Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-11-09

and his hair worn quite long under his
hat, you would have sworn he was some
gay young rake, down from the heights Of
Vaugirad, seeking to mako an impression
on susceptible hearts. We were out all
day, strolling along, trying to accustom
ourselves to the strange sights in the
streets.
"At every step we jostled against I'M
kempt soldiers, with comforter6 around
their necks and boards which had not
known the barbers care for weeks, no
buttons on their coats, and taken alto
gether, very distressed looking lot. Or
else we met Vengeurs Vermillon, Fan
cheurs Noirs, light infantrymen, with
cocks plumes in their hats; enfants du
despair, zouaves of the armee d Antique
DIES carrieres-a dissolute duplication of a
crawling, bowling, patriotic drama of the
Boulevard du Crime We frequently en-
countered national guard funerals which
surpassed any MiCareme fantasy
Following a rude hearse, draped in red
flags, which tapped mournfully in the
wind, hurried in pellmell confusion gen
erals who were literally covered with gold
braid wearing high Hessian boots and
accompanied by women, whose heads were
swathed in Madras handkerohiefts, astride
heavy cavalry horses, which they beat and
spurred necessarily, while 15-year-old
trumpeters, with cheeks pulled out TO
bursting essayed playing the 'Marseil-
laise.
1.-The crowd bowed abjectly to the gor-
geous pageant. Tho able, with his back to
the wall, in order to hide the slight rem
nants of his tonsure, DOTTED his felt and l
my cap. We were rewarded for our cour-
tesy by the many sympathetic glances cast
upon us.
1.-The first days rolled by without giving
the abbe any cause for uneasiness He
had prudcntly taken the precaution of pro-
Yiding himself with false papers, and his
position could in case Of necessity be re-
duced to the following; A teacher at 40
i>r day; he had been left in this large
jaS school in charge Of the only re-
L..,lhIng 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
it would shield and save son of FREQ
America Besides his imperturbable sang
froid saved him from many an embarrass-
ing situatiua, and one might almost say
that it 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, os-
tentSaiously bought the Bonnet Rouge or
the fere Duchene. In public he was prod
igal in the use of the word citoyen. Who
would have suspected, in this Dragging
scoffer, the forvent retiring priest we knew
in retreatH The same whom l could see
as 1 lay with half closed eyes on my cot
bed kneeling on his wooden prize Dieu dur
ing the hours of the silent night lost In
prayer and meditation.
I'VE wero in the habit of taking our
meals at a miserable little restaurant in
the Rue de Rennes, filled at all hours
with common people and workmen in
blouses, who hobnobbed noisily together
without paying any attention to us. We
always had the same desscrt-an apple
and three black nuts. / think that the
proprietress, jolly sort Of a woman, in a
tricolored cap recognized the able the
very first day. but she had good face and
she invariably greeted us with a pleasant
smile.
ION the 18th Of April-it fell on Fri
day, and Good Friday, too-after we had
been seated at our table for few mo-
ments, looking over the bill Of fare, pre-
paratory to ordering our breakfast, several
national guacdsmen, who were drinking
beer at table or two away from us, SEEM
ed to be whispering among themselves.
They cast suspicious glances in our direc-
ton, and excitedly slapping their thighs
raised their voices to loud pitch. Sud
denly one of them, rising, staggered to-
ward us, and touching the abbe's shoulder
with his dirty forefnger-he in the mean
time continued to study the fish portion
of tho card without finching-addressed
him in an insulting tone of voice.
Come, do not lie to US; you arc q
crow, slang phrase for priest.
More than likely, added another.
"And third chimed in: Certainly he
is one. He dare not deny It'll Come, preach
to us; We will listen
1.-The able had never budged, had not
even made a gesture. He looked them in
the face jeeriHgly, shrugged his shoulders
and in Il laughing voice called out:
IA round of drinks for these brave
menp
No. replied the first speaker, no H.
tiers; our thirst is Notwithstanding
elsel Since you are willing to treat us,
pay for some 'foie gras' and join us. If
remember rightly. today is Good Friday,
that's right-Ie will see, no mistake as
to what he isl
"'Ah, bravo, that is goodp applauded
the gallery, 'Ha, that catches him, AL
phonse! Come, feast with us, or we will
cut off your headl'
'All the jewellers had left their seats
and crowded around u.s. with distended
eyes, looking for the contamination of the