Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-01-04
MisCellaue0Ms.
A LIVING TOM B.

IN france. July IOunu me IN tue ue-
partment of Calvados, Normandy, at u
village near Caen, mine of antiquities
The cure, Father Aloysius, showed me
everything which he thought would in
terest stranger. As some slight return
for his kindness asked him to lunch
with me We went to the hotel
Very old, with snowy hair and face
as ruddy as a pippin of his province,
my companion carried sunshine where
ever he went. He had CHEEKY greet
ing for all, and it was easy to see that
all vcnerated him,
Eyes, monsieur, my people know me,
he said in answer to some remark -
Forty years | have labored
among them. 1t is almost lifetime
The church has called me often. My
friends say might have been bishop,
but could not leave
A group of men excitedly gosticulat-
ing stood round the hotel door They
came to meet us hurredly.
"IIavs you heard, father--have you
heard 7" 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 bourgeois --yes2 The place is
tumble 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 purchaser--he was there too. -
They found a skeleton in the wall"
Sacred name !" cried the priest white
as corpse "At WALTON No Not
mile away? Impossible y
at is true.
Father Aloysius turned to me. He
shook like a man with the ague.
''You will pardon me, monsieur
must go at once. This is great dscov-
cry will verify it and return"
He hastened away. lunched alone
1t was 4 o'clock when he came back,
still pale and very subdued.
81 have been rude he said II
crave again thousand pardons | could
not teal myself away. Forty seven
years | have sought what chance has
brought to light to-day. You shall
hear.
"Forty seven years ago | came to
this village. | had been asked to take
charge of it in the absence Of the euro.
1t was my second night here-so dark
one could not see ones hand. was
tired had been visiting the sick |
lay down in my soutane and slept A
loud knocking awoke me.
"'Who is there 2 | cried.
" Friends of the church, voice an
swsred,
IL opened the door. Two men Gu
tered, tall and we'll dressed | could not
see their faces. They wore masks.
"'Are you the cure 2 said the man
who bad answered ms--a foreigner by
his accent
81 explained.
mo matter, he said 'one priest is
as good as another A man is dying.
He wishes TO receive absolution. Will
you gor
II hesitated viii you explain why
you wear those masks Z? | said.
'IIc laughed 1t is the simplest
thing In the world We do not wish to
be recognized Now will you go? Your
poor will benefit
i am ready replied
"A carriage stood outside the door
My poor lamp revealed it | entered it
with the spokesman. The other mounted
the box Many times the carriage
turned completely round
Docs your companion not know the
way 2 asked
" 1T is very dark, was the reply.
II have been reminded Of the circum-
stances, apparently trivial, to-day At
the time suspected nothing. know
now that the carriage was turned to con
fuse me- My companion was taciturn.
He answered me No Yes
Many miles we travelled, twenty or
more. Two hours we had journeyed
when the carriage stopped in paved
yard.
"'We alight here said my moross
companion
II followed him. The coachman de-
sccnded could not see hun could
not distinguish the carriage.
Is it necessary 10 bindfold tn G
priest ? he asked
"'No, was the reply.
II was disquieted, but not afraid. A
poor monk need not fear robbers.
" Give me your hand, said my fell.
low traveller.
II obeyed He led me along a pas
sage between high walls.
"Thc sounds told me- We crossed
another paved yard and climbed stone
staircase The apartment we entered wa
tagged My guide halted.
Z" fhe priest is here, he said in 4
loud voice. | saw aothiag His voic,