The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-28
THE BLASPHEMER.
a Sketch Of Character on the
Canadian Frontier.
Appalling Ctterances of Rough Traveie,
Who Defies the Priest and Refuses
His Holy Onlces-A Start
Ling Incident

''He cursed Lis baptism" answered
tall Medallion, the English auctioneer,
pushing his way farther into the crowd.
'Ah, the pitiful vaurienI" said the
little chemists wife, shudderingly; for
that was an oath not TO be endured by
anyone who called the church mother.
The crowd that had gathered at the
-Four Corners were greatly disturbed,
for they also felt the repulsion that
possessed the little chemists vile.
They babbled, shook their heads and
waved their hands excitedly, and
swayed and craned their necks to see
the offender.
All at once his voice, mad with rage,
was heard above the rest, shouting
frenziedly a curse which was horribly
grotesque blasphemy upon the name of
God. Men who had used that oath in
their insane anger had been known to
commit suicide out of remorse after
wards.
For moment there was painful
hush. The crowd drew back involun-
tarily and left a clear space, in which
stood the blasphemer, a middle-sized,
athletic fellow, with black beard, thick,
waving hair, and flashing brown eyes.
His white teeth were showing now in
a snarl like dogs, his cap was on the
ground, his hair was tumbled, his hands
were twitching with passion, his foot
was stamping with fury, and every time
it struck the ground little silver bell
rang at his knee, a pretty sylvan sound,
in no keeping with the scene. 1t
heightened the distress of the fellows
blasphemy and ungovernable anger.
For a man to curse his baptism was
fearful thing; but the other oath was
not fit for human ears, and horror held
the crowd moveless for moment.
Then, as suddenly as the stiffness
came, a low, threatening humble of
voices rose, and movement to close in
on the man was made; but q figure
pushed through the crowd, and, stand
ing in front of the man, waved the peo-
pie back. It was the cure, the beloved
NJ. Fabre, whose life had been spent
among them, whom they obeyed as
well as they could; for they were but
frail humanity, after all, crude, simple
folk, touched with imagination.
"Luc Pomfrette, why have you done
this? What provocation had you?"
The cures voice was stern and cold,
his usually gentle face had become Sc
we're, his soft eyes were piercing and
determined.
The foot of the man still beat the
ground angrily, and the little bell kept
tinkling. He was gasping with pas
sion, and he did not answer yet.
"Luc Pomfrctte, what have you to
say" asked the cure again. He mo-
toned back Ardenne, the constable Of
the parish, who had suddenly appeared
with rusty rife and more rusty pair
of handouts.
Still the voyageur did not answer.
''The blasphemy is horrible, shame
and stigma upon Pontiac forever" He
looked Pomfrette in the face. Foul
mouthed and wicked man, it Is two
years since you took the blessed sacra-
ment. Last Easter day you were in a
drunken sleep while high mass was be-
ing said; after the funeral of your own
father you were drunk again. When
you went away to the woods you never
left penny for candles, nor for masses
to be said for your fathers soul; yet
you sold his horse and his little house,
and spent the money in drink. Not a
cent for q candle, but"
Its lie!" cried Pomfrette, shaking
with rage from head to foot
A long horror-stricken Ali" broke
from the crowd.
The cures face became grayer and
colder.
'You have had heart" he answered,
"and you give Us an evil name. COM
mand you to come 10 mass next Sunday
to repent and to hear your penance
given from the altar. For until"
I'll go to no mass till I'm carried to
it." was the sullen, malevolent inter |
ruption.
The cure turned upon the people.
This is blasphemer, an evil-heart- |
ed, shameless man." he said. Until |
he repents humbly, and bows his
vicious spirit to holy church, and his
heart to the mercy of God, / command
you to avoid him as you would a plague.
l command that no door be open TO
him; that no one offer him comfort or
friendship; that not even bon jour or
a bon soir pass between you. He has
against our Father in
Heaven; he is leper." He turned to
Ponfrette. Il pray God that you have
no peace in mind or body till your evil
life is changed, and your black heart |
is brolssn by sorrow and repentance"
Then to the people he said again: 81
have commanded you for your souls
sake; see that you obey. Go TO your
homes. Let US leave the leper-alone-"
He waved the awed crowd back--Gl- !
bert Parker, in Century.