The Opelousas courier., 1905-12-16

year., all IL L dlA I choi
Christmas-why, let EN- do without
for once, that's ALL"
Seems a pity, though, Bargle, don
you Think" The vicar spoke per-
suasively. He was young and dlti1dent
and new to Peridale, and the sexton
was crotchety and opinionated. The
last vicar had slipped into an easy
habit of deferring to his long expe-
rience. and this had made him AFRO
CANT. at is a fine old custom, Bar
gle"
"ThereIl be the chimes at the par
ish church over the hill %yonder," Bar
gle interrupted, testify; "they sound
here in the village quite plain, an
folks must make the best O that an
be thankful
There was a deal of grumbling about
it in the village; Bargle knew that,
and took a morbid pride in feeling
that he was having his own way.
People were limiting that his ailments
were imaginary, that his rheumatism
| was merely another name for his
grabbed perversity, and an excuse for
his increasing Incidence.
AS he sat smoking and Illuminating,
| his thoughts Travelled along that bleak
road to the church, and back into
| blither old Christmases when he had
toiled robustly, with his assistant, high
up in the crazy tower, and they had
kept the three bells swinging and
pealing joyously from eight o'clock till
midnight, with short rests between
whites, and one long rest when steam
| ing hot coffee and toast had been car
ried up the narrow, steep stairs to
them by a homely, CHEEKY little wom-
an, who was his wife, and a merry,
eyed, winsome maid, who was their
daughter Alice.
But that had happened for the last
time-how m:ny Christmases ago?
Why. already eight winters hat
showed over that mound in the church
ward. And this was the fourth veal
lnce Alice had deserted him in his
loneliness, and he had set himself tt
forget her.
He had not forgotten yet, though
nor forgiven her.
r In defiance of his imperative be
hests, she had married the ne'er-do
weel son of a tradesman in the town
yonder, and they had gone away tt
London. She had written to him thrice
but he burned her first letter and re
turned the others unopened, and,
he had not forgotten her, her nam
was never on his lips.
At length, a few months ago, tn
village heard that her husband wa
dead. She had written to a neighbo
saying she and her baby were desti
tute, and begging that she would in
tercede and ask her father to forgiv
her and let her come home.
But Bargle, mindful of his dignity
hardened himself, and, resenting thi
intercession as an impertinence, curt
ly advised the peacemaker not to med
die in his business again; hot word
passed between them. and she fun
off in such a whirl of indignation tina
her reply to Alice apparently scare
the girl from attempting any turtle
overtures.
Absorbed as he was in these regre
full reveries, a sudden sound broke i
upon him, and he started, glancin
around dazedly and wondering whetl
err he had been asleep.
But no!-as he listened, breathles
the sound was repeated; a single, dee
clang of the church bell.
No wind was stirring, and he ha
the keys of the belfry; yeti was +
trick of his Imagination, for, after
tense interval, another dull clan
echoed down the night; and present
another, like the booming of a funer
knell.
With a chill creeping up his spin
the gray, gnarled old man recalled
legend that the belfry was haunted
; the ghost of a man who had wronge
I a friend, and, in a fit of remorse, he
; flung himself from the tower on son
forgotten Christmas; Bargle hs
known folks who spoke to hearing Il
bell toll m~ysteriously on Christm;
ewes before he was born, but he hi
not half believed them, and had new
heard it himself-until now.
That was it sounding again!
He was no coward nor superstition
and a swift, irresistible impulse seiz'
and drove him to fathom this strani
happening.
His very excitement braced him al
put new strength into his limbs.
lighted a lantern, and, helping h
hating steps with a stout stick, ma
for the village and walked up the you
who assisted him in his duties.
"Dost hear yon bell, Amos"
called, quaveringly.
It Ely, Mr.. Bargle," and Bargle W
relieved to have his hearing thus &C
h roborated. who be it oop there,
wonner?"
. Put your coat on smartly, lad. l
+ goin' to see."
. Silent, and quaking with cold
. nervousness, they moved noiseless
h over the mufHing snow, turned t
wall of the churchyard, and, Bars
grimly leading, filed in through t
creaking lych gate.
The narrow path between the gray
brought them to the porch, and he
Bargle, who entered first, stopp'
fumbling for his keys, and sudden
held the lantern lower with a hus
cry of alarm.
: In the glimmering light of the Ia
= tern, a woman lay huddled close
= - - y-r - - 1ls11 -~1l4l