The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-16

Toying ms supper, seated at a taDlc
in one corner Of the huge, old-iG shioned
Ntchen. The light from the triple
"1hdelabra revealed the ac,entuated
Lacs Of the old mans face, the shaggy
-yay eyebrows, the tonsured head of
nrowy white lair and the healthy.
i'ddish tingc Of his neck, which rolled
in layers over the bands Of white linen
bound about his throat.
The priest sat at the head of the
table; his nephew, handsome fellow
OF -, sat at one side, and was eating
with keen appetite his portion of the
meal The farm hand, with the
sleeves Of his rough cloth shirt rolled
up to the elbow, buried his wooden
spoon in big bowl Of smoking hot
broth, and swiftly swallowed its saw
ury contents with a loud, gulpng noise.
A young girl waited upon them, ana
took advantage of this opportune occa-
sion to interrupt the conversation The
service, not being at all complicated,
permitted this. Her duties, after fill
ng the bowls with hot broth COnsiste
IN placing before each person a huge
,ul of bead. and then putting caro-
lassly down on 'he cloth a large aa"th-
"nware G.sh filled with potatoes
Drowned in dripping.
Master Javier," she asked, having
finished her work. have you heard tell
of the brigands that are going about
here"
You mean the band of thieves" lit
tie one" answered the young man,
raising his brown animated face. You
want to know what I have heard about
the brigands? Not very much. They
were speaking about them at the cat
tie fair. Yes, they said something,
and"
They say the Scnor Abbot Of Lu-
hregu has been robbed Of great guam
tity of money: 100 ounces. The rob-
hers waited until he had sold all his
animals al the fair on the 18th. anI
they got ii all"
Didn't he try to defend it,"
why, don't you know that he is an
old man? And. besides. he is laid up
with rheumatism these days"
The priest, who. until now, had k"pt
silence. suddenly raised his eyss, With
Elttcred beneath his snow eyebrows
like jet beads. and eXClaim"G
How could he defend auy n h'ng! LII
brego, in all his life. never even knew
now to hold gun"
He is an old man"
Bah, What does the matter l
shall be G5 at PentecOst and he will be
sc AT Corpus. know It, because he
told me so himself. You see, age ha SIT
taken away my aim"
His nephew acquiesced warmly Il
should say not Just look a all those
partrdges YOU shot yesterday. | new
er saw such good shot as that last
one"
And the hare today. eh boy"
And the big fox YOU killed on sun
day" broke in the farm hand, glanc-
ing up from MS plate for the first time
since the meal began. How fine he
looked when you dragged him along ny
his hind legs, That was sight"
rhuckled the man, again bending over
his supper.
There is the naughty one" muir
INJURED the priest, uOinting toward the
door, unon which was extended. nailed
1T the four corners. loOdstained
fuXskin.
He won't eat any moro hens" added
the maid. shaking her fist at the re-
mains Of Sir Reynard.
This conversation restored serenity tu
the assembly. and Javicr forgot to tell
what he had heard about the band of
hriCards The priest. after asking a
h'Cssir & in Ealting Latin. siI ped a glass
Of wine. crossed one leg over the other.
l5ehl"d a cigar. and passed folded
N wsuaper to his nephcw, murmuring.
between two puffs; Nov let us see
what news there is in l.c Fa, my boy"
Jayirr Immediately began To read an
~ ~
leaving the supper table untouched.
ladlcd out IA bowl of broth for herself
finm the pot over the fire, and sat
down to eat it on bench beside the
h"Nth.
suddenly loud and prolonged howl
drowned the voice of the reader. Tho
servant stopucd with her spoon half
way 10 her mouth. Javicr listened a
moment, then went on reading. while
the priest, utterly indifferent. puffed
great mouthruls of smoke and sput
unon the floor Two minutes passed.
then another howl, followed by furious
barking, broke the silence outside. This
time the reader dropped his paper AMI
the maid jumned un, stammering:
"Senortu Javier, senior master, senor
master"
Hush" ordered Javier walking on
tip-toc toward the window. under
which it seemed as if the uproar Of the
dogs sounded, The priest, with his
right hand behind his ear, listened at
tentivcly, but without moving from
his chair.
Uncle" whispered Javier.
What is it, boy?"
The dogs have stopned barking. but
! could swear | hear voices"
Then why should they stop bark
ing?"
The boy did not answer, He was try
ing tn take the bar from the window
with the least possible noise. He opened
The inside wooden shutters gently
then unfastened the catch. EncOur-
aged by the profound silence, ne opened
The window, The clear, cold night ali
ooured into the room. lie saw patch
" black sky studded with stars, and
1t the bottom OF the hill, the vague out.
inc OF trees of the wood somber and
threatening. At that moment a shril
whistle pierced the air, a shot rang out
bullet grazed Javier's hair and bu.
led itself in the wall behind him
Iavier instinctively shut the window
while the priest rushed toward his
nephew and began to feel him all over
"The miserable wretches! Have they
iurt you, boy?"
"If IL had been bird shot / should
lave been touched up a Bit" answered
Iavier, slightly startled.
Where are they?"
Behind the first chestnuts In III,
grove"
Put up the bar, so, quick, get III,
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