbc. At the end % hl. resources, en-.
h.usiei aud overcome With sorrow, he
littei hls pastor Ia hl. arm. ani placed
him beneath the shelter ~ q rock which
formed sort ~ recess la the clln.
There they rested, plunged Ia a deadly
iorppr-hearlng nothing - seeing moth
Ing.
In. wlnI ceased, the cloud. dl.per.ed,
leaving behind them q dark blue sky
studded With brilliant polnt..
lit 1. paradise" murmurci the Abbe
IIrocx. ''but In the name of pity give me
water or little snow"
"it would d. better Ia take poison, VI.
lc Curr," the peasant relied.
"Ah, but I suffer .o, suffer 80"
"lI,ye YOU knife. VI. le Curcr' cried
the peasant, he.lt,tingly.
"Nr.," answered the priest, his voice
almost a whisper; stake IL from my
pocket" There VA. moments
silence, then Antoine spoke again.
"Open your mouth. VI. le Cure" said
he; "open Il aud drink; II !. blood,
fresh aud warm"
The priest obeyc,i. and In orier to ex-
alt the s,cridcc which this poor peasant
h,i made for him, applied his lip. To the
arm of AntoIne (sbo had picked vein
like the ch,mol- hunter. of the Alp.
when oyercom. 10y fatigue ani thlr.t)'
Life aud energy returned to him a. hs
drank. "My child'" he cried, YOU
have saved your pastor; God VIII re-
member and reward you"
Al thi. moment there VA. the sound
of voice. calling Ia the distance. Antoine
answered, aud soon a group of mount
slneers appeared In sight. For hour.
they had exposed themselves Ia the fnry
~ the storm seeking fcr this man Of
God.
The following morning the Abbe
Brock returned Ia hls home. Demetriu.
Iilsnc was dead and died Christian.
Hut no one was ever able Ia make
Antoine Tiyel believe that lac had done
an act of heroi.m.