The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-09

Fleur! had an old church bell and an
aged parAon. Tho bell was cracked IN
many places, and It's ring was like the
cough OF a consumptlve woman. TX
The peasants and shepherds whom Il
called to worship were much chagrlned
In their humble way ut the dlsagreeablo
nolso OF the bell. ond talked about II at
the tavern over their evening wlne. Rev.
correntin, the aged pastor,was In much
better condition than the bell. Though
past slxty-nvc, he was hale and hearty.
His face was rudy and his white Girls
hung in thick, ilufry clusters around IL
Everybody loved the old parson, for he
looked otter the welfare OF the bodies
as well as the souls OF his parishloners.
When the time FOR the semi-centen-
NAL jubilee approached. the people OF
the parish decided to make him pres
cut. The three church elders went from
house to house TO collect sufficient mo-
neg. When they had accumulated, 500
they went to the aged priest gave him
the leather bag with the coin, and ex-
pressed the desire that he buy new
church bell TO ring In the celebration OF
his jubilee. ~.
children, dear children" said Fath-
err Correntin, "our Father in heaven
must have Inspired you" 1t was all
he could say, for the tears rolled down
his withered cheeks and 'choked his
voice.
Next morning the priest started for
the little city where hc expected to
have the new bell cast. He decided to
walk as far as Rosy-les-Roses. From
there the stage line would take him TO
Point IArcheveGue. The day was as
bright as the old mans heart The sun
beamed through the right young foll-
nge; the birds ch!rruped In the trees,
the bugs hummed In the grass. Thelr
voices seemed like the ring OF the old
and crusty article that tortured his
ears.
Not fa- from che Rosy-les- Roses he
came upon q wagon such as Sypsies
and transforming theatrical people
use. Near the cart, with Its stln legs
stretched across the ditch, lay dead
horse. Its head was long and Eaunt,
and told q tale OF starvation and toll.
The eyes In their great glasslness were
turned heavenward. Close by sat an
old man with his wrinkled female COM
panIon. Both were clothed In rags OF
Erayish color, bcgrimed with dirt.
At the parsons approach fifteen-
year-old girl jumped UP from the
ground. She had been crouching be-
hind the pair, and he did not at first sec
her.
She ran UP to the good man and kiss
cd his hand, as children are wont to do
IN Catholic countries.
Have pity on Us and" she implored.
"cive. give US something" The. girls
voice was shrill, yet sweet In Its high
treble, and her pleading was subtle and
weird like gypsy song. Rags covered
her virginia. form. Her lips were full
and sensuous, her arms round and SIN
envy and tattooed all over with flowers.
. The parson took ont his bag with the
money. took from II silver coin. and
was about 10 drop It In the brown palm
of the child. when she continued:
They arrested my brother because
he stole chicken He was the only one
who could provide food for US, and we
have had nothing to eat 70: two days"
Father Correntin put back the silver
coin and Ashed for one OF larger de-
nomination.
Il can juggle and dance and sing,and
my mother can tell fortunes, but now
that the horse Is dead we can not go
on! What Is 10 become OF US, p-ay?''
Cant you obtain work." kindly sug-
gested tho parsoD. Z;
THE people are afraid OF us. They
throw stones al US. We haven't aEy
trade. but II We had better clothes and
another horse. we wouldn't staFvc." 9 Z
do you love Code" asked the priest,
putting back the large coin. and finger
ing for gold piece In his leather bag.
Yes. II he helps u.s." answered the
child.
Father Cor-entIn began to feel the
weight OF the bag with the 500. It
hung from cord around his walls. The
little begGar studied the reverend man's
face.
:, Are you good grip" III
a good sirl?" she repeated. The
meaning OF the word evidently stagger-
ed ier.
"say after me. Dear God, I love you.,
Tears sprang into the brown eyes os
the child. Father CorrentIn took the
bag with the money from Its fastenIngs
and laid 1t into the child's brown hands.
Il love you, reverend father." she
cried, running back to her parents, who
sill nourned their forlorn condition.
Bewailing the misery OF these poor
creatures, Father Corren,ln iourneyed
on. forgetting that he no longer had the
means with which TO buy d bell. When
he realized Il at last, he retraccl his
steps, and on the way home wondered
how he could have been so careless AZ
TO give all that money 10 the little ayp-
Sy girl. It was not Ms money. II he
ionged to his par!shioness, and they had
the right 10 ask him 10 account for ov-
err penny OF II. Quick MS n flash he
turned and hurried after the little band
but not trace OF them could he find.
Back 20 soon?" said his houaekeeper.
me old Scholastlka. did you go 20
Point rArcheveque?" N.
Il missed the stage conch-tn.morrow
next week--I'll go again." he SIAM
mered. Don't tell anyone that have
returned so soon." Hlgt.
The following day Father correntIn
did not say mass. He remained In his
-oom. and would not even go into his
orchard for his customary airing. The
next d1Y some one called for him. A dy-
Ing man asked for the last sacramentg,
Father Correntin has not yet return
cd" said the housekeeper.
''Scholastikd is mistaken. / returned
without her knowledge" said the priest,
and hurried out 10 the assistance OF his
dying parishioner. =.
On his way he met one OF his most
pious elders. Have you had pleasant
journey?" querled the peasant.
Beautiful" answered the pastor.
"And the bell?" ls
Magnificent. my good friend, magni-
ficent! or purest silver! Such tone!