The Globe-republican., 1902-03-13

The child 4aved in old chateau,
built of some soft, gray stone that
time had meIlowed to exQuisitely ten
der tints- Old pop1ars rustled droW-
silly broad terraces, kissed by the sun,
sIoped down to a clear brook that Io1-
tered through the green fields and the
woodlands until it sharply turned TO-
wards the village The child OFTEN sat
on the bank in moonlight nights ana
watched the stars, reflected in the
stream. Then he would wonder whence
1t came and whittier it would go and
wish it would tell its secrets to MIN
instead of to the round, white pep
bIes in its bed and to the waving
blades of grass that bent to listen
But in daytime he would wander noise
1essIy through the darkened rooms OF
the chateau. In the picture gallery a
ray of sunshine sometimes stole
through the barred shutters and danced
on the opposite wall. The cnlld
thought that the boys and girls IN the
dark frames must be tired of their
fixed positions. Their elders, doubt
less. liked the dignihed repose but
surely little Marie-Eustachie, in the
pink brocade would sometimes long TO
lay down her rose and the small
Charles Louis would gladly take his
hand from the sword-hilt he had
pressed so long. The child knew the
names of aI1-Tante Amelfe had told
him-Tante Amelie, who. in her sun
ny room at the top Of the tower, con-
tinualIy unused and prayed But some
times she would speak OF the Saints
their holy lives and blessed Marty
doms.
Are there saints now?'' he once
asked.
"Oui. mon enfant. holy men of God,
driven forth from their hocks, hunted
like wild beasts. And martyred king,
the son of Saint Louis
These stories thrilled him with a
mixture of exa1tation and awe. He
knew they dared not venture to the
village lest evil men should harm
them. And in the long days and
nights he dreamed of martrydom, OF
the short, dreadful wrench from life
and its quiet round, then of the celes-
tia1 joy and the peace of God that
passeth all understanding
The whole commune was pressing
around the door of the blacksmith s
forge. Women, holding their babies
We're gossiping shri1ly, peasants home
from long days work in the Whea'
were gathered in small groups, vague
1y curious as to the cause that hao
brought municipal officer from Stras-
burg to their peaceful village Jean
Walther, the blacksmith, stood in his
doorway; his tall figure in all its awk-
ward strength doomed dark against the
red glow of the fire behind h1In- ne
Marie was the strongest man for miles
around. none but himself could lift the
large hammer which he always called
mon f1s,'' and now he lowered Over
the small figure of his visitor.
Friends he shouted in his big
voice. 1.-The citizen here has something
say TO u.s.
The citizen here paused for a mo
ment, then began in thin, high
pitched tone that sounded like thu
echo of the Mares shout He told o
the good fortune the Revolution has
brought the glories of '.Liberte, Ega
lite, Fraternite,' then continued:
And now that our liberty is won
now. that we, a free people, rule a fire.
country, it is our duty to cleanse our
selves of the old stain Priests, spies
ci-devants the eInissaries of foreign
tyrants, all must be exterminated
With sorrow we have heard that you
citizens, are harboring consplrator
against the nation. That den of mi
guilty. he pointed towards the cha
teau, tsthat lurking-place of oppressors
holds a dangerous band of plotters
who would bring back the priests VIII,
cheated US with lies and the profit
gates who fatten on the spoiLs of thei
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