The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-12

Nruy lie MdupaSSant was the greatest
OF French short story tellers. He had the
art OF investing the most commonplace
character. the most ordinary incident
with the pathos. the humor, and the in
terest which belong to them i'm real life.
When he passed away he left distinct
vacuum In French literature
number OF unpublished stories from
his pen have been discovered I'm manu-
script and appeared recently I'm two vol
umes. The last volume. entitled lie Col
porteur, from its leading story came out
few weeks ago. some OF the contents
OF this last volume have little too much
OF French freedom 90 please American
ears. but the following sketch is void OF
all matter Of offence)
"My darlings." said the Countess. eli
is time for you TO go 10 bed"
The three children, a boy and two girls,
arose and came forward 90 kiss their
grandmother. Then they said good night
10 NJ. le Cure, who had dned at the cas-
tie. as was his won't on Thursdays.
The Abbe Maudit sat two Of them upon
his knees. passing his long. black robeG
arms behind the nscks of the children.
Bringing their heads together with pa
ternal movement. he kissed them upon
the forehead with a long. tender kiss
Then he put them down again and the
little ones withdrew. the boy leading, the
girls following.
You love children, NJ. lie Cure?" said
the Countess.
Very much, madam"
The old woman raised her clear eyes to
| the priest.
And your solitude has never weighed
| heavily upon you?"
Yes, sometimes" He stopped, nesita-
faH al 4
ordinary life"
How do you know?"
"Oh. I'm sure OF IL. I was made for a
| priest; / have followed my vocation"
The Countess still gazed upon him.
Come, NJ. le Cure, tell me about II.
Explain 10 me how you came TO decide
| 10 renounce all those things which make
| us love life. all which upholds and con-
| soles us. What is Il that lmpelled you 10
| leave the great natural road of marriage
! and the family? You are neither hyster-
| ic nor fanatic, nor sombre, nor melan-
choly. Was IL some great grief which
persuaded you 10 pronounce the eternal
vows?"
The Able Mauduit rose and went close
| the flames the heavy shoes worn by coun-
try priests. He seemed to be hesitating
before answering
| He was a large old man. with white
| hair who for 20 years had been minis
| tering to the commune OF Saint Antoine
du Rocher. The peasants used TO say OF
! him, Al. there's fine man"
He was. in fact fine man. benevolent,
ben gn. approachable, and, above ALL gen.
erous. Like 81. Martin. he would have
! cut his cloak In two. He laughed easily.
and also cried a slight provocation. like
a woman, a fact which rather lowered
him in the minds OF his congregation.
The Countess of Saville, who had re-
/ tired 10 her chateau to educate her
! grandchildren after the successive deaths
! of her son and her daughter-in-lax cher
ished a great affection for her cure. anc
| would say of him, There's a heartn'
He came every Thursday to pass tn,
! evening with the chatelaine, and they
I were bound together in a frank and
! wholesome friendship not uncommon Il
4 old people. They understood each other
! almost at half a word. being both good
/ with the simple goodness OF simple and
| kindly people.
She insisted:-"Come. Nile Cure, confess
| In your turn"
lie repeated was not born for the
| life of the world l found this out in
| time. luckily, and | have often assured
| myself that 4 was not mistaken
my parents who were well TO do shop
: keepers OF Verdiers. cherished ambitions
! for me. j was put 10 school when very
young. Few people know what "A child
! can suffer in a college i'm the mere fac,
| OF his separation, his isola ton This life
! OF routine uniformity, destitute OF ten
/ derness, is good for some. detestable foi
others. Little children o.ten have
more sensitive heart than their elder:
| believe. and when shut up too early. fan
! from those whom they love, they oi,er
| develop to excess a sensitiveness which
| becomes high strung, diseased and dan
| gerous.
| 81 had no comrades, passed my time
1 In longing for home. ! wept at night IN
! my bed. / hid my head In tho pillows tc
1 recapture my recollections, insignificant
4 recollections OF little things, o
| little facts; dwelt increasingly
upon all that had left there
! | slowly became hypochondriac, fol
! whom the lghtest misadventures wer,
| frightful cstastrophes.
"Withal remained silent shut up with
| In myself, without expansion, withou
! confidants. hts mental exaItatien OBJ
scurely but certainly did it's work. TIL,
! nerves of children are quickly agitated
| They should be guarded so az to live I'm
| profound peace until their development
| is almost complete hut no one ever i'm
| against that for some college boys an un
| just punishment may be az great sor
| row as later Will prove the death of
| that certain young souls experience ter
| ribe emotions about nothing and soon be
| come sick souls. incurnbe souls? Suci
was the case with Ipe. The faculty o
/ grief developed itself within me in such
manner that my whole existence be-
| came n martyrdom.
II did not talk about it. said nothing
| but little by little my senstivencss IN
creased until my soul resembled an oper
wound. Everything that touched IL pro
| duced an agony OF suffering. Happy tho
man whom nature has psnoplied will
| Indifference and armed with stoicism
II was now sixteen. An excessive tim
| idity had resulted from this aptitude al
| suffering. Feeling myself naked against
| the attacks OF chance or Of fate. feared
| all contact. all approa ches. all advances
! lived awake as II under the constant
| menace Of some unknown and always eX
! pected sorrow. dared neither talk moi
be myself I'm public j had sensation
| ---------------~ ---~~-~--------->------'