The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-19
PERE LABALME.
BY the COUNTESS DE sULMALLA.


raised h.s head and stared into vacancy.
There appeared before his minds eye the
face ana the form OF "a woman. young
and fair, With an alIuring smile upon her
Intensely blue eyes. He started 10 his
feet.
20 G0di il Is terrible TO be pursued by
such thoughts and desiresi' he exclaimed
Then selling his hat. he hastily strobe out
OF The house. away up 10 the wooded
mountain top. and did not return TN
ulEutfalI. Again he sat down 10 write.
This ZINE his pen traced one word. and
tlat word repeatedly. the name Adrienue.
After while the pen took different
turn, and produced the lovely face Of the
owner OF the name
Beloved face" he calculated. "beguhe
me not from my duty. tempt me not 20 the
destruction Of my soul.
In his gaze as 10 rested upon the sketch
De had made, there was a world OF unut-
terable love. Presently he was reused from
his reFerie by the chatter OF his old house
Keepers sahOts. He quickly hid the sketch,
and Antoluette entered with his supper
ON the following evening, fifteen minutes
before the dinner hour. Monsieur le Cure
made his appearance IN the salon Of Ca
ravaques. From one OF the turret windows
the children had seen him approaching the
castle through the avenue Of acacias. and
had run TO meet him. He was presented 10
TWO or three strangers. and then he turn
cd to salute Mademoinselle Shredder. This
lady was sitting In "A recess, partly screen
ed from observation by the high Towering
plants, and lIstlessly turning over the
pages Of an illustrated book
"Ah, Monsieur, 1 am so gladv she cried,
throwing down the book. and extending
her hand TO him. 81 have been thinking
about you all day hoping that you would
not have "a sick call or anything else that
would prevent your coming here this even
ing"
He took her small, cool hand in his own
burning one and its touch thrilled through
his whole being There was the usual al
- haH ms md "a har
looked into his the strange magnetic light
kept into them The beauty of this woman
lay IN the perfect formation of her face
and features. and the brillancy OF her
complexion. There were people who did not
admire her face. though they admitted that
IL was faultless. What her face lacked was
expression. Adrienne Shredder was tall
and well developed She had quantity Of
fair, almost white, hair her eyes were
large and very blue. and her skin was like
"A piece OF white and pink china. II was
when conVersing with her that one became
aware Of the want Of soul in her classic
ally cut face. Monsieur le Cure however,
was one OF the many who did not observe
this. lie often told himself that she was
like Madonna Of one of the great old
Masters. He seated himself beside her In
the recess: He spoke a few incoherent
words; his throat seemed to grow cramp-
ed; his emotion was almost more than he
could conceal. TO his relief the eldest child
Of the house brought to him her last pencil
drawing TO look at.
Dear Pere Emile. Is this better than
my last2' she asked him. you did not
like my waterfall; l hope you will like
this"
He bent over the drawing and pointed
out Its defects to the child
What a charming drawing master you
would make. Pere Emile" said the Asa
tan, with a light laugh.
If you could be my pupil mademoi-
selle" he replied. in almost a whisper
Let II be So she said, in the same low
voice. do give me some instructions. 1
know only sufficient to teach these chill
dren."
He raised his dark eyes to her sparkling
blue one. yes. If l could" he said.
You can If you will, monsieur" she
Z am priest and am restricted mad
emoiSelle.
Break through the restrictions"
DO not ask me. / am but human and
weak where you are concerned"
This pleased her She could read him
well To kindle love in the heart of the
priest was what she desired What a
conquest, she thought, it would be.
i am sorry you are a priest, mon
sieur,' she continued presently, glancing
at him under her silvery lashes. He made
no reply, but bent lower over the draw
ing. Immediately after this dinner was
announced, and they all filed into the
sale Manager.
Emile Labalme was rather silent during
the repast 1t was sufficient for him TO
listen to the enchanting music of Adrienne
ShrOider's voice. Later in the evening
she sang some simple Alsatian songs,
Which suited her style to perfection, and
the priest felt himself quickly and more
surely drifting to perditiOn. He did not
look into her eyes, nor did he take her
hand in his own, when he bade her good
night. He would conquer himself He
would not think of her. All night long he
spent upon his knees in his little church
on the mountain side His prayers were
| long and feTVent, yet between him and
the crucifx came the face and form of
the woman he prayed for strength to re-
sist. He groaned aloud in agony of soul,
and the sweat stood in beads upon his
| forehead. Lost! LOST" he muttered
The sun was fixed high in the heavens
when Pere Labalme rose from his knees
| and quilted the church.
Holy Saints! What Is the matter with
| Monsieur lie Cure?" exclaimed one of a
number of peasant women on their way to
| work in the fields.
He looks as if he had just risen from
| the dead" observed another.
| ''Ah. Pere Labalme is not long for this
| world, said third. And when old An
| toinette behld him, she held up her hands
! and uttered a cry OF alarm.
! No Illness would have wrought a great.
| er change in his appearance than did the
| one nights mental struggle in the house
| of God. He looked ten years older. His
/ face was CHASTITY pale, and his eyes sun,
| ken and purple trimmed; his brow was
[
| All day long he went about in a dreamy
| manner, only speaking when addressed
| and not always then. Old Antonette
| with tears in her honest eyes, begged him
to allow her to send for the doctor HI
| smiled, and told her he was not sufferins
| from any bodily ailment. She was not t
| agitate herself on his account. He would
! so up into the woods and endeavor (
| get an appetite for dinner. Antoinett,
/ took great pains with her cooking anC
| when Monsieur lie Cure sent a meal away
| untasted, as he had done this morning
| she felt aggrieved.
Up into the woods he went, his arm.
| folded, his head bent. His spirit was i'm
| prisoned in one thought. Wherever h,
! turned. wherever he looked, Ii was will
! him. The branches of the trees sighet
| Adrienne; the fallen leaves, that wer,
| dancing around him in the autumn breeze
! whispered Adrienne; the birds above hin
| sang Adrienne; the mountain cascad,
! laughed Adrienne. All was Adrienne: tn,
] world was Adrienne. He tried to think
I he could not Hours passed. They wer,
/ to him but moments. He did not obserV,
the decline of day, the sinking of the sun
! the cessation of the birds carol
| 1t was the chateau dinner bell that call
| ed him back to himself. He retraced hi
! steps down the mountain path His gal
I was slow and weary; his countenanct
IL