The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-10-13

rather Charles will play for us"
And in passing by Pere Laurent had
placed his hand on Toni'sruugh. tangled
curls with a gesture of protection and
was il affection?
At the thought, Toni's rich Italian
blood surged up, coloring the dark
olive of his cheeks and his eyes, which
were watching the gathering clouds
being driven up by summer storm
from across the gulf, shone like two
! luminous stars.
No, not to please a Heavenly Father,
remote and unknown, one who had
not watched over those dark and un-
happy days from which he had
emerged, would Toni strive TO follow
the narrow path pointed out to him by
| Pere Laurent.
That path, which excluded passion,
vengeance and curses, ill-will and theft,
and the paying back of evil for evil. his
long-cherished dream, which was TO
square up those old accounts Of his op-
pressed childhood, and settle the debt
with compound interest he owed those
who had so harshly treated him.
Toni would sit and plan how he
would wipe out the old scores when he
would be brawny and tall and power
full, like the sailors on the goelcttes and
charcoal boats moored in the Old Basin.
But if he was to renomce the keen
pleasure over which he had so gloated,
vengeance on Mere Felix and others, it
was only to please Pere Laurent, TO
bring a smile to his dim, kind'eyes, and
TO hear him say: "mons fls," those
words which, sinking deep, made Toni's
heart swell with passionate love and
pride.
No, it was not for the sake Of doing
right, at the dictate of that remote God
in Heaven. It was for love of Pere
Laurent.
Toni Tedona had been unwittingly
the cause Of contention and reproach
in Father Laurent's quiet home, the
presbytere by the cathedral.
Old Madame Jean, his housekeeper
had raised her hands I'm holy horror and
her voice i'm strong protest when told to
prepare a cot in the wing room for Toni,
the vagabond, who led all the pranks
and villainies committed by the gamins
of the levce 1t was impossible that
Pere Laurent would think seriously
of trying TO reform so notorious
young villain!
And to bring him into the presby-
tere. That quiet orderly house.
"It was impossible. Why. i'm a weeks
time She Madame Jean, would not have
o chick or a hen left in the yard, nor
would Father Laurent have one of those
beautiful silverspoons presented 10 him
in gratitude by his congregation.
toni Tedona was a brigand, and it
was easy % foretell what would be his
ending"
But pere Laurent had smiled his
slow, quiet smile of compassionate re-
proof. which Madame Jean herself said
was ike a ray Of divine light from
Heaven. and reminding her of the char
ity of Him who had said TO the thief;
"Meet me I'm paradise" had persisted
that Toni. the reprobate be made well
come under his roof.
"The boy is brave, and he lives not
who can assert that there is only evil
in him. He is young and has been hard
ly treated. His eyes are fearless and
true and will trust him."
So Toni was brought to the presby-
tere. 1t had been hard work for Pere
Laurent TO implant into his wild and
passionate nature the seeds of those
traditions and virtues which guide the
Christian world. but there was fascina-
ton i'm the work, and he had persisted.
And soon Pere Laurent realized the
magic Of those two words my SON.
and their effect upon Toni to quell his
burst of passion when troubled and
worried by the men on the levee for
whom he worked, words which would. |
bring tears Of repentance to his eyes.
So Pere Laurent slillfully and pa
tiently tended the wild plant he had |
pucked from the poisonous dunghill Of |
the street, and watched with prayerful /
delight its gradual unfolding into a
thing of beautiful growth.
"You think you have tanned him,
Pere? You wait and seel One of these |
days Toni will blaze out ir fit Of fury, |
and we will be assassinated." insisted /
Madame Jean.
But Pere Laurent only laughed /
if little sadly. 1t had been /
at Toni's own request that he had taken |
him as altar boy some six months ago, |
maryeling that he should wish it.
Altar boy! Toni Tedona altar boyl
When the news spread abroad down
the levee, among those riotous compan-
ions, formerly led by him to the COM
mission of deeds which would not bear
the light of day. and which an indiyid-
uality of interests alone kept hidden
away from the scrutiny Of the police,
how they yelled and shouted derisively
and mocked at the farce.
And as Toni sat that evening on the
steps of the cathedral in the waning
light he clinched his teeth hard 10
keep down the rage in his heart at the
recollection Of the names they had
called him. and he realized full well
that il was through a burning gratitude
to Pere Laurent. a love and reverence
beyond the power of words or express