Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-08-23
THR LITTLE THIEF.

IL @s 11@ s11AH4IEk6 t&GSaEM
ed the old guard. planting himsel
before q tomb
he had never witnessed such de
strucsion. For several days il has
been going on, and IL had con
founded him, and filed him uitl
Indignation. And jet it was but
little while ago that he had mad,
his official rounds through all th,
silent avenues. =
This had been "Eather Johns
duty for thirty years. lie had Quit
ted his regiment only because o.
severe wounds, but, thanks to hil
excellent constitution, be recovered
from his injuries and had obtained
the modest place of forester in the
cemetery of lvry.
An old man without family, he
found himself alone after leaving
bis comrades, and without friends,
save those who loved him for the
military medal which he bore upon
his breast and so he grew to have
veritable love for the toabs which
we're confided to his care.
His tombs we're bis family, hls
friends, his regiment and his days
ran on in q happy calm. But his
satisfaction was beginning TO disap-
pear. Suddenly his quiet life had
been poisoned. Grief positively
tortured him, filed his heart with
indignation and made his blood boil.
Some one was stealing from the
tombs.
The shock was a heavy one. The
artistically-earved Christs, the gold
en- medallions, all the objects Of
value were disarranged. On one
tomb, resplendent with bouquets
OF choice flowers, in which were put
notes saying that "those who re-
mained did not forget" some sac
rilegious hand had profaned the
pious souvenirs, tearing mp the
pretty flowers, and in a corner
nothing but the note remained, ,
seeming TO say, "A thief A thief p
With hands wide spread, Father
John stood before the tomb; he
could not withdraw his eyes. The
evening before, it was so beau tiful,
and surrounded by real garden
as lovely q spot as was to be found
IN the whole place. A devastating
hand had passed that way, dragging
up the most beautiful roses, ruth
lessly overturning the sacred duss,
leaving behind havoc and devasta-
tion. His pent-up wrath mounted
to the old mans head, and flushed
his face with a deep red. But q
single hope remained-"to surprise
the malefactor and"
He did not finish, but with his
arms extended, and shaking his
fists in the air, he menaced the un-
known author Of the mischief. Then
he resumed his walk, saying at each
step as il it were a refrain which
contained all his wrath. "What
can induce anybody to become such
a rascal -
Suddenly, on turning a corner,
the old soldier saw q little girl trot-
ting along, with uncertain steps.
Her dress was mere rag, through
which could be seen her rosy skin.
The scanty robe was covered With
mud, and her arms, red with cold ,
sought to hide under her fringe OF
tatters. From afar the forester
followed her.
Probably" he thought, "she is
one OF those little beggars who hang
abont the grounds-poor little vsg-
abonds sent by their parents to beg
aims Of the visitors"
But quickly his eyes burned With
anger. He wished to shrek. bat,
suffocated with wrath, he could not.
He saw the little girl stop beside q
grave and seize with both hands q
rose-bush, which she shook with
violence, and by a final effort mp
rooted. She bore the shrub in her
arms. and ran right before him,
stumbling at each step, and brnis.
ing her naked feet without q note
of complaint. seeing nothing. and
not even hearing behind her the
wheeling breath OF the old soldier,
who followed closely, saying between
his clenched teeth "Ahi little
thief ! haye got you You are do
ing O good business.
III.
xuL MI - -,