Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-02-06
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
BLOOD SHED FOR LOVE

the night might never come-that
Pere Volcan, the old tobacco dealer Of
the village Of Saint.Martin rEglise, was
seated on wooden bench near his
shop, smoking his cherished pipe. For
twelve years past Pierre Mason lpop.
ularly known as Pere Goican from the
fact that he was usually enveloped in
n cloud Of smoke) had sold tobacco to
the whole village. and lived in peace.
full happiness with a solitary comrade
his beloved pipe. A Scared veteran
of the wars, children were never tired
listening to the tales of battles and
ampaigns-Solferino, Mexico and
around Paris-which the old soldier
modestly told with an art that was pc.
culiarly his own.
Well, on this especially calm and
lovely June evening, Pere Volcan, as !
have said was religiously enjoying his
customary pipe, but strangely enough
his expression was deeply serious, al.
most sad. Presently turning the cor.
ner Of the street appeared the curate,
who never failed to make his daily call
for the weed. Like our friend the vet.
eran. the worthy priest was confirm.
ed believer In the virtues Of tobacco
as panacea for most earthly ills. con.
Isequently. united by this subtle bond
OF sympathy the two worthless had be.
come great cronies. But, somehow
this evening the shopkeeper was tact
turn and replied only in monosyllables
to the curato's cheerful gossip and
chat on the weather and crops.
Finally he removed the pipe from his
mouth, regarded II for a moment as If
demanding advice, and having prob.
ably received the tacit approval of his
faithful companion, he turned brusque.
y toward the curate.
| "Old friend" said he. with n slightly
embarrassed air, you do not see me
often at mass or vespers, but you know
at heart | am religious, and on the day
when shall fall dangerously III, rest
Tranquil | will send for you to bring
me the sacrament. | have never done
a thing OF which | feel ashamed. Never.
theless there Is one action in my life
which bothers me when | recall II, and
many, ah, many time have I wished
tC unburden my soul to you. Listen.
my friend! You of the clergy are the
repositories Of secrets. II | tell you
this thing now, to learn your opinion
as man to man, you will never betray
my confidence?"
Most assuredly." replied the cur.
ate, even outside the confessional |
know how to be discreet"
II knew it," said the good man. "Ah!
It's terrible story. But in two words,
here 1t is: ! acted as accomplish In a
crime, and killed man"
The curate recoiled instinctlvely,
but Pere Volcan paid no attention. He
carefully emptied and refllled his pipe,
lighted 1t, and after rejecting a few
moments, proceeded.
| In 1868, before the war. had alrea.
dy seen fourteen years of service, and
had been made sergeant, and ser.
geant was likely to remain all the
rest OF my days, for | could scarcely
write my own name. Rough fellows
we were in the old army, but apt to
stand our ground under fire, SO they
said.
about this time there entered the
regiment a voluntary recruit, a youth.
well born, who couldn't afford to pay
the fees ~ the Ecole Miitaire, but who
asplred to be trained soldier just the
same.
HE attracted me AT the first glance
this Louis Pascal-that was his name,
and handsome lad he was, with red.
dish mustache and flashing eye, and
always courteous and genial to every
one. 1t fell to me to instruct him In
arms. Bah! at the end OF fortnight
he could have taught me. A born sol.
der, he was, We became the closest
friends and through all his fortunes
( Louis never forgot the little services
had rendered him. An orphan, who
had studied at school on twenty francs
a month, he hadn't debt to his name,
and was ever ready to oblige a com
raed. Well, how could an old fool like
me do better than to devote himself
heart and soul to this charming young
ster?
zone day heard he had duel with
a sergeant of the company from Saint
Cyr. | asked Louis the reason. Just
foolishness, he replied, The neN day.
however, | learned that the Academy
ltedgeling had made fun of my way of
rolling the rs. Louis it seems, wanted
to be sure he didn't do 1t again, All!
Monsieur lie Cure, would have given
my life for that boy.
AT 20 years he was already a lieu
tenant, and decorated After the capt.
ulatlon they ordered him to Bordeaux,
while | remained with the regiment,
having only three more years to serve.
The months few by, during which
heard from my lieutenant at regular
intervals. Finally was retired, and,
as my pension was too meager to live
on, found employment as Waterman
with a dealer in building materials.