The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-06-06
A LIVING TOMB.

in France. July found me in the depart
ment of Calvados, Normandy, at vii
lage near Caen, mine of antiquities
The cure, Father Aloysius, showed
me everything which he thought would
interest stranger. AS some slight re-
turn for his kindness / asked him to
lunch with me. We went to the hotel
Very old, with snowy hair and face
as ruddy as pippin of his province, my
companion carried sunshine wherever he
went, He had CHEEKY greeting for
ALL and it was easy to see that all ven
Grated him
Eyes, monsieur, my people know me, "
he said in answer to some remark.
Forty seven years l have labored
among them. 1t is almost a lifetime.
The church has called me often. My
friends say might have been bishop,
but could not leave. /"
A group of men excitedly gesticulat-
ing stood round the hotel door. They
came to meet us hurriedly.
"Have you heard, father--have you
heard?'' they cried.
"No, my friends" he answered
"What is the news?"
Several spoke at once, but this is the
gist of what they said:
"You know the old castle is sold? To
a rich bourgeois-yes? The place is tum-
BILE down. He will have it repaired.
Pierre Valois and Jean Prudhomme
went with their tools this morning to
take down some masonry. M. Grous-
set, the purchaser-he was there too
They found skeleton in the wall y
Sacred namep' cried the priest,
white as a corpse cat Vallon? No
Not mile away? Impossibler'
ct is true. %
Father Aloysius turned to me. He
shook like man with the ague.
"You will pardon me, monsieur? l
must go at once. This is great discov-
cry. will verify it and return. -"
He FASTENED away lunched alone.
1t was o'clock when he came back,
still pale and very subdued.
81 have been rude" he said. 81
crave again thousand pardons. could
not tear myself away. Forty years
/ have sought what chance has brought
to light today. You shall hear
Forty seven years ago / came to this
village l had been asked to take charge
of it in the absence of the cure. 1t was
my second night here-so dark one
could not see ones hand. Twas tired. /
had been visiting the sick. lay down
i'll my soutane and slept A loud knock
ing awoke me-
who is there?' | cried.
Friends of the church, voice an
swered
81 opened the door. Two men entered,
tall and well dressed. could not see
their faces. They wore masks.
Are you the cure?' said the man
who had answered me-a foreigner by
his accent
II explained.
No matter, he said; one priest is
as good as another A man is dying.
He wishes to receive absolution. Will
you go?'
II hesitated. will you explain why
you wear those masks?' said.
"He laughed Tits the simplest thing
in the world We do not wish to be
recognized Now, will you go? Your
poor will benefit.
" Il am ready, / replied.
"a carriage stood outside the door.
My poor lamp revealed it. / entered it
with the spokesman. The other mount
ed the box Many times the carriage
turned completely round.
docs your companion not know the
way?' asked.
1T is very dark, was the reply.
II have been reminded of the circum-
stances, apparently trivial, today. At
the time 1 suspected nothing. know
now that tho carriage was turned to
confuse me- My companion was tact
turn. He answered me No, Yes.
MANY miles we travelled, 20 or
more Two hours we had journeyed
when the carriage stopped in paved
yard.
we alight here, said my morose
companion.
81 followed him. The coachman de-
scended. / could not see him. could
not distinguish the carriage.
is it necessary to blindfold the
priest?' he asked
No., was the reply.
IT was disquieted, but not afraid. A
poor monk need not fear robbers.
Give mo your hand, said my fell
low traveller.
II obeyed. He led me along passage
between high walls.
''The sounds told me. We crossed an
other paved yard and climbed stone
staircase. The apartment we entered
was tagged My guide halted.
90 The priest is here, he said in a
loud voice. / saw nothing. His voice
echoed as if in an empty room of vast
size.
Where is the dying man?' / asked.
Stand close to the wall. He plac-
ID me in position. Cold air struck my
face--a draft. There was cavity.
'The priest is here, my guide repeated.
''Then / heard another voice, very
faint, as of man near death. Is he
aioneY it said.
No, / answered. One Of the men
who brought me here stands beside me. ;
''The poor wretch sighed.
L will retire. said my companion.
His footsteps sounded like those OF ono
walking in vault. The dying man
heard
You arc alone now? he said.
Yes, l answered Speak on.
"He did so. All, monsieur, / Thought
/ was dreaming
I am near death. / need the last
rites of the church, he said.
" Confess your sins, / answered.
My sins are trivial, he returned.
I would speak Of great crime. oc-
cupy cell twice the width Of my body.
l know not where. am condemned to
die of starvation. know not why. 1
have never injured fellow creature
my blood boiled. Speak on, re-