El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-14
In the Abbe's Garden
By A. Domain Grange.

- Ut and thrust,
Cut and thrust;
Live on who can,
And die who must
You or I shall bite the dust.
So sang Pierre, making great play
with MS great pruning knife amongst
the Abbe's roses. It was a warlike.
even 8 blOodthirsty song, as he sang II,
and STRANGELY out Of keeping with his
thoughts were far away from the
peaceful garden, with it's old fashioned
parterres and trinity clipped yeW
hedges; as far away as the DAYS WheI
the Able Mezin had been armand
Duguesclin, soldier Of fortune, ana the
readiest blade in all France-or IN az
ChristendOm, for that maLteI liu
when he, Pierre. had been wont 10 en-
pIoy his talents IN other ana more es Sol.-
genial ways than the tending OF roses
Pierre sighed over their departed go
rfes shaking his head sadly as ne
moved among the rose trees.
Presently he heard a light tooJsteP % on
the path behind him He turned quick
" and found himself face TO race Win q
tall. slight woman in black, VINO was
leading a small boy OF nine or ~ %
the hand. Both were strangers 70 -,
though he remembers having seen
them that morning in the village. anu
having been told that they were "a Seiy
come from Orleans. that the Idqy ;
name was ClermOnt. and the AltLe ~
her son. and that they were staying
with old Mere Guignol, VINO kept the
only shop the place boosted
"a thousand pardons, friend. BuI me
rOses-they are so beautlIuL we ~
flowers. little Armand and 1, and the
temptation to come IN ana peg Cl o.sS
view of them was more than we cou5G
resist Is that not so, mon -petlt
laying her hand affecuonately on the
The youngster nodded, looking at
Now that stern visaged son Of the
sword, Notwithstanding his hankerlnSs
after the old Unregenerate days, was
nightly proud of his roSes-as ne
chose TO regard them HIS response
was an effectively simple one, and the
most practiced OF cOurtiers could not
have made a better He picked three
or four Of the choicest blooms WllhlIl
reach, and placed them in the lady $
"Oh. Indeed this is good Of you!" she
cried. lnhaling their delicate perfume
You are sure that you can spare
them?"
swered carelesly. But here is the abbe,
madame.
Coming towards them along the gar
den path was a big, muscular looking
whose broad shoulders and great depIn
Of chest seemed oddly at variance with
his calling, as indicated by the prlestly
garb he wore. He was walking slowly
his body well balanced and his head
erect with the firm, slightly arrogant
stride, learned rather in camps than IN
the study and the clOister. As ne
neared them he removed his wide brlrn-
mel hat-there was the faintest sug-
gestion of a flourish in the action,
fas1 h o
it-and the westering sun shone 1ulI
upon a strong, virile face.
II shall be most happy he began,
in a soft, melOdious voice the voice tnat
had won so many hearts in years gone
by-and won them still. If II came to
Then. ere he could finish, a woman's
startled cry rang out on the heaVIy
scented air.
armand
The able took a quick step forward,
his hat clutched tightly in his trem-
bling hands, and his face suddenly
grown white and drawn, like the face
of a man who is struggling IN the grip
of an Overpowering emotion.
"ROse?'' he said in hoarse whis-
per.
her veil, 1T is I, Rose Cartier"
For moment the able gazed at her
intently. with a strange light shining
An" he said, with a light laugh, al
belt a trtfle forced, you must forgive
me II was taken by surprise"
Not more so than /, she responded,
equally striving to appear at ease 7
had no idea-tbat is" she seemed TO
find some difficulty in proceeding.
AS he turned away his head, to avoid
her searching scrutiny, his glance fell
upon the boy, who who had stolen
round to PIerre's side, and was listen
ing with rapture to that worthy's ac-
count of how he came by a certain scar
across his cheek The lad broke into a
merry peal of laughter, and clapped his
hands delightedly.
"Oh, but that is fine" he cried. Just
like a story out Of a book. You ought
to hear 1t, chere maman."
Chere mamani
A sudden pain stabbed the abbe's
heart. For the moment he had forgot
ten. Merciful heaven. yesl he had for
gotten the wrong done to him 10 years
ago by one whom he had called his
friend. and who had proved his friend
ship by rOb0ing him Of the great happi-
ness which might have been his. As
he looked a the child-Rose Carriers
child-all the anguish and bitterness
Of soul he had endured then came back