The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-01-03
Ey Montjoycux.
SVSS%TSSSys3SSTSSYT

IN the little village of Nancay in
S0loGne there lived a worthy man
by name of Oliver Folichon. He
lived on apensi0n Of 900 francs paid
.iim by the Government. The fact OF
ais being a DeIsioner without any
ether visible means Of support had at
c.nce Won him general respect. In the
country, however modest your income
may be, provided you get it as pen
sioned-off functionary of some sort
and not from tilling the soil, you at
tract attention and command esteem.
At first FOlichon kept aloof from
people and had nothing to do with any
cEe. He stayed in the miserable little
room that he had reuted from Nine
Crctn, who kept the village inn rs we'll
as the grocery and dry goods store
and made no attempt to insinuate him.
self into the village society 1t was
extremely exclusive 10 outsiders. Any
stranger and, above all, any Partisan
was lOokeds upon rs q dangerous in
fruder. Try to tell man Of SClogne
that Partisan is his fellow coun-
tryman. and if he does not call you a
liar 1t is only because he Goes not dare
tos but you may be sure he thinks it.
The only means Of escaping the ira
ditional ostraclsm is to have your name
on the pension list. When he arrived,
therefore, the newcomer was the topic
of conversation for those who patron
lied the inn.
who On earth is that man." asked
one.
Il don't Know" replied another.
"He's one of those people that no
body knows anything about. They
come Lere without telling anything Of
their past history, and then you find
out that things have happened"
Eut old Mother Cretu bawled out:
"What are you talking about, Sos
themes: Do you or don't you know
this man:'
"As for saying I don't know him,
why. l do know him since I've seen
him, but as far as anything else is
concerned why I'm not acquainted
with him personally"
Then you're Just slandering. He's
not good-for-nothing fellow like you,
to be sure, that has never amounted to
He's an educated man. His
name is Folichon. and he was an Of
fetal at Paris. It's so and l can prove
1t. for the clerk at the town hall, who
keeps the register, told me SOC and he
said. that Monsieur Folichon had
pension from the Government. There's
no use in trying to make out that ev-
cry one is bad.'
And she added as a final argument:
He's an honorable man, for he pays
ne my rent without trying to beat
me down, and besides he wears the
tri-co!ored ribbon in his button hole
That's so," said a customer. Il
saw him this morning and said Good
day. and he even took off his hat
There! You can see he's an honest
man. cried Mother Cretu.
SOctANLCS uCiCuucu ultlScll. llCIl. |
sienr Folichon wore ribbon, why, he
must be somebody, OF course. But you
have to know people. Now, that he |
Knew who Monsieur Folichon was. he
vas satisfied, and he had no reason to
lave anything against him.
"And he's not proud, either" con-
inued he who had seen the tri-colored
ibbon. "He bows back whenever any
me bows to him.
But" asked Sosthercs, "what is
hat decoration of his?"
After moments hesitation the shrill
'oice Of Mother Cretu replied: "That
9 given to those who have saved tie
lag"
At the back Of the room IN old man
rose and took of his cap. Then all
ook of their hats one after the other.
from that time Oliver Foiichon had
he freedom of the village. Wherever
e went he received homage and marks
t friendship. Whenever he went into
he inn to take glass with his pro-
'rietress, busy tongues were quiet,
lasses remained untasted, counte-
ances assumed thoughtful air as IL
hey were in church. and no one drank
efore the rescuer Of the flag had given
be signal by saying, ITO your health,
The consideration With which he :alt |