Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-03-27

The Story of Henri.
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\ The child lived in an old chateau
ebuilt of some soft, gray stone that
r time had mellowed to exquisitely ten
der tints Old poplars rustled drow-
silly, broad terraces, kissed by the sun,
sloped down TO a clear brook that loi-
tered through the green fields and the
woodlands until it sharply turned to-
wards the village. The child often sat
H,on the bank in moonlight nights and
watched the stars, reflected in the
stream Then he would wonder whence
it came and whittier it would go and
wish it would tell its secrets to him
instead of to the round, white peD-
Dles in its bed and to the waving
blades of grass. that bent to listen.
But in daytime he would wander noise
lessly through the darkened rooms OF
the chateGu. lii the picture gallery
ray of sunshine sometimes stole
through the barred shutters and danced
on the opposite wall. The child
thought that the boys and girls In the
dark frames must be tired OF their
fixed positions. Their elders, doubt
less; liked. the, dignified repose but
surely- little Msrie1E 1Eustachie. in the
pink brocade would sometimes long to
|lay down hersrose and 'the small
Charles Louis would gladly take his
hand from the sword-hilt he had
so long. The child knew the
names OF allzATante Amelie had told
him@Tante Amelie, who, in her sun
NY room at the top Of the, tower. con-
tinually mused and prayed. But some
times she would speak OF the Saints
their holy lives and blessed marrry-
doms.. >,
rAre there saints now?" he, once
asked. "
"oui,, mon ;enfant; holy men Of God,
driven forth from their. flocks, hunted
like wild beasts And martyred king,
the son of Saint Louis '''
These stories thrilled him with a
mixture of exaltation 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-
tlal 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,
were gossiping shrilly, peasants home
from a long days work in the wheat
were gathered in small groups, vague
ly curious as to the cause that had
brought a municipal officer from Stras-
burg to their .eacefu village. Jean
Walther, the blacksmith stood in his
doorway; his tell figure in all its awk-
ward strength loomed dark against the
red glow of the fire behind him. The
Marie was the strongest man for miles
around. none but himself could lift the
large hammer which he always called
men fils," and now he lowered over
the small figure of his visitor.
''Friends," he shouted in his big
voice, 1.-The citizen here has something
TO say to u.s."
The citizen here paused for a mo-
ment, then began in a thin. high
pitched tone that sounded like the
echo OF the Mares shout. He told of
the good fortune the Revolution had
brought, the glories of "Llberte, Ega-
lite, Fraternite," then continued:
"And now that our liberty is won,
now that we, free people, rule a free
country, it is our duty to cleanse our