Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-06-22

SLOWLY ana laDOrlOuSly Ine u;lrk Suiu-
ows climbed from tho 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 chariot drawn by invisible horses,
came up in the farthest west as the adj
vance guard of n mcnacing storm.
S. is ono 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
| channels, the future ornament of the
Alps-as yet, alas, n mythical creature!
AS l entered the public room i'll my
comfortable negligee there upon the CEN
ter table was already burning the pc
| troleum lamp-an article now to be
found i'll every PEASANTS hut. BY n cor
nor table sat several peasants, with their
beer mugs before them. 1 stepped past
them toward an open window and look
ed out
1t had already grown very dark, and
the whole heavens, as far rs the eye
could reach, wcrc cnvcloped in black
dangerou- looking clouds. Every now
and then there would be n bright flash
on the farthCst horizon where the noun
tain peaks kissed tho clouds, and then
would come response in low, heavy
growls from unfathonable abysses.
Scarcely 10 minutes later Il 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 crcakcd on its
hinges, and man, bent and dripping
with rain, appeared within it. Without
word he stepped in and retired
quickly to a dark corner 1t was tho ant
hunter.
The landlady sat by the stove and
knit. Only from time to time, rs an es-
pecially binding flash would shoot
across the heavens, would she let her
work fall i'll her lap and mako 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
~. The landlady knit industriously on.
"a 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 i'll CuriOuSly
hooking way.
aren't you glad to see me?' said
he. Il have the same right to sit here
as the others. l pay my bills"
At the table where the peasants sat
| there had been Il great commotion ever
since the arrival of tho ant hunter.
There was much putting of heads to-
scther, very animated whispering and
| ali industrious passing about Of the
pitcher.
"Landlady!" finally cried the princi-
pal speaker of the company, a broad
shouldercd, thick set man, 1.-The pitcher
10 empty. If you want to fill it again,
| please to notice that were not going to
sit in the Same room with jailbird. "
The ant hunter shrank at the tones of
this voice.
"Xavier!' he faltcred.
The man so designated caught the
word, and with flushed face and hold.
| ing his oaken stool in his hand took Il
few steps forward
"Now, said he, trembling with cN-
citcment, there Is the door,
The amt hunter had risen. He seemed
strangely calm.
"Xavier, " sand IL, ''you are making
yourself unnecessary trouble. Your
scOrn no longer initiates me. Once have
raised my hand against You i'll revenge,
but ought not to have done it. Now !
am waiting until the hour itself comes.
A binding light flooded the whole
room. Then camc 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 reigncd. III
vain did wo seek 10 pierce it. Suddenly
column of fire mounted to heaven
Tho whole village was rs light as day.
go God, my farm buildinSs" cried
Xavier, burying his face i'll his hands.
! II believe the hour is here, said tho
ant hunter and cmptiCd his glass.
From the towers sounded again the
storm bell. Grcwsomc were the shriil
tones as they rang through the darkness
of the night.
Fire! Fire. was next heard through
the village and the starAcd people ran
hither and thithcr III the widest excite
ment. Windows were thrown open,
doors crcalcd ON their hinges, and ev
erybody rushed toward tho wooded ridge
from the foot of which 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 groundlcss. They
had nothing to fear from that scene of
horror Not finger was lifted to bring
help to that stricken homo. God himself
had hurled the thundcrbolt, and where
he kindlcs the fire-so it is related
shudderingly from generation to gcncr-
alton of the peasant folk-billows Of
water are powerloSs to cxtinguish it
Idly, therefore, stood hundreds of
people before the finest farmhouse In
the valley and gazcd with impotent hor-
ror into the flames which would soon
engulf it.
With dishcvcled locks and wild de-
spa1r in his eyes Xavier appeared now
and then and throw out whatever came
to his hand, howsocver worthless it
might be.
The wretchcd man had lost his senses.
A group of women had gathered about
the we'll. and in their midst lay tho
farmers wife, who had dropped down
there utterly exhausted from fright and
excitement She had been with the chill
dren in the house when the lightning
struck the adjoining barn and set it on
fire. When she flew from the house, the
rafters were already ablaze.
The women were bathing her head
with the fresh we'll water when sho
opened her eyes md looked anxiously
| oh