The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-08-13
THE BLASPHEMER.
\ Sketch OF Character on the
Canadian Frontier.
Apnailine Utterances Of Rough Traveller
who Defles the Priest and Refuses
His Holy Onces-A Start
Ling Incident.


His Holy Omces-A Start
Ling Incident
"Sacrez mon bapteme!"
~What did he say?' asked the little
chemist, stepping from his doorway.
.sHe cursed lis baptism" answered
tall Medallion, the English, auctioneer.
pushing his way fartherinto the crowd.
"Ah. the pitiful vaurfen!" said the
little chemists wife, shudderingly; Tor
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 repuision that
the little chemists wile.
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 curse which was horribly
erotesque 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 q moment there was painful
hush. The crowd drew back involun-
tarily and left q clear space, in which
stood the blasphemer, middle-sized'
athletic fellow, with black beard, thick,
waving hair, and flashing brown eyes.
His white ,teethawere showing now in
a snarl like dogs, his cap was on the
ground, his hair was tumbied, his hanos
were twitching with passion, his foot
was stamping with fury, and every time
it struck the ground a little silver bell
rang at his knee, a pretty sylvan sound,
N mo keeping with the scene. IT
heightened the distress of the fellows
blasphemy and nngovernable anger.
For q 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 a 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 figure
pushed through the crowd, and, stand
ing in front of the man, waved the peo-
Dle back. It was the cure, the beloved
NJ. Fabre, whose life had been spent
among them. whom they obeyed as
we'll 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 propagation had your s
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. aud he did not answer yet tAt
"Luc Pomfrctte, what have you to
say7" asked the cure again. He mo
toned back Ardenne, the constable OF
the parish, who had suddenly appeared
with a rusty rife and more rusty pair
of handouts.
Still the voyageur did not answer.
Rfs . -
"The blasphemy is horrible, shame
and stigma upon Pontiac forever" TIC
looked Pomfrette in the face. "Foui-
mouthed and wicked man, it is two
years since you took the blessed sacra-
ment, Last Easter day you were IN q
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 a 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
cent for candle, but"
ats a lie!" cried Pomfrette, shaking
with rage from head to foot.
A long horror-stricken "Ah!' broke
from the crowd.
The cures face became graver ane
colder.
"You have bad heart" he answered
"and you give us an evil name. l com
mand you to come to mass next Sunday
to repent and to hear your penance
given from the altar. For until
ssI'll go to no mass till I'm carried te
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 hrmbly, and bows mn
vicious spirit to holy church, and his
heart to the mercy of God. command
you to avoid him as you would plague
/ command that no door be open *
him; that no one offer him comfort o.
friendship; That not even q bon jour o.
a bon soir pass between you. He has
blasphemed against our Father II
Heaven; he is leper." He turned tc
Pomfrette. II pray God that you have
no peace in mind or body till your evl
life is changed. and your black heart
is broloen by sorrow and repentance"
Then to the people he said again: u
have commanded you for your souls
| sAlce; see that you obey. Go to your
homes. Let us leave the leper-alone. !
He waved the awed crowd back.-Gii
bert Parker, in Century.
No Turkey for Them.
sGive q sailor pie three times day,
said an old sea captain, "and he woulc
still kick" Pie Il the alpha and omegs
/ - = .e;1or,o ideas on luxury of food. The