The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-05-28

| field toward the church. But at that
moment the baby cried and she turned
back into the house. and when she
looked again the boy had disappeared.
Yet II was on her mind that something
would happen. and from time to time
she left her work and went to the
doorway and shaded her eyes, looking
had Yeered but once in his straight
path--to turn to the Philpoteaux cot
tage. where the glider lodged while In
VicQues. l5
How soon viii one be at work UP
there again. he asked through the
window OF Auguste Philpoteaux. sitting
at his dinner. and the man answered
good naturediy. enjoying the publicity
which made him the most interesting
person Of the village. WI
1T may be in half an nour. my boy.
Not sooner" And Francois raced on.
BY this time boy here and a boy
there had stolen from their dinner
tables and were gathering In groups
down the street, but the elders paid no
attention. Francois disappeared into
the church; the boys began to grow
breathless ls J .
1T will take some minutes for the
stairs" one said, and they waited Two
minutes, three, perhaps five: something
rose out OF the trap door leading to the
platform from which the steeple sprang
"a figure, looking very small so far
up above them. Instantly 1t attached
itself, like crawling fly, to the side OF
the steeple; it moved upward. Henri
Dufour, below In the street, Jumped as
q hand gripped his arm. He looked up
frightened at La Claire.
is that nv Francois?" she demanded
sternly, but the boy did not need to
answer. ri
With that, by degrees people came
from the cottages as at some mys-
terious warning and stood silent.
afraid to breathe. watching the
little figure creeping up, up
the dizzy narrowing peak OF the
church steeple. A rider galloped down
the road; seeing the groups. he pulled
In his bay horse and his eyes followed
lage. In spite OF the distance, one
could tell that 1t was child's, not
a mans figure, glued against the
neche, almost now at the top.
Who Is it?" he fiung at the nearest
knot or peasants; his voice was
abrupt and commanding.
The men pulled off their caps and
one answered respectfully; TT Is lit
tie Francois Beaupre, my seigneur;
1t is child who has no fear; he ig
almost at the top, but we dread IL
when he descends. It Is dangerous
to descend. Yet the child is not afraid
we hope he will come down and in
that case his mother should mosi cer-
tainly give him the stick"
Mon Dieu!" the man on horseback
growled. IF he looks down he is lost;
the lad Is q born hero or a born luna
tic" 49, 77 - p
The crawling spot UP there showed
dark In the sunlight against the new
gliding Of the ball. 1t stopped; the
blot was fixed for a second; another
second. From the crowd rose Rasps
and excited broken sentences.
He has the vertigo, He is lostn
A man spoke that plainly and Henri
Dufour felt Claire's fingers on his arm
loosen as IL life had gone out OF them.
A strange sound came from her ups.
but the boy did not stir his eyes from
the church steeple. In the stiffness he
heard q woman yards away whisper
He will fall now--at this moment"
And the dark blot clung against the
gliding. Then suddenly II lnoyed, be-
gan to make a slow way downward,
and a long sigh, like a ripple on water,
ran through the ranks of the people.
No one spoke; all the eyes watched
the little figure slip down, down the
unseen ladder In the air. At last II
was at the bottom; 1t disappeared In
to the trap door. Every one began to
talk volubly at once; a woman cried
for JOY, then q child spoke In high
voice. -. ... X ~ E0II
See" she said shrilly, ''the mother
or Francois goes to meet him"
La Claire was far down the street.
gliding toward that church door which
was under the steeple AS she reached
II the little lad came out, his face
flushed, his eyes shining with excite
ment and triumph. She took his hand
silently hardly looking at him, and
turned SO, quietly, without word OF
either Joy or reproof, her face impas-
sive. She had got her boy again from
the dead, 1t seemed to Claire, and
those first moments were beyond
words or embraces, To touch his
warm hand was enough. The man ON
the bay horse, trotting slowly along.
saw the meeting. :"
1T 10 woman out OF the common,
that one" he spoke aloud. "She rules
herself and the boy" And the boy
looked up as he came and smiled and
tugged at his cap with the hand which
his mother did not hold.
Good morning, M'sieur," he said
with friendliness, and the rider stared.