The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-03-08

SAAN
mothers into the street, curious tc
know what had caused the school tt
close so early, and in an incredibly
short space of time the disgracefu
details of the mornings events were
on everyone's lips. The mother of the
two little girls was furious with rage
at her children having been struck
and all the villagers joined in hel
anger.
1--WE will go to the master and tel
him what we think of his behavior
cried one.
''Who can tell what he will dc
next" said another.
The feelings of the entire women
folk Of the village were wounded in
their two most sensitive points; their
motherhood and their religion. With
one impulse they swept up the straight
road to the school; their angry voices
were borne to the ears of the school
master. He peeped out of the window;
the crowd of storming women was
nearing the gate, and it was not pleas
ant to see how they strobe along with
arms swinging. He withdrew hastily
and running down the stairs, hurried
ly dragging his bicycle out of the
kitchen, it took but a moment to lead
it into the lane behind the house, and
before the mothers had opened the
gate he was already in full fight down
the hill towards the country.
But something arrested the leaders
of the procession; what was it?
The word was passed down the
ranks: Philippe little boy who
had taken down the crucifx-was ly.
ing across the steps outside the school
house.
Tenderly the first woman touched
him, for she was a mother, and a
mothers love yearns over every child
who is suffering, however much he
may have sinned; but life was already
extinct.
What did it mean, who had done it !?
He must have stumbled on the step
but there was no mark on the poor lit.
tie white face. For the moment ali
thought of the schoolmaster had van
ished, swallowed up in horror at the
tragedy before them.
Meanwhile Jules Michelet, the mas
ter, was speeding safely away; he was
uncomfortably aware that he had act
ed very unwisely in daring to strike
the two children, and should informa
ton be given at headquarters it might
stop his promotion, it was even doubt
full whether his zeal in having the
crucifix removed would at all weigh
down the scales in his favor.
Two men were walking down the
road when the schoolmaster came in
sight; they drew to one side to allow
the bicycle to pass, when suddenly il
gave violent swerve, there was g
crash, and man and bicycle lay pros
trate on the ground. They ran up
and the elder man bent down to as
sist the master, but to his astonish
ment there was no movement wheI
he touched him.
Get up" he cried, well help you,
but still the man remained motion
less.
Hes hurt himself badly" said the
other man, "we must take him to the
nearest house, Delarey's comes first
well that can't be helped, it is impos
sible to move him further"
They supported Jules Michelet be
tween them, then they noticed tina
both legs were hanging limp from the
knees, and with great difficulty the!
carried him to house standing {
couple of hundred yards away. The
door was opened by grim-faced, tact
turn-looking woman.
''Who is he?" she asked, looking
doubtfully at the mems burden.
'Who is he? what's that got to d.
with it when a mans in danger o
death?" cried the elder man angrily
"it's the schoolmaster if you mus
know"
"Oh," said the woman, her fac'
Frightening up, bring him in at once
however did it happen? Paul, Paul!
she called, and her husband appeared
''it is Monsieur Michelet, he has me
with serious accident.
Gan accident?" cried her husband
"what a catastrophe, bring him int
the bedroom; he shall have the bes
we can provide; here let me help,
and between them they took the maj
into a small room on the ground flool
at the back of the house, facing on tt
the garden.
"Why did the woman change round
so quickly when she found out tina
it was Monsieur Michelet?" said thu
younger man to his companion, a!
they walked back to the village.
'T cannot think, unless, unless
believe / have the key to the whole
situation; the schoolmaster is Free
mason, and that is why Paul Delarey
who is a Freemason also, received hin
so warmly into his house; I dom
know why we never thought of it be
fore; this would account for his bit
terness against religion; my children
tell me he never loses an opportunit!
of abusing it in school"
"And if he dies, he can have NJ
priest to attend him; the Masons ar
pledged to die without the Sacrament
and to have a civil. funeral. Their
are defections now and again, though
they try and hush them up; grea
deal depends on whether Paul is of ;
higher grade than Jules Michelet, bu
anyhow it will be difficult; l wish
had thought of this earlier and W
would not have taken him to the De