The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-01-29

The Cossack officer had not yet. re-
turned to the house from the village
through which his men were billeted,
although the most of them looked in at
the tavern, when Bigorne came to tell
the able that a man, dripping with rain
and covered with mud, had just ar
rived from two leagues away through
thesWoods to ask that the abbe should
90 to his house. where his mother lay
at the point of death and needed the
last consolation Of the church.
z Il will 90, = said the able. @
Jean Bigorne looked at him.
.'.But, monsieur abbe,' said he. s.you
can not think of going at such an
hour. The roads are bad, it rains like
benediction and is SO black there that
the devil goes with his tail down, my
commander.
Give me my hat replied the abbe.
''But it is not Gods will! You will
meet those brigands at all corners of
the woods, not counting that evil
officer that you leave here. Surely it
is not prudent, Monsieur Abbc, it is
not prudent.
Are you not here?" replied the
aEoe. And he has not returned this
evening, and may be on duty all night.
For the rest I will be back in two
hours. Prepare the holy oil, and tell
Janmot at the tavern to saddle a horse
for me. 1t is the good God who calls
me to that friend who is going to Him.
Co."
1T is enough, my commander" said
Jean rcsignedIy.
\, X *
It was on the stroke of midnig ght when
the abbe Chanteloup returned his
horse to the tavern and regained,
across the sleeping village, the lane
that led up to his house. AS he walked
along by the wall of the church he
heard CALI:
Here, this way, Monsieur Abbe!''
''You, Jean! how are you there?"
asked he, astonished.
! 1T is the officer, my commander: He
returned and pushed me out when I
went to fasten the door. He is intoxi-
Gated, the scoundrel!n
| At that moment a window of the
, presbytery was opened and Mdlle Lys
all in her night garments disordered
with shoulders bare, leaned out; but a
hand pressed upon her mouth pushed
| her back before she could utter a cry,
and the smothcred sound of a struggle
! could be heard in the street.
The abbe threw himself like mad
man upon the door, that Jean shook
also with a terrible push; the fasten-
}ings gave way and struck no1selessly
against the wall !; and the two mem flew
up. the stairs, near which MdlIe. Lys
had fallen senseless.
| jean" said the able promptly,
''carry her to her chamber and restore
her to sense! You enter there, Mon
sieur! and he pushed toward another
room, the door of which was wide opcn
the officer whom the scene had sobered.
Then, facing the culprit, and look
ing him straight in the eyes, the Able
Chanteloup said:
"Listen to me! At Bergame, dur
ing the campaign in Italy, was made
lieutenant. The place was surrendered
and one of my men, who had bravely
done his duty in that campaign. that
evening stole a watch. [ had the
robber shot. In Egypt my orderly, a
dragon who had helped save my life
at the pyramids, struck dervish who
was coming out of a mosque I had
that man dismissed from the army. At
Wagram, finally, I surprised the old
est officer of my squadron, of which
| had been commander for five years,
! trying to ruin woman [ myself
killed the villain.
| The Cossack bowed. but said moth
ing. The able continued:
~ ou are to Your soldiers the ex-
ample of discipline and honor. You
have stained it, Monsieur. If I had
not arrived in time you. would have
committed here in my home an .infamy
-sullied home which left under the
safeguard of your loyalty. 1t is
necessary that you shall account to me-:
and If you refuse | shall compel YOU.
Forget then, that I am priest, and re-
member only that was soldier"
The Abbe Chanteloup-approached the
wall and took down from it's place
under cross the cavalry saber which
had served him through the great wars.
Come, Monsieur!" said he then.
''Jean, bring lantern and follow u.s."
AS they passed by the chamber
where Mdlle. Lys sat alone sobbine,
with her face between her hands, the
abbe entered r. =
Il have defended you from tears,
my child he said. ..Your father died
fighting this shameless enemy-you
ought then to be strong" And then
with the utmost tenderness: s.Em-
brace me, my little one!'' u
The girl threw her arms around the
abbe's neck, who pressed her to his
heart and then disengaging himself,
said: -
':Remain upon your knees, my child,
and pray for him that is to die!' b
The three men descended, traversed
the vestry and the wings Of the church.
drowned in the shadow, where the
lantern Of the sacristan scintillated like
a little golden star.
The abbe passed behind the great
altar, made a sign before the cross, and
! pushed the creaking bolts of a low door,
which opening permitted him to pass
out into the wet and cold night air.
The stranger in passing the threshold
struck his foot upon a stone, which
made him slip. |.#
BE careful, Monsieur said the
able. 1--WE are in the field of rest and
that stone is a grave 81
They passed on under the great yeWs
trees and the willows, where the grass