Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-05-28
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho PiIorimaae.

The Pilgrimage. t.S
From far and near the peasants and
the people OF the towns and villages
Joined in the customary annual de
scent upon-or ascent to-the Mount
None was too poor, few too miserable
to undertake the journey. A pilgrim
age, was the occasion called; but al
though certain religious ceremonies
were duly observed and entered into
by some with fanatical warmth, many
there were. who, obliged to pay tithes
nourished the onerous recollection o.
the enforced ecclesiastical tenth" te
the exclusion Of any great desire te
avail themselves OF the compensatint
privilege Of beholding and bowling be
fore the sacred relics. To these recall
citrant spirits, license and rough
sort Of merrymaking became the or
der Of the hour. 81, s.E.
Early In the morning the multitude
began to arrive-in every manner o.
dilapidated vehicle, astride & starved
looking donkeys and bony horses. Of
on foot. Many who had camped out
the night before, by wayside or II
forest. brought with them certain
scanty provisions and kitchen POI
In which to boil thin soup. or some
poor makeshift mess; others came
empty-handed. pilgrims" out at thu
elbow and shoeless, trusting to fortune
for their sustenance. and looking cap
able even Of having poached in one O
the wide forests they had traversed
despite q penalty; severe and dispro
portionats to the 0fense, for laying
hand on any lords wild birds or rab
bits. 3, s 81 s-
Savage men; sodden men-good
bad and Indifferent! Like ants throng
ing about the hill. they straightway
streamed to the Mount: took posses
sion Of 1t. or as much as lay open t
them; for around the top, chosen
abode Of the Governor. extended I
wall. grim, dark and ominous; brist
ling with holes which seemed to lool
blacklyS down; to watch, to listen ant
to frown. Without THAT pretentiou'
line Of encircling masonry. the usua
din. accompaniment to the day ant
the presence of so many people, pre-
vailed; Within reigned silence, sol
|2emn hush, unbroken by even q sent
nels tread. s5 MA 4. VA 4 u
II shall be glad when It's all overt
Standing at the window OF her cham
Der the Lady Elise had passed II
dressing to look out. upon the thronl
"a thousand dots upon the sand, darl
moving masses in the narrow by
ways, and mouonless ones near thu
temporary affairs. F.t$
"Oh, my Lady!'' Her companion
and former nurse, q woman abou
fifty years Of age. ventured this milo
expostulation. "a. a
There. Marie! You can go!"
Yes, your Ladyship---'"'
Zone moment" The slender ngur,
turned. This fastening"''
In an instant the woman was BY hel
side. s., IS
"Have you heard anything mor>
about the prisoners. Marie ;" abrupt
~. Those who were tried, mean 2
Nothing only Beppo said they an
to be hanged day after tomorrow
when the pilgrimage ID over. 3
"Day after tomorrow" The brown
eyes looked hard and bright; thu
small white teeth pressed her lip
""And the man my fa-the Governor
had-whipped from the Mount--yor
have heard nothing more Of him
where he has gone7" { 5.5s d
mo, my Lady; he seems to have
disappeared completely; fed this coun
try, perhaps. for those Islands where
SO many like him." half bitterly. "hav<
gone before f.
The girl looked up In . preoccupied
manner. Poor Marie! Your only sis
ter died there, didn't she 7"
Eyes, my Lady: l never saw hel
after she left France with her hus
band and baby girl. He was an un
patriotic fellow Pierre Laroche!" N.
mo doubt" said the Governor
daughter absently, as the other pre-
pared to leave the room. d. ]
Alone, the girl remained for several
moments motionless before the great
Venetian mirror; then mechanically
hardly looking at the reflection the
glass threw back at her, she finished
her toilet. This task accomplished
still she stood with brows closely
drawn; afar the flute-like voices OF
the choir-boys arose from different
parts Of the Mount, but she did not
seem to hear them; made q sudden
quick gesture and walked toward the
door in the manner OF one who has
arrived at some resolution.
Passing down corridor. she
reached an arched opening whose mas
s1ve door swung easily to her touch,