Connecticut western news., 1892-01-14

ing SO fast that lD quarter of an hour it wonld be upon us This scene com pletely upset me felt my hair begin to rise. and said to myself: It is the comet Mir Piper was right ! " Then without knowing what did, suddenly I began to run toward the town hall. I ran up the staircase, knocking down those who descended, and cried in ter rible voice
 "The comet The comet l '" It was the most beautiful moment of the dance Tbe music resonndad, the bays stamped their feet when the, turned. the girls were rcd as peoples But when they heard this awful voice raised in the hall, 1t caused deep si- lence and the people became quite pale and trembled. Sergeant Duchene ran toward the door and stopped me b, placing his hand on my mouth. saying = Have you gone crazy ? Why are you l acting in this way ?' But I, taking step backward. did not cease to repeat in tone of despair
 "The comet The comet I" One could already hear the sound of feet upon the stairs, resembling thun- | der. The people threw themselves out side; the women groaned :; in short, it | was terrible tnmult. l Duchene released me, and leaning | ouoioot tha mi, q oy o;Il a1 rpt ou;ta exhausted, at the people who were run ning up the street.
 Then I gave myself up to despair Passing by the refreshment-room I saw some persons who were yet drinking, saying "Since all is over, let it end we'll"
 | Outside, on the staircase, lirge number of persons were sitting upon the steps and coutessing to each other. Que said '' I have practiced ursury ;" an- other q have sold under false weights !" another "I have cheated at the game !" All were talking at the same time, and from time to time they interrupted each other to cry together
 "Have pity on us 7"
 But these things had no interest for I me. l had sins enough of my own to | think about and account for.
 At last I ov' rtook those who were running toward the fountain It was there you should have heard the groan. ings. Every one recognized the comet, and found it had already doubled its size It threw sparks, and the intense darkLess made it appear as red as blood. The crowd. standing in the shadow, were continually repeating in despair 1:
 The end bas come The eud Las come We are lost E"
 All the time I was reviewing in my mind all the sins I lad committed since l was old enough to know right from wrong, and l was overwhelmed with horror. It made me cold to think we were to be burned, and as the old beg gar, Balthazar, was near me, approach ing on his crutches, I embraced him, say ing
 '' Balthazar, when you are in the bos- om of Abraham, have pity on me, will you not :? '
 Then he responded. weeping
 II am great sinner, my friend fol thirty years have deceived the com. muui'y by love of idleness, for I an not as lame as they think !"
 And myself, l" said I to him, " am the greatest criminal of tine city" Ano then we began to weep together.
 We had been thus upon our knees fol quarter of an hour when Duchene ar rived, quite out of breath. He had a
 first rau toward the arseual, but not see ing any thing in that direction, he re turned by another street {" Well, ," said he. '' why gre you cry ing ill this manner ?" Then, catching sight of the comet, cried
 Thousand thunders What Ii
 that ?"
 '' It is the end of the world, sergeant, said the beggar.
 .'The end of the world ?"
 C. Yes, the comet"
 } Then lie began to swear, saying |" l ; the adlutant were here, he would knov what to do II" Thor, suddenly bariuy 5 his sabre, and gliding against the wall
 he said
 " Advance shall not be laughed ut ; It Is necessary to reconnoItre " r Every one admired his courage, and I 2 carried away with his audacity, followe, , hlm. We marched quietly, our eyei wide open, looking at the comet, whicl was vIsibly increasing in size, making
 some thousands of leagues each second l At last we arrived at the corner ny th,
 old convent. The comet seemed to rise , the more we advanced, the higher l rose ; we were forced to raise our head , so much that finally Duchene was star
 ing straight up, I twenty steps behin, nim. l saw the comet little to on, , side. I asked if it was prudent to ad ? vance further, when the sergean , stopped.
 ''Z ,uuds " said he. "It is the stree B lamp l"
 "The street lamp" said I, approach : ing him '' Is 1t possible :? ' !; But this is what it really was-th, r street lamp by the old convent. No one ever lighted it because tn,