The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-13

bePs arranging a manifestation" when
the moment of expulsion comes.
We drove past the little village of
Corene. along the ledge of the Col de
Venice" where we commanded a mag
nificent view of the valley GraisiVau-
dan, watered by the winding Isere and
the more distant lying Drac. The white
houses Of that "coquette Vile" Greno-
BILE glstened gayly far below, unawed
by the grim, gray walls of Fort ka-
baut above 1t. On our right lowered
Mount Saint Eyard, its bleak fort iso-
lated in the clouds.
The snow became less deep as we de-
scended into the valley of Saint
Hugues,, where small hamlets snug
gled coseyly on the side of protecting
mountains. But, if we left snow
storm above us we found a driving
rain storm awaiting us. We arrived
at Saint-Pierre- de-Chartreuse wet and
cold and hungry We halted at the
small hotel for lunch. There was an
air of suppressed excitement about the
inn and indeed in the usually quiet
little village as well. From the direc-
ton of the convent came succession
of women and children, trudging along
in the pouring rain, carefully balanc-
ing under their arms cheap-framed
pictures of saints, of the Virgin, of the
infant Christine farewell gifts of the
Chartreuse monks. But a longer pro-
cession passed them, ascending the
steep mountain road to the convent,
procession composed of peasants, some
white-haired, their backs bent with
age, others in the full vigor of manly
strength, and still others not out or
their boyhood days. Not for MONKEY
gifts were these peasants going-they
left that to their women kind-but to
join the army of campers outside the
convent walls.
My attention was, however, particu-
larly attracted to q quiet, elderly man.
military in appearance, and possessing
a fine air of distinction. He was only
alive to all that took place in the din
ing room, and watched sharply each
new arrival. Once his stern features
relaxed and l saw him smile kindly
upon a tall young man who entered.
Madame C. whispered to me, indi-
eating the new arrival, that is Mon
sieur Poncet, the 'avocat' OF the Char
tteux brothers" This young lawyer
has for many days past remained be-
hind the convent walls with the
monks, advising them, directing them
in every step they take in resisting
the governments action against their
order.
Later during lunch Madame c.
learned that our military looking
neighbor was Count P de C,
with whom her husband was well ac-
oualnted. She promptly made herself
known to him, at the same time in
PRODUCING us We had a most interest
ing conversation with him. For eight
days he had been in camp beyond the
walls of the monastery. He came up
on the first rumor that gendarmes
were to be sent TO expel the monks,
and such was his haste that he stop
ped for nothing, not even for a change
of clothing. He was in a white velvet
hunting costume, very much soled as
to color from his long exposure in the
mountains. He intended, he added, to
remain to defend the monks if any
violence was offered them. We heard
him give an order to send forthwith
ali the necessary ingredients for a
punch, to the camp about the convent
He turned to us with a smile and said
we must not suppose him capable of
consuming that amount of liquor, that
he intended it for his men in camp
who had slept for nights in the cold
and wet, without covering of any
kind. 1t was almost two in the after
noon when we again stepped out in
the pouring rain and into our carriage
The count had preceded us, his pic
turesque figure enveloped in long
black cape, and a "beret" Ca species of