The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-20

A bony white horse logged along, and
The driver swore at the weather in an
pndertone. The young priest who sat
beside him drew his cassock round him
and shivered. The driver turned to him
presently. and pointing ahead with his
whip. said in an encouraging tone: "See,
Yondsr are the two towers Of Carhaix;
we shall be there soon, mon pere. and
there will be food and shelter at the
Widow Rogers. 1t is but q few kilos on
TO Plougallec."
But the priest only bent his head
silently. Cold and wet as he was, he
cared little about reaching his journeys
End. It was journey unwillingly taken;
90 his own thinking he was going into
exile. and he hardly needed the dis
comforts Of the way. though no doubt
they added to his feeling of depression.
BE was out of heart and discouraged;
ne had Just relinquished a post for which
he felt himself entirely fitted, and in
which every talent found congenial ex-
eroise, and was on his way 10 undertake
. cure in a lonely Breton village, hidden
away among the spurs of the Montagnes
d'Arrees, and his heart sickened at the
prospect
Meanwhile the little hooded carriage
had numbered up the hill between the
two gaunt but stately churches, past
the gray old convent with its rows of
narrow, secFetive looking windows, then
swinging around the corner beneath an
cient projecting gables. rich with cary
Ings which were a marvel OF rude by
gone art. and rafting over the stones,
pulled up I'm front of the low white inn
where the Widow Roger stood at the
open door to welcome new arrivals The
good woman would fain have ushered
NJ lie Recteur into the cold and dignifed
secIusion Of the dining-room, but he
much preferred 10 warm his chilled
hands at tine hospitable kitchen fire,
while she and her white-coifed hand
maidens hustled about preparing
hasty repast. for another carriage was
already being made ready TO convey the
traveller to his ultimate destination be-
fore the early night should fan.
Another wayfarer was in possession of
the chimney ccrner-a young sailor,
drinking a glass of cider. who had al
ready tramped some distance according
to the testimony of his muddy shoes.
He moved civilly away at the approach
of the newcOmber, but the priest babe
him remain: there was plenty of room
for both on the broad oaken settle. He
liked the look of the lads open counte-
nance and indeed, there IS something
wonderfully taking about Breton sailor
In his holiday garb.
Thawed bv the warmth Of the fire.
and perhaps cheered a little by the look
of the bright face opposite, Armand
was about to shake off the numbness
of fatigue and cold and enter into con-
versation with his neighbor, when the
latter drained his glass, and setting 1t
down with a civil Good night, sir,
went his way.
That Is one of NJ. le Recteur's par
Ishoners," said Widow Roger, placing a
large dish of eggs on the table and
drawing up a chair. 'He has been
away a year at Brest, on service, and
he has just come back on leave to see
his old mother. A very decent woman
Is Mother Nedelec, and has had deal
of trouble Her sons We're wild drink
ing lot. all but Herve there; he is the
youngest, and a very good sort of
boy She is a strange woman in her
ways and keeps herself to herself; no.
body seems to know much about her,
though she has lived in Plougallec all
her life. Folks say she isn't as poor
as she makes out; but she lives in a
miserable bit of a place right away be-
yOnd the great cross as you go up to
the ruined chapel. 1t is just where the
path turns down the gorge to the place
they call the DEVILS cauldron. But
monsieur has not seen that vet. 1t is
quite a show: there's many comes in
the summer just TO look at it. Herve
used TO make a good bit of money be-
fore he went TO sea, taking visitors
around; for it is a curious place, worth
seeing, they say, for them that has got
= steady head. but dangerous for stran-
gers VIII monsieur please TO come to
the table? The carriage will be round
IN less than half an hour"
Another little ramshacSle hooded cab
riolet was produced presently with
another gaunt and bony horse. and by
way of variety a hunchbacked driver
who could not speak word OF French;
and the priest, after his brief rest,
mounted into his place and resumed his
Journey. Still the same gray hills and
granite tors looking huge and menacing
through the mist as the light faded. BY
and by Armand's ear, weary OF the mo-
nOtonOus hOOf beats on the hard road,
caught another sound, blthe as the
1ark's song, a merry tune such as the
men and women dance TO at the coun-
try fairs. Whistled clear and loud by a
traveller as he piodded along. Soon the
carriage overlook the wayfarer. and the
priest. leaning forward. recognized the
young sailor. and perceived too that, i'm
spite of his CHEEKY whistle, he was walk
ing gingerly. If he We're fOotsOre
and chafed by his heavy shoes. With
a hasty gesture he checked the driver,
and babe the lad mount beside him.
The hunchDack grOWled, but If ne made
any objection it was lost on his auditor.
being cOuched in an unknown tongue.
and the boy sprang nimbly in and curled
himself up on the straw at the bottom
of the carriage. declining the proffered
share Of the seat
AS they logged on Armand reused him
self with an effort out Of the regrets for
the past and gloomy forebodings for the
future in which he had been indulging,
and began 10 talk to his companion.
When he chose 10 exert himself he had
a great gift Of attraction. and he soon
grew Interested. in spite of his depres-
sion Of spirits, in the lads frank and
simple chatter Of himself, his seafaring
adventures. and especially about his
home. Insensibly his heart warmed 70
this first sample Of his parishioners.
He purpOsely drew him on to enlarge
on his life at Pl0ugallec, to describe the
hard work on the upland farms, the
registering fun at the yearly kermesse,
the long dreary winter and the old tales
and legends that haunted every hill and
rock for he found as he listened that
he was cleaning some notion of the peo-
pie with whom he would have TO deal
He had thought he understood French
men, but the Breton nature was new
TO him, with its hardness and it's sim
plicity, its deep religious sentiment its
clinging to tradition, it's credulity Dor
dering on superstition, its loyalty. and
its almost fierce independence; and he
began TO see that. if rOugher on the
no less int Il