Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-02


buttons on their coats and taken alto
gether. very distressed looking lot. Or
else We met Vengeurs Vermlllon, Fancheurs
Noirs. light infantrymen, with cocks
plumes In their hats; enfants du despair.
Youayes Of the armee d'AfriQue des car
rieres-a dissolute duplication OF crawl
ing. bowling, patriotic drama OF the Boulo-
ward du Crime We frequently encountered
National Guard funerals, which surpassed
any Mi-Carome fantasy.
.'Following a rude hearse, draped In red
ilags which tapped mournfully in the wind.
hurried in pell-mell confusion; Generals who
were literally covered with gold braid, wear
ing high Hessian boots. and accompanied
by women. whose heads were swathed In
Madras handkerchiefs, astride heavy cavalry
horses, which they beat and spurred In
cesssntly; while 15-year-old trunpeters.
with cheeks pulled out to bursting, essayed
playing the 'Marseillaise.'
1.-The crowd bowed abjectly TO the gorge
Gus pageant The Able. with his back 10
the wall In order to hide the slight remnants
OF his tonsure, dotted his felt and my cap.
We were rewarded for our courtesy by the
many sympathetic glances cast upon US.
THE first days rolled by without giving
the Able any cause for uneasiness. He had
prudently taken the preeautlOn of providing
himself with false papers, and his position
could In case Of necessity be reduced to the
following: "A teacher, at 40 sous per day;
he had boon left in this large boarding school
in charge OF the only remaining scholar,
whose parents had been unable to remove
him; he was caring for the little fellow.
looking to the aid and the protection OF
the Commune, positive that II would shield
and save n son Of free Americav Besides.
his imperturbable sang frold saved him from
many an embarrassing situation. and ono
might almost say that 1t pleased him to play
hide and seek with danger In the crowded
squares he questioned the officers, found
fault with everything, always had the last
word, Internationally bought the Bonnet
Rouge or the Pere Duchene. In public he
was prodigal in the use OF the word cit
oyen.' Who would have suspicioned, In this
Dragging scoffer. the feryent retiring priest
we knew In retreat7 The same whom
could see as lay with half-closed eyes on
my cot bed lIneellng on his wooden prize
Dieu during the hours OF '.ie silent night
lost In prayer and medltatiol..
I'VE were In the habit OF taking our meals
at a miserable little restaurant in the Rue
dc Rennes filled at all hours with common
people and workmen in blouses, who hob
nobbed nolslly together without paying any
attention to us We always had the same
dessert-an apple and three black nuts,
think that the proprietress Jolly sort
OF woman. in a tri-colored cap, recognized
the Able the very first day; but she had
good face and she Invariably greeted us
with pleasant smile.
ION the 18th OF April--lt fell on Friday.
and Good Friday, toO--after we had been
seated at our table for a few moments, loolt-
Ing over the blll-of-fare, preparatory TO or
dering our breakfast, several National
Guarlsmen, who were drinking beer at a
table or two away from us, seemed to be
whispering among themselves; they cast
suspicious glances In our direction and ex-
citedy slapplng their thighs, raised their
voices to loud pitch. Suddenly one Of
them, rising, staggered toward US, and
touching the Abbe's shoulder with his dirty
forennger-he in the meantime continued TO
study the fish portion Of the card without
hnching- addressed him in an insulting
tone Of voice:
Come do not lie to US, you are n
crow a slang phrase for priest.
More than likely added another.
"tnd a third chlmed in: Certainly
he is one. He dare not deny III Come,
preach to US; we will listen.
"The Able had never budged had not
even made a gesture. He looked them In
the face ieeringly, shrugged his shoulders
and In a laughing voice. called out:
menl
NO. replied the first speaker, no
litres. our thirst is quenched something
pay for some 'fole gras' and Join US. II 1
remember rightly, to-day is Good FRI
day, that's rlght-we will see, no mistake,
as to what he lsl'
"Ah bravo. that is good applauded
the gallery. 'Ha! that catches him, AL
phonsel Come feast with us, or we will
cut of your headl
"All the revelers had left their seats
and crowded around us. with dlstended
eyes, looking for the contamination of the
farce. And a frowsy mason with crossed
arms hlccoughed:
q
Is too much afraid OF damning his soul
forever"
In the meantime an enormous slice Of
pate had been placed on the table. a nasty,
rancid, yellowish mess swimming In
grease; large black trufie stuck IN the
top. the kitchen knife lying alongside OF
It on thick common plate. on all sides
curses were heard;
"'Win he cat it? He Is not eatlngl
Warm hlml'
"Al at once the silence Of the grave fell
upon tho room, and you could have heard
the ilutter OF fy's wings. The Able had
taken the knife. He cut of slice. pnt
1t on plate and TRANQUILITY alto It: H. was
pale, but he swallowed without any hurry
or outward sign OF disgust. After several
mouthfuls, he rose and said IN an Icy
tone Of voice:
Are you satisfed?'
Then putting on his hat and taking mo by
N"HNs Ht Ndlu MS Dill ana went out
leaving them stupefed with astonishment
once IN the street, he never opened his
mouth, and | was too much upset to address
a word to him. The weather was warm. and
somewhere street band was PLAYING A
German waltz, sad enough to listen 10. On
the curbstone a crippled woman stood beg
ging He crossed the street to give her
aims.
'Stlll In silence, we entered the school,
mouse; he went up the stairs which led TO
our room, but all at once. on the Staircase,
us strength gave way, and he burst into
matchmaking sobs. his face pressed against
me wall, trembling and as weak as a child.
ne cried out In the midst Of his paroxystns.
My God My Godl It was for the little ono |
who was conhdei to mr. care that | slnnedi
Pardon mel Pardon mel!
Then turning to me gently he sent mo |
away saying; Go play. and leave me alonep |
obeyed him. but as l descended tho |
stairs heard him say; "A priest! A priestl |
And to-day is Good Fridsyr
some DAYS later we left the school and |
found refuge with some friends Of tbe |
a hhA's. and they hid US until the arrival |
Oh the Versailles troops"
My mother appeared to be- verv nurh
moved by mis- story. In a low voice she
gave expression 10 tho poIg-
nans regret of her life; 81 would have loved
% nave had a son priest. to have had him
~ me as closed my eyes on this life ana
TO have had his prayers after my death &"
Ihen felt that must scold her, nCop,o