Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-05-23

and then all was still.
"You killed him?'' said /, Mortified.
KILLED him? A fortnight later I
found myself imprisoned in fortress
Today, by particular favor Of the kaiser,
| am again free-a ragged ant hunter.
And Xavier? Do you see sir, that big
house over there? 1t is the finest in the
neighborhood There my brother lives
with his wife and several children. Be-
hold the righteous reward which heaven
metes outi Vengeance is his, our pas
tor would tell Us. Can one be surprised
that l have lost my faith?''
The ant hunter pressed his hat low
upon his forehead, gruffly babe mc
goodby, then struck into the path among
the bushes on our left which led over a
stony hillside to an isolated farmhouse,
where he hoped, without doubt, to dis
pose of his curious wares.
Lost in thought, I picked my way
along the rough path to the village
whose church steeples were reflected in
every direction by the glowing rays of
The SUD, which, in its setting, looked
like magnificent carbuncle.
Slowly and laboriously the dark shad-
ows climbed from the valley up the
mountain. But no sweet, refreshing
breeze announced the approach of even
ing. A sultry, oppressive heat hung
over the entire region, and black cloud,
like a chariot drawn by invisible horses,
came up in the farthest west as the ad-
vance guard of a menacing storm.
S. is one of those pretty little villages
which these high mountains hide by the
hundred among their valleys. Its lar
gest building, next to the church, is its
tavern, which offers the friendliest of
hospitality. Upon its sign is blazoned a
chamois, the future ornament of the
Alps-as yet, alas, mythical creaturel
AS I entered the public room in my
comfortable negligee there upon the CEN
ter table was already burning the pc
troleum lamp-an article now to be
found in every peasants hut By a cor
ner table sat several peasants, with their
beer mugs before them. l stepped past
them toward an open window and look
ed out.
1t had already grown very dark, and
the whole heavens, as far as the eye
could reach, were enveloped in black
dangerous looking clouds. Every now
and then there would be bright flash
on the farthest horizon where the noun
tain peaks kissed the clouds, and then
would come response in low, heavy
growls from unfathomable abysses.
Scarcely 10 minutes later wild hur
ricane was in full blast. Heavy drops
fell pattering upon the ground. Light
ming flashes came thick and fast, and
from the church tower pealed forth the
storm bell.
The barroom door creaked on its
hinges and man, bent and dripping
with rain, appeared within it. Without
a word he stepped in and retired
quickly to dark corner. 1t was the ant
hunter
The landlady sat by the stove and
knit. Only from time to time, as an es-
pecially binding flash would shoot
across the heavens, would she let her
work fall in her lap and make quickly
the sign of the cross. She had indeed
noticed the new guest, but evidently
did not think him worthy of a second
glance.
ga dram!' said the ant hunter rough
ly. The landlady knit industriously on.
ga dram!" came more violently from
the corner. That took effect. Slowly
the woman got up. More leisurely than
was necessary she went to the cupboard
and finally placed, with scant courtesy,
the desired liquor before her guest.
The latter looked at her in a curiously
mocking way
"Aren't you glad to see me?" said
he 81 have the same right to sit here
as the others. I pay my bills. -
At the table where the peasants sat
there had been q great commotion ever
since the arrival of the ant hunter.
There was much putting of heads to-
gether, very animated whispering and
an industrious passing about Of the
pitcher.
"Landladyr' finally cried the princi-
pal speaker of the company, broad
shouldered, thick set man, "the pitcher
is empty. If you want to fill it again,
please to notice that we're not going to
sit in the same room with jailbird. %
The ant hunter shrank at the tones of
this voice.
''Xavier,'' he faltered
The man so designated caught the
word, and with flushed face and hold
ing his oaken stool in his hand took
few steps forward.
''Now," said he, trembling with ex-
citement, "there is the doorP'
The ant hunter had risen. He seemed
strangely calm.
Xavier" said he, ''you are making
yourself unnecessary trouble. Your
scorn no longer irritates me. Once have
I raised my hand against you in revenge,
but ought not to have done it. Now 1
am waiting until the hour itself comes. "
A binding light flooded the whole
room. Then came fearful clap. The
windows ratified With shrek, the
landlady sprang up, and all rushed to
the window.
''That struck" said the ant hunter
and sat quietly down again.
Outside deepest darkness reigned. In
vain did we seek to pierce it. Suddenly
a column of fire mounted to heaven.
The whole village was as light as day.
so God, my farm buildingsl" cried
Xavier, burying his face in his hands.
''I believe the hour is here, said the
ant hunter and emptied his glass;
From the towers sounded again the
storm bell Grewson1e were the shrill
tones as they rang through the darkness
of the night.
''Fire Fire!'' was next heard through
the village, and the startled people ran
hither and thither in the widest excite
ment. Windows were thrown open,
doors creaked ON their hinges, and ev-
erybody rushed toward the wooded ridge
from the foot of which a mighty pyra-
mid of flame rose toward the sky.
Shrieking and crying, the frightened
women and children begged their hus-
bands and fathers not to expose them
selves to danger
But their alarm was groundless. They
had nothing to fear from that scene of
horror Not a finger was lifted to bring
help to that stricken home. God himself
had hurled the thunderbolt, and where
he kindles the fre-so it is related
shudderingly from generation to gener-
I n