The Washington times., 1914-01-13


n stone church was a bench just
~ by the sacristy door. There were
large candiesticks on it, wink
. in the afternoon sun. The door was
ncn. It was not a very smal door,
Tut when the Abbe Guerchard came out
Ito the garden with two more candle
sriCks in each hand he had to StOop.
There was an apron tied round MIN,
IN old gardening apron of blue linen,
.uuch sta ned. and patched, and his
.eeyes were turned up to the elbow.
The muscles of mis- big fOrear1ns were
kept hard in the kitchen-garden, and
their brownness spoke of the loving
care with which he looked after his
friends, the fiowers-roses, sweet peas,
hoIlyhocks lupins, sunffoweTs, and many
-nore-all destined either to grace the
tar IN the little church or to gladden.
ne eve of a sick parishlOneT.
He placed the candlestIck down, re-
.urned into the church and brought out
lore. After three Journeys the sacristy
as empty and the bench nearly full.
o he sat himself down on corner of
and took up a rag and a tin of
fetal polish and began his task of
leaning.
He was silent at first, listening to the
gice of the warm, still afternoon-the
Oddling and whispering of the flowers,
ne little, impatient shake of a tuft OF
.edves on the branch of one Of the apple
rees, the lazy booming of bumblebecs
hiCh fiOated near and went away and
hen came back again the Outpourlngs
. b rd-which as he did he felt all
he beauty and peace of nature.
He raised his head and looked out
~ er the low stone wall TO his left and
s-W. across the heads Of his flowers, the
"A. calm and sparkling in ths distance,
ith a tiny patch OF whit Jhowing
there a fishing boat was rocking up
nd down. He began to sing very quiet
'r. as he rubbed away at the braSs
andle-sticks. a quaint rhythmic song
OF the iishe-folk. rather plaintiNe, as %
ne who has felt the touch and heard
He call OF tine mysterious deep.
Al. TAbbeT'
TEere was a smile in the priests eyes
- ne heard the call come down the
inding path that led from his house.
Mon Dieu! Mon DleU!" he muir
rureG: what should 1 DO without that
oUd soul? He raised his voice Here
I'm"
After a moment there was a shuttle
. slippGred feet Oh the path boTdered
az EOosebeTry and cuTrant busnes ana
ratCheG with an intricate laceWoFh OF
1adoTs, and then fat. round, oldiSn
woman appeared. Her hair was touched
.. ith Eray and her face wTinlIled like a
Tried 8Pp.e, but her eyes tNFinlSled mer-
Iv. ana she stood some distance of,
..rc hand behind her. the other waEg.ng
rcprimandinE finger at the big priest.
What is come 10 YOUR memory she
led. la. Ia. Ia, Were It not for me
think you would forget to eat, forget
10 to bed, forget that you have duties
% yourself as we'll as TO others.
The Able Guerchard smiled back TO
..,r. but he did not stop cleaning his
audlesticks. What is nv latest crime
~ good Therese?'
'CIiufe? All, that is a good one! The
.lca of NJ. rAbbe committing crime
.u- example," Her breast heaved with
&c biCncss of her chUckle. Then she
OvCred herself and assumed an air OF
cat severity. What has NJ. Able
..3u~ Y ith his pipe and his tobacco
...l lIi?'-
80 tFat vas why she hid enc hand
r.hnd h"r aInple person,
The abb bent over his ca-ndlesticks 10
mccall a srrIle-
How should know he said. =
y thcm-where did leave them de
ithdTcw il with an exc amatloh. !
fought ] had put theme there"
Therese's finger wagGled again,
Ah-h!' There was deep triumph in that
oApTeSsion. She walked across 10 the
'ench, and the left hand at last came
ut Of hiding. together with tine pipe
nd tobacco. In two minutes you
~uuid have left your precious candle
s'!CEE and been compelled to return 10
ne house for them. Is il. not So
What is more. ! have not forgotten the
matches
~ <Abb| - Alls-a Il FAL bDNAt IL
andlestlck and the rag. You spoil nes
my good Therese," ne said. Not only
40 you make Ine lazy by bringing me
NY tobacco, but You encourage Inc to
EiLttonly with your omeIets. your Yege-
able soup. your good chocolate, and
y our
Therese interrupted quickly. "Glut-
tony. indeed! Who is It that leaves
more than half of every meal-which
would go to waste did not make use
% all my knowledge il the kitchen?
MOn Dieu! If ] did not coax, beg and
insist, you would become . scarecrow
III a very short time. And then who.
pray. would look after the CHURCH. who
a CuIo look after ali the sick and old
who would teach the little ones or Sun
'ays? Gluttuu, mdccd"' Her inJigua-
r!"n was bOuudlesS.
The priest struck a match and waited
patiently till the sputterlng sulphur had
given place 10 fame. Then he lit his
Ijpe and the fat old huusellesper's
wrath subsided as she watched the blus