Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-12-10
THE BLASPHEMER.
/ sketch Of Character on the
Canadian Frontier.
A,p.iilnR Utterances Of . Rough Traveller
who Defles the Priest and Refuses
His Holy O0ces "A Start.
Hing Incident.
.sacrez mon bapteme!"


"sacrez mon bapteme!"
"What did he say?" asked the little
chemist, stepping from his doorway.
ale cursed lis baptism" answered
tall Medallion, the English auctioneer,
n,,shing his way farther into the crowd.
"Ah. the pitiful vanrien!" said the
little chemists wife, shndderingly; for
that was an oath not to Ike 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
nossessed the little chemists wife.
They babbletl, shook their heads and
waved their hands excitedly, and
swayed and craned their necks to see
the offender.
All ut once his voice, mad with rage,
was heard above the rest, shouting
frenziedly a curse which was horribly
rrotesque 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 a moment there was a painful
hush. The crowd drew back involun-
tarily and left 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
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
I struck the ground n little silver bell
rang at his knee. pretty sylvan sound,
n no keeping with the scene. 1t
heightened the distress Of the fellows
blasphemy and ungovernable anger.
For a man TO curse his baptism was a
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 a figure
pushed through the crowd, and, stand
ing in front of the man, waved the peo-
pie back. 1t was the cure, the beloved
M. Fabrc, whose life had been spent
among them, whom they obeyed as
we'll us 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 your
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 tho
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 10
say?" asked the cure again. He mo.
toned back Artlenne. the constable OF
the parish, who had suddenly appeared
with rusty ritlc and a more rusty pan
of handouts.
Still the voyageur did not answer
"The blasphemy is horrible, shame
and stigma upon Pontiac forever" III
looked Pomfrette in the face. Foul
mouthed and wicked man, it is twt
years since you took the blessed sacra
ment. Inst Easter day you were IN
drunken sleep while high mass was De
ing said; after the funeral of your owl
father you were drunk again. Whel
you went away to the woods you neve'
left a penny for candles. nor for masse
to be said for your fathers soul; ye
you sold his horse and his little house
and spent the money in drink. MOI
cent for a candle, but"
Its a lie!" cried Pomfrette, shaking
with rage from head to foot
A long horror-stricken "Ah!" brok
from the crowd.
The cures face became grayer an
colder.
"You have a bad heart" he answered
land YOU give us an evil name. con
mand you to come to mass next ouhoa
to repent and to hear your PENANG
given from the altar For until
"Tll go to no mass till I'm carried
II" was the sullen, malevolent 1nue
ruption.
The cure turned upon the people.
"This il a blasphemer, an esil-nen
ed, shameless man." he said. ~
he repents hrmbly, and BOWS Il
vicious spirit to holy church, anu u
heart to the mercy of God, ] commal
you to avoid him as you would piae
command that TO door be open
him; that no one offer him comfort
friendship; that not even bon you,
bon soir pass between you. ne -
blasphemcd against our Fa'her
Heaven; he is leper." He tn'hea
Pomfrette. II pray God that you ia
no pence in mind or body M your 8
life is changed, and your Lack he, |,
is broken by sorrow and repentance.
Then to the people he said again.
have commanded you for your sou
sake; see that you obey. Go 10 20
homes. Let US leave the )eper-aiona',
He waved the awed crowd back
bert Parker, in Century.