Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-06-16
HIS REPENTANCE

The chateau of plorneut was the
terror OF the Breton people. The
country folk made the sign of the
cross rs they passed by and murmured,
There is the accused ones castle"
About the walls that sur
rounded the grounds was brier
hedge which no one dared TO cross
The servants passed each other by
like shadows afraid to speak above
a whisper No one dared to address
the master. Only the young Count
Rober found favor in the eyes of the
lord OF the manor. the old Duke de
Kerberzorf. his uncle.
AT the time when this story begins.
Robert was seated at the old mans
feet He was seated in the great
ducal chair; his chair; his face was
livid. nis eyes cleaning. and his coun-
tenance distorted with fear. He was
listening intcntly. one would have
said that he was the ghost of terror.
Beside him on a poryhyry column
burned small golden lamp set with
precious stones Behind it stood a
tall negro. who as each minute passed.
let fall a single drop OF OIL upon the
| flame. Close to the old mans with
cred hand lay an AK and the negro
would have atoned with his life for q
single forSetfulness of duty.
The duke was even puier than
usual; his long white hair WAS matted
upon his temples, ana from his tor
stricken eyes great tears rolled
/, down into his silver heard
My dear lord, is your suffer ng
worse?' asked Robert gently
The duke shuddered; he was still
listening intentiy.
Then the old duke rose M like a
/ specter.
! Listen, Robert he said. List
en-" The old man had not spoken
for twenty years His sepu!chral
voice echoed through the great hall,
and the ancient armor hanging on the
walls gave forth q metallic sound.
The young count was pc.ritie1 with
fright
Twenty years ago ! had son; he
was handsome. brave and generous
he loved a young peasant girl and
wished to marry hex but refused my
consent; could not countenance such
an outrage. My son pleaded with me-
but was inieNible nay cscutchcon
would have been .cterna!ly dsgraced.
l was wrong my boy. was wrong
Never give way to pride II is Il NOR
tai sin" Sobs choked the old man ;
utterance. but he continued:
The maiden was beautiful and
int, 7 of ~
refused it. Then | had l.ei. carried
off and imprisoned in the tower OF
the castle Sevcr; months passed
my son was faithful to his word. tc
my pride. | decided to xii! the
maiden SO ! sent word 10 her secretly
to escape at the first opportunity. A
silken ladder was given her. and she
was carefully instructed rs to It's use
and how to fasten it &c the window
She prepared for flight linen
arranged an infamous trap for her.
Listen Robert. listen. haa .he
stones OF the window sill loosencd sc
that it would give way beneath he,
weight carrying the unfortunate cir
with it as it fell. and She woaid bt
dashed to pieces upon the marble
floor OF the courtyard below
That night fe!! asleep in the Tea,
Of God. Then l was transported tt
an immensely of clouds. lnnumc~
able arches followed each Other i;
never ending succession Beneath
these arches small golden lamps were
swinging gently to and fro. so numer
Gus that it would have taken years t.
count them. Some burst suddenl,
into flame others were as suddenl,
extinguished. Some burned with I;
fierce light others ilickered for a long
time before they died out completely
Each one of these lamps wa
guarded by an angel. All the new
lamps were tended by fair white an
gels with faces of unspeahable beauty
by others stood black angels ugly ant
evil looking. and these seemed Il
await with Impotence the momen
when the flames should be finally ex
tinguished.
What is all thls? l asked m,
guide.
" These lamps are the souls O
men,. he replied. The ones which
start suddenly into fame are the soul
of newborn infants and spotless an
gels guard them. Here are the soul
} of those who have reached the time o
life when they can think for them
selves and the Spirit of Evil and thu
Spirit of Good dispute their posses
sion. Those lamps which are flicker
ing and fading out are the souls of tn
dying. See" he cried pointing GU
severa! flames which were on the poin
of extinction. see! at the suprem
moment the soul almost always turn
to the Spirit of Good!'
Then asked him to show me m
own lamp.
Come? said the strange beinI