Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-04-14

and water tWlnk.ed IN puddl3s here
snd there On the floors puncheous
Tliey sat down side By side. Father
Eere; lingering the letter in an absent
rEi.il...d way.
III lie q jolly time Of ii tonight :
/ u. IL RoHville remarked; q rodr.1c
time
7 why do you say that. my sonF thc
priest demanded.
The wine ard the li4uar." vas tar
reply. Much drinking VIII i,e done
Tie men have al been dsy Lcre foi
some time, you know, and are Il.
thirsty rs sand. they a.e making
ready to enjoy themselves down at the
river house"
'.Ah. the poor soa.sr' sighed Father
Bcrct, Speaking rs one whose thought:
were wandering f:r asray.
why don't yen read your letter
Father:" Rene added.
( The priest started. tarned the soiled
square Of paper over in h!s hand, ther
thrust ii inside lis robe.
1T can wait" lie said. Then. chang
Ing his voice: "The squirrels you gave
me were excellent, my son. Ii was
good of you 10 think of me" he added
laying his hand on Kene's arm.
"Oh, rm glad if | have pleased you
Father Beret. for you are 50 kind tC
me always, and 20 everybody. When
killed the squirrels | said TO myself
These are young, juicy and tender
Father Beret must have these so
brought them along
The young man rose to go, for III
was somehow impressed that Father
Beret must wish opportunity TO read
his letter ard would prefer to be lef
alone with 1t. But the priest puaet
him down again.
"Stay awhile" lie said. IL have no
had talk with you for some time"
Rene looked trifle uneasy.
You will not drink any tonight, IN!
son." Father Beret added. you mus
not. Do you Eear?"
The young mans eyes and mouth a
once began to have a sullen expires
sion. Evidently he was not pleased ant
felt rebellious, but 1t was hard for hin
to resist Father Bcret, whom lie loved
as did every soul In the post. Th'
priests voice was sweet and gentle
yet positive TO degree. Rene did no
say word.
Promise me that you will not tast
liquor this night" Father Beret wen
on, grasping the young mans arm
firmly. "Promise me. my son; promis'
me-"
still Rene was silent. The men dit
not look at each other, but gaZed ava,
across the country beyond the Wabasl
to where glory from the western suI
famed on the upper rim of grca
cloud fragment creeping along the hori
Zon.
"Eh bien, / must co." said Rene pres
emily, getting to his feet nimbly an'
evading Father Berets hand, whicl
would have held him.
"Not to the river house. my SOM
said the priest appealingly.
"No, not there. | have another letter
one for M'sieu' RoussiIlon. 1t came b.
the boat too. go to give it to Mime
Roussillon."
Rene a. Ronylle was dark, weathe
stained young fellow. neither tall no
ghc 4. wearing bucksliln moccasins
trousers and tunlc. His eyes were darl
brown, keen. quick moving, set wei
under heavy brows. A razor had prob
ably never touched his face, and hi
thin. curly beard crinklcd over bii
strongly turned cheeks and chin. whil
his mustaches sprang out quite iiercel,
above his full Tipped almost sensua
mouth, He looked wiry and active, {
man not TO be lightly reckoned with II
trial OF bodily strength and will
power
Father Berct's face and voice chang
ed on the instant He laughed dryl,
and said. with sly CLEAN in his eyes:
you could spend tho evening pleas
antiy with Nine. Eoussllon and Jean
Jean, you know, 10 very amusing fel
low"
Rene brought forth the letter o
which he had spoken md held 1t up be
| fore Father Bercts face.
Maybe you think / haven't ppy let
ter for M'slou. kousstllon." no blurted
sand maybe you arc quite certain tha
| am not going TO the house TO take tb
| letter"
an. Roussilon is absent. you know.
| Father Berct sugge2toL. "But chcrr.
| pies arc just Ms good while he's gon
ns when he's at home, and happen f
| know that there are some particular.
delicious ones I'm tho pantry of Mime
Rousslllon. Mile. Alice gave me
Juicy sample, hut then | dare say yol
| do not caro- to have your pie served b.
her hand II would interfere witt
your appetite. En- my son"
Rene turned short about. waEginl
his head md laughing, and so with hi
the wet path leading to the Roussilloi
place.
Father Berct gazcd after him, hi
face relaxing 10 serious expression
In which trace OF sadness and gloon
spread like mn elusive twilight. III
took out his letter, but did not glanc
Vt II, simply holding II tightly grippe
In his slnewy right hand. Then hi
old eyes stared vncantly, as eyes q
when their sight IN cast back many
many years into the pnst. The pla
slye was from beyond the acn-h
knew the handwtitiDg-a watt OF tb
flowers OF Avignon seemed 20 rise on
OF II, MS II by the pressure OF hi
grasp.
A stoop shouldercd. burly man wen
by, leading n pair Of goats, kid fol
lowing. He was making haste excited
ly, keeping the goats Mt lively trot.
"Bon Jour, Pcre Bcret." he fun
out breczlly. and walked rapidly on.
"Ah. nh: his mind II busy with tn
newly arrived cargo" thought the oil
priest. returning the sulutatIon. "iIl
throat aches for ilquor-the poor man.
Then he read again the letters super
scriptlon mud made faltcrlng move n
IL TO break the seal. Ills hands trcm
bled violently. hls face looked gra.
md drawn.
"Comc on. you brutcs," cried the re
cedlng man, Jerking the thongs OF ski
by which he lcdstb goats.
Father Bcrct rose and turned Int
his damp little hut, where the llgh
was dim on the crucifix hanging op
poslte tho door against the ella,
daubcd wall. IT was bare insight,
clnmmy room. A rude bed on ono sid
shelf for table and two or thrc
wooden stools constituting the furn
turc. while the uneven puncbcons O
the floor wnbbled aud clattercd unde