The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-22

Leroy, wno, Overwhelmed with
grief, seized the hands of the priest.
murmuring:
my wifel My poor little ones"
Courage. my friend, said the
priest. do not lose hope"
With tact he told his parishioner
that he was pardoned on account Of
his family. The man began to laugh
and dance, almost beside himself.
He wanted to run home Immediate
ly, but the priest succeeded in calm.
ing him. and at length they both set
out on the road to his house. Near
a gate the priest said:
Remain here lam going to in.
form your wife"
She. surrounded by her children.
whose merry voices were now hush
ed, was sadly working in her hum.
BILE cottage. but the beaming tace of
the priest as he approached an
nounced the joyful news.
HE is freei"
Without replying. the priest
smiled.
II want to see him ~ she exclaim-
ed.
He is coming" And husband
and wife were in each others arms
in silent joy
I'VE have not thanked you," said
the man at last.
The priest, We y much moved. re.
piled. Your | appiness is my re.
ward" He clasped the hands of the
husband and wife. kissed the chill
dren and FASTENED to return to tho
sohoolh0use. In a corner of the
schoolroom the forest keeper, Lsi.
deur. veteran of the Italian and
Crimean campaigns. gloomy, his
arms crossed. stoically smoked his
pipe. Near him Vincent. young
man about 18 years of age. his head
resting On his hands. seemed to
sleep
The priest sat down between the
two prisoners His exhortations and
his encouragements made the young
man Sob Laideur swore The priest
took each by the arm. and. knowing
that no one would communicate
with them. he said to them
I'VE must stand together by and
by. You. Laideur. must set US an
example. an old soldier like you"
You are going to be with uss"
asked the forest keeper
"Yes. indeed, instead Of Leroy,
you understand. He has wife and
children.
Carried away with enthusiasm,
Laideur exclaimed:
"Tou are indeed herol Surely
we will stand by each otherl If l
could only have killed few more
of these cock sparrows-but my
rhe 1matismf''
With smile. the priest calmed
tho exc itement Of the worthy fellow,
and tb en-, turning to Vincent, asked
if he wished to confess. The young
man consented And you. Lai-
deur9" he asked.
"Oh, as to me. you know I am not
piousi"
do it for my sake"
well, now, would that give you
pleasureG"
"Muoh pleasure. my friend"
Very we'll. then. "said the forest
keeper, pulling up his sleeves as If
about to nnlcsd heavy burden
On his return to his vestry-for
ne had obtained permission to re-
main free in order to make his final
errangements-the priest asked tbe
sexton to summon the inhabitants
OF the village to meet him at the
church at o'clock.
According to habit, after his
breakfast he took some bits of tread
and sugar and went into the inclo-
sure in front OF his house. On
catching sight Of him his donkey
stopped feeding and advanced to-
ward him. The priest put Ills arms
around her neck. and with tho palm
Of his hand strcked her vclvety nos
triis. repeating: MY good beastI
My good beasti
His tenderness was extended to
all the animals. companions Of his
solitude. and these, rendered gentle
by his great kindness, offered them
selves to his caresses. Meantime the
donkey had freed her head and
walked around her master, snuffing
the air and then began to bray
Greedy one. is that what you
wantf" said the priest, drawing out
from his cassook a piece Of bread.
Sounds OF clucking and Tapping
Of wings now claimed his attention.
He stopped, and cooks and hens
came to peck from his hands. His
rabbits were not forgotten either.
While giving them some bran he
slowly passed his hand through the
fur Of their rounded backs. AS his
donkey had followed him. he hand.
n hax- ~ 20