Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-06-15
A LIVING TOMB.


mont of Calvados Normandy, at a vii
lage near Caen, a mine of antiquities
The cure Father Aloysius, showed
me everything which he thought would
interest a stranger. AS some slight re-
turn for his kindness l asked him tc
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 a CHEEKY greeting for
all, and it was easy to see that all ven
Grated him.
Eyes, monsieur, my people know me, 5"
he said in answer to some remark.
''Forty- years l have laborcd
among them. 1t is almost lifetime
The church has called me often My
friends say l might have been bishop,
but l could not leave.
A group Of men eXcitodly gesticulat
ing stood round the hotel door. They
came to meet US hurriedly.
"Have you heard, father-have you
heard?" they cried.
mo, 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
rich bourgoois-yes? The place is tum-
down. He will have it repaired
Pierre Valois and Jean Prudhomme
went with their tools this morning to
take down some masonry. NJ Circus
set, the purchascr-he was there too.
They found a skeleton in the wall. -
Sacred namep' cried the priest,
white as a corpse. ''At WALTON? No
Not mile away? Impossible!"
"It is true "
Father Aloysius turned to me. He
shook like man with the ague.
"You will pardon me, monsieur?
must go at once. This is a great dilcov-
cry. l will verify it and return.
He FASTENED away lunched alone
1t was o'clock when he came back,
still pale and very subdued.
II have been rude" he said 81
crave again thousand pardons. could
not tear myself away. Forty-seven years
l have sought what chance has brought
to light today. You shall hear.
"Forty-sevon 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. was tired.
had been visiting the sick. l lay down
in my soutano and slept. a loud knock.
ing awoke me.
who is there?' l 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.
i 81 explained
No matter, he said; one priest i
as good as another. A man is dying
He wishes to receive dissolution. VIII
you go?'
Il hesitated Will you explain why
you wear those Masks? l said
! "He laughed 1T is the simplest thing
in the world. We do not wish to be
recognized. Now, will you go? Your
poor will benefit.
4 am ready, replied.
/ "a carriage stood outside the door
My poor lamp revealed it, | entered j
with the spokesman. The other mount.
ed the box. Many times the carriage
turned completely round.
Does your companion not know the
way?' / asked.
" 1T is very dark, was the reply.
81 have been reminded of the circum.
stances, apparently trivial, today. At
the time | suspected nothing. | know
now that the 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.
1--WE alight here, said my morose
companion.
II followed him. The coachman de
Seconded. could not see him. | could
not distinguish the carriage.
| 10 ~ h'NtSSuIg W DlluulOlu inc
briest?' he asked
No, was the reply.
"Iwas disGuieted, but not afraid. A
poor monk need not fear robbers.
Give me your hand, said my fell
low traveller
81 obeyed. He led me along passage
Between high walls.
'"The sounds told me. We crossed an
other paved yard and climbed a stone
rtaircase The apartment we entered
twas tagged, My guide halted.
" The priest is here, he said in n
loud voice. ! saw nothing His voice
ECHOED as if in an empty room of vast
ize.
Where is the dying man?' asked.
" Stand close to the wall. He plac-
ld 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
amt, as of a man near death. is he
llone?' it said.
" No, answered One of the men
who brought me here stands beside me.
IN