Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-01-11
A LIVING TOMB.

ment Of Calvados, Normandy, at a vii
lage near Caen, o mine Of antiquities
The cure, Father Aloysius, showed
me everything which no thought would
interest a 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 q pippin Of his province, my
companion carried sunshine wherever he
iSent He had a CHEEKY greeting for
all, and it was easy to see that all ven
Grated him.
Eyes, monsieur, my people know mo, 4"
no said in answer to some remark.
"Forty-seven years l have labored
among them. 1t is almost o. lifetime.
The church has called me often. My
friends say 1 might have been a bishop
but I could not leave"
A group of men excitedly ~gesticulat-
ing stood round tho hotel door. They
came to meet us hurriedly.
"Have you heard, father-have you
heard?" they cried.
mo, my friends" he answered
"Whnt 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 P~rudhomme
went with their tools this morning to
take down some masonry. NJ. Grous-
set, the purchaser-he was thore too.
They found a skeleton in tho wall"
Sacred namel'' cried the priest,
white as a corpse. "At WALTON? No.
Not q mile away9 ImpossibleI"
''It is true"
Father Aloysius turned to me. He
shook like a man with the ague.
"You will pardon me, monsieur? 1
must go at once. This is a great discov-
cry. 1 will verify it and return"
he hastened away. / lunched alone.
1t was 4 o'clock when he came back,
still pale and very subdued.
II have been rude" he said. II
crave again a thousand pardons. / could
not tear myself away. Forty-seven years
/ have sought what chance has brought
to light today. You shall hear.
"Forty-seven years agoI anne to this
village. l had been asked to take charge
of it in tho absence of the oure. 1t was
my second night hero--so dark II
could not see ones hand. Twas tired. l
had been visiting the sick. 1 lay down
in my soutane and slept. A loud knock
ing awoke me.
who is there?' / cried.
Friends of the church, avoice an
swered.
"Iopened the door. Two mon entered,
tall and well dressed I could not see
their faces. They wore masks.
Are you the cure?' said the man
who had answered me-a foreigner by
his accent.
81 explained.
No matter, he said; 'one priest is
as good as another. A man is dying.
He wishes to receive absolution. Will
you go?'
81 hesitated. Will you explain why
you wear those masks?' / said.
ale laughed. 1T is the simplest thing
in the world. We do not wish to be
recognized. Now, will you go? Your
poor Will cement,
" I am ready, 1 replied.
"a carriage stood outside tho door.
My poor lamp revealed it. l entered it
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 tho 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, 90 or
more Two hours we had journeyed
when the carriage stopped in q paved
yard.
"'we alight here. said my morose
companion
II followed him. The coachman de-
scended 1 could not sec him. l could
not distinguish the carriage.
Is 1t necessary to blindfold the
priestr he asked
No, was the reply.
Twas disquieted, but not afraid. A
poor monk need not fear robbers
Give me your hand, said my fol
low traveller.
II obeyed. He led me along a passage
between high walls
''Tbe sounds told me. We crossed an
other paved yard and climbed q stone
staircase The apartment we entered
wa tagged. Ny guide halted.
The priest is here, he said in d
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 lie plac,
ed me In position. Cold air struck my
face-a draft There was a cavity.
The priest is here, my guide repeated
''Then l heard another voice, very
faint, as Of a man near death. Is h
alone?' It said.
NO / answered. One Of the mei
who brought me here stands beside me.
''The poor wretch sighed
I will retire. said my companion
his footsteps sounded like those Of ont