The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-01-28

there I turned aside from first inten-
ton and proceeded thither. l was
by the universal desolation of
the country through which | passed.
Was this the reverse side TO all the
Grand Monarque's glory: | had PIC
tured la belle France as 4 country of
wine. of roses and of happy people.
These ravaged fields, these squalAd
dens of misery, the sullen, despairing
faces of the p~easantry, all bore silent
protest to the eXtravagances of Yer
sailles. For the wars. the ambition and
the mistresses of Louis had a OF
this fair land a desert. Through the
devastated country roamed thousands
of starving people. gaunt and hungry
as the wild beasts of the forest; they
subsisted upon such berries as they
found. but burst not touch a stick OF
their lords wood to thaw out their fro
zen bodies.
Young as l was, and n soldier. the
sight OF his widespread suffering ap-
palled me. though being no philoso-
pher. l reasoned not to the cause. Yet
this was the real France, the ounda
ton upon which the king had reared
the splendid structure of his pride.
1t was some time during the second
day. I think, when we passed a few
lie tloNSiS ~
approach to a village, where we We're to
stop for dinner. At the foot of a little
incline the horses SHE'D violently. n
passed beyond the mans control. My
driver e~ndeavored in vain to quiet
them, and then jumped from his box
and ran to their heads. looked out to
see what the matter was, and obServ-
Ing a squad OF soldiers. followed by
quite a concourse of villagers, L sprang
to the ground.
Down the hill they marched, some
ten or fifteen fellows in a dirty half
uniform. I knew not whatitwas, while
struggling out behind them seemed TO
follow the entire population Of the
hamlet. The old and gray-haired
fathers. the mothers. the stalwarr
children and toddling babies, all came
to stand and cape. In the lead there
strobe a buriy rufflan, proud of his
low authority. who shouted at inter-
vals:
Behind him skulked four stout var
let's, bearing between them a rude
plank, on which was stretched a naked
body, the limbs being not yet stiffened
in death. | hardly credited my sight.
Before they came abreast of US l in
quired OF the driver what it all meant.
He only shrugged his shoulders, "A
AN SdPpSbts oho So hiS
care to the horses. Verify this was
past belief.
/ placed myself in the road and babe
the, leader of the procession pause.
He stopped, staring stupidity at my
dress.
What is here my good fellow?
what crime hath he committed"
He, like the driver, answered care
lessly:
shJxan. - i- - J,~,,n,Nt ~ " .a -
She" l echoed, and stopped the
bearers who laid their CHASTITY burden
down, having little relish in the task.
Yes, it was In very truth a oma
For the sake of decency, comrade.
why do you not cover her n give her
Christian burial"
1T is The law he replied stolidly.
Yes, yes. it is the law" eagerly as
scented the people who gathered about
the corpse, not as friends, not as
mourners. but as spectators of the hor-
rid scene. Among them, unrebuked.
We're many white-faced children. halt
afraid and wholly curious. / looked at
them all in disgust. They went their
way n came to the, outskirts Of the
village, where they contemptuously
tossed the woman from the plank
across a ditch into the open field. In
spite Of my loathing I had followed.
I perceived now a feeble old woman
hobhle up toward the body n try
with loud wai1ings to make her way
through the guard which surrounded
1t, They showed her bach with their
pixies, and finally of them struck
her for her persistence.
Pierre, look at her old mother; ah.
holy virgin, what a stubborn lot are
these heretics."
Her mother! Great powers OF
heaven, could it be possible? My in
dignation blazed out against the in
human guard.
Why do We this most un-Christian
thing?" and to the crowd:
DO you call yourselves men to
stand by and witness this?'
At my words one sturdy young fell
low, of the better, peasant-farmer
class, broke from those who held him
and would have thrown himself I'M
Many strong arms kept him back. He
struggled furiously for awhile, then
sank In the sheer desperation Of eX-
haustion upon the road AS soon as he
was quiet the mob, gathering about the
more attractive spectacle, left him
quite alone. I went up to him, laid my
hand upon his shoulder, and spoke to
him kindly. He looked up, surprised
that one wearing a uniform should
show him sympathy. He had q good.
honest face, blue-eyed and frank, yet
ness as v marred a mortal u
nance. 1t haunts me to this day.
/ was touched by the mans sullen
apathy, succeeding SO quickly to the
desperate energy 1 lac seen him dis
play, and asked concerning his trouble.
Continued Next Week.)