The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-14

of Oliver Goldsmith The Rev. Mr.. Prim-
rose and the Able Constantin might
have fought vigorously over theological
questions but would have loved each
other as brothers are theoretically sup
posed to do had not the intervening GEN.
turtles and the narrow seas separated
them II there is some houseboat on the
Styx where enduring persons emenating
from the minds of genius meet together
IN social accord, how the able and the
parson must enjoy each others com
pany. The "Abbe Constantine was pub
lshed in 1882 1t has already run through
nearly two hundred editions in French
and English. and is as popular today as
It was when it was first published. The
story was crowned by the French acad-
envy, and 1t made the authors fame. as
1t will perpetuate it.
IL were excited and in a state of
~ unrest in the little village OF Sou
\ vigny, which itself nestled peace
fully enough on the banks OF small
stream called the Lizotte, some hours
north of Paris. The occasion OF the dis
quetude was explained by immense blue
placards which announced that on
Wednesday. May 49, 1881. at o'clock in
divided into four parcels, would be sold
at auction. This magnificent estate,
which for two centuries had been handed
down from father to son in the family
OF Longueval, was to pass into the hands
of strangers. Moreover, since 1t was vail
ued at more than 100000 francs, the
property probably would be divided.
No one was more disturbed by the i'm
pending auction than Able Constantin,
who had been stationed as cure of the
village church for over 30 years. Who
would take the place of the Marchioness
of Longueval, who had now been dead
six months and whose heirs, three grand
children, were forced to sell the estate?
Who would be the new master? What
woman would preside at the table and
take the place of the marchioness at the
f1resde in the great salon?
The warehouses was on old friend of
the Able Constantin. She it was who
repaired the village church and in many
ways Supplied the cure with the sinews
of war which he constantly waged
against sin, the world and the devil In
his community. Her purse was ever
open, and, best of all, her heart was In
the work. Besides he had lost his organ
list, Mile. Hebert, who had been Nine.
Longuevals companion. And it must be
confessed-for even the greatest saints
have their little weaknesses-he also
thought of the sudden breaking off of his
habit of dining every Thursday and Sun
day at the chateau. More than once he
had stopped and examined the ripening
grain in the fields to see If it was we'll
filed. His grain, his meadows, pastures
and woodland BY memory and habit he
was closely bound to the domain whose
s last hour was come.
Cure of Longuevall 1t was his first
and only charge He never dreamed of
being anything else. Several times he
had been offered larger cures with in
creased salary and curate or two, but
he had refused. His little church, VII
lage and parsonage had become part of
himself When he worked in the garden
which was separated from the church
only by the churchyard he could see the
graves of those whose bodies he had
committed to the ground, and, with his
simple, peaceful faith, said a prayer for
the repose of the souls OF those about
whom he was little anxious.
There was one tombstone toward
which his eyes and thoughts were often
directed, that of his old friend, Dr. Rey-
maud. who had died in his arms In 1871.
To be sure the doctor never went to
mass or to confession, but he was rich
in good works, tender hearted and COM
passionate. AS he recalled the doctor S
noble life of self-denial the good able
would say to himself I'm paradisei He
must be in paradise! The good God may,
perhaps. have given him a little purgato-
ry for FORMS sake, but He must have
taken him out at the end of five min
utes."
As the Able Constantin was on his
way to the court house to learn the re-
suit Of the sale and who the new mas
tiers of Longueval were to be he passed
the park wall of Lavardens and heard
q voice from the terrace calling M lie
Cure. where are you going?' He stated
his errand and the Countess of Lavar-
dens-for she 1t was who had accosted
him-invited the cure to enter and rest,
az she had arranged with her banker, NJ
de Larnac. to bring the news of the sale
to her and her son Paul. Presently a
cloud OF dust was seen in the distance
and soon NJ. de Larnac appeared. All
three-the countess, the able and Paul
fastened to meet him.
"Well?" asked Nine. de Lavardens.
WELL" replied M. de Larnac, I'VE have
accomplished nothing, simply nothing"
Then he related how the four pieces had
been sold separately as arranged and at
satisfactory figures and It was thought
all was over when the Judge who had
charge of the sale announced that there
was an opportunity to bid on the four
lots together, providing the price was in
excess of the sum bid for the lots sepa-
rately The bidding continued up to
100000 francs. when the property was
knocked down to Gilbert, the lawyer. All
rushed to him to learn the name of his
client. ut Is an American, Mrs. Scott
answered Gilbert.
MRS. Scott" exclaimed Paul de Lavar-
dens. Are you acquainted with her?i
asked his mother. Slightly" replied
Paul IT met her in Paris and am
willing to know her better. She is a
wonder, a dream" And there is a Mr..
0cott?" continued Nine Lavardens. The
banker said there was; that the SCOTS
-.-1rta5 i,,,,, a ~ call,