Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10

| thing" replied the mother, with curious
smile.
What. churches like that?'
And Idris pointed to the Chapelle des
Pecheurs, which glowed in the setting sun
light like sculptured bronze
Yes, they quarry the stone and shape II
into blocks, which are then sent to Nantes
or Paris, or wherever wanted, and fitted to-
gether."
Idris was silent for few moments turn
ing the information over in his mind
They must be good men to make
churches he presently remarked.
ION the contrary, they are bad men,"
Idris was puzzled at this, being evidently
of opinion that the character of the work
sanctified the workers.
Then why do they cut stone for
churches?'
Because they are made to do so by
other men who watch to see that the work
is done"
Idris, becoming more puzzled at this com
pulsory state of labor, returned to the
moral character of the workers.
Are they all bad-every oneF
mo, not ALL" exclaimed his mother, with
an energy that quite surprised the little
fellow. There Is one there who Is the
best, the truest, the nobest of men,.
Her eyes sparkled, and beautiful color
burned on her cheek. She sat with proud
air as If defying the world to say the con-
trary.
rs he as good as father was?"
About the same" replied Mrs. Break
spear her features softening into a smile.
Why, you have said that no one was
ever so good as father
Have I? Well, this man Is. There Is no
difference between them.
IF he is so good. why has ne 10 "orh
among all those bad men?'
Some day, child, you shall know re-
piled his mother, folding him WITHIN ner
arms Don't ask any more questions
Idle"
''Why doesn't he run away? persisted
the little fellow.
because soldiers are there, VINO Wou,u
shoot him down If he tried to escape. sald
Mrs Breakspear with shudder Come,
let us be going. 1t is growing colo. see
how the mist is rising.
The boom of a distant gun was loiii,i5
family over the moorland. A fog creeping
nm from the sea curtained the prison from
view as they turned to descend the siope
that led to QuilaiX. . ,a COLL
ing had now come to an end, put many
versions still fingered in the SQUARE
chiefly natives from remote aist .hero
"Robinson Crusoes,' ldrls calico tnen ~
rMad In garments of goatskin with the
bojrv side turned outward, and with long
tresses hanging like names from peh lea ~
tbeIr broad brimmed hats, they mlshl nav
haen taken for wild men of the WOODS. d
wiIdness that was in appearance oniS' ! lpa
M one is more tender-hearted imam INC
Breton peasant ..,,. op,opp
Suddenly there was movement ainoine e
fbapn and it could be seen lll"it liie
forming a circle around man VINO nau
iust made his appearance. The maldens,
who were beating and WaShhs cloti f
the stream that flowed along one slde VI
the square, ceased their work ana came
runnIng up to the circle, their WOODEN Sd
hots sounding upon the stone pavement.
The cause of all this commoton was d
man belonging to a class lolihei ~ my ~
common in Brittany than hoWauass ne
class called Kloers or itinerant mlnstrels,
who recite verses of their own composing
upon any topic that happens to be upper
most in the public mind, ACCOMMODATING
their rude improvisation upon the three
stringed rebec. ,o
tIt is Andre the Kloer' cried ldris glee-
fully. who had caught glimpse OF me
minstrel. LET US listen. He Will tell US
some fine stories. , .,,o
The Kloer having glanced toward the
ground at his hat, which contained several
sous, said: , .,,op1,s
will now recite The Ballad of the Rlhg,
ballad dealing with a murder that nap
nened some years ago at Nantes"
The minstrel spoke in the language or the
nrovince a language which Idris under
stood as we'll as any Breton boy or ms own
age The word murder gave promise OF
something exciting. He glanced up at his
mother, supposing that she, too, would De
equally interested in the coming STORY,
hut. to his surprise, he saw that her race
had become whittier than usual-that 1t wore
- strange look. a look of fear, a look he
had never before seen. The hand that heid
his own was trembling, and, in a voice SO
changed from its ordinary tone as 10 DE
scarcely recognizable. she SAID:
"Home. Idle let US go home
Suddenly the Kloer paused in the midst
of his speaking. A tender expression came
over his face; a gentle light shone from
his ewes, and with hand solemnly uplifted,
he said:
"Christlan brethren, ere we go further
LET us all say a Pater and a De Profundis
for the assassin as we'll as for his VIC
tim
In a moment his hearers with spontan-
eous and genuine piety were kneeling upon
the pavement their heads bowed, their
hats DOTTED. while the Kloer, after making
the sign of the cross, began to say the
prayers.
AS Idris and his mother alone remained
standing the attention Of the minstrel was
naturally drawn to them. No sooner did
his ewes fall upon Mrs. Breakspear than a
change came over him. His look Of SOL
emnity was succeeded by one of wonder
ment, and after stammering out few
broken phrases, which, though intended as
pious petitions to Heaven, conveyed
scarcely any meaning to his hearers. he
brought his prayer to an abrupt conclu-
sion.
GOOD folk" he cried. II will not give
you The Ballad Of the Ring 1t is too
mournful 1t would sadden the hearts of
some who are present.
Mrs Breakspear frightened her grasp on
the wrist Of Idris. and, much to his grief,
drew him away from the presence of the
Kloer. and hurried him onward to Polls
house.
(To be continued Monday)