The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-01-13

tory as in the cloisters. One paused
at the baptistery. at the cathedral, OF
at any church near at hand, and, after
such prayer as one had time for. pro
eeeded about ones business. 1t was
d nalcyon season. The mind of Ig-
hatlus was busYing itself with a new
theory OF the origin of heavenly bodies
ana so intent thereon was he that
sven When an epidemic ravaged his
ileignporhood and carried away MANY
eilldren, he was scarcely aware of it,
lime passed. And, after it's own De-
cuilar FASHION, time made many things
ehat were strange merely familiar. The
freedom of the city life thar Ienafius
IeW summers a weariness. The walls
ol stone ana mortar, in crowded, mar
row streets. have a way Of retaining
neat that seems to bring them in touch
WIN ones very nerves. 1t was not like
the Certosa, where it was literally al
ways cool. But then the Certosa was
more than COO 1t was an ancient
haunt of peace. Peace was indeed do
mesticated there. But the Certosa, too,
Ilad It's drawbacks. as 1gnatius only too
with It's plains and vistas. with its IL
lInitaole horizon, was after all the
choicest background for a thinker.
OF what use," it occurred to Ig-
natius, is all this new freedom if /
cannot move where / list, like the
wind?" And incontinently he aid his
score, left his books in the keeping of
the beldam, a room in whose house had
served him for home, and, with scrip
and staff, departed hence.
asst the great and historic villas Ig-
natlus ~trudged, those wonder houses
now associated with the names of Boo
cacclo II Palmieri, a lonely enough
region for all its ~Splendor. Behind those
endless garden walls hat skirt the
road Is wealth enough for whole towns;
I MI ~ fhnXY NO <~@t
property of some one lord, and he in
visible. Earring on, however, Ignatius
climbed the hill road toward the little
plateau of Fiesole, n already he be-
gan to experience that feeling of I'M
constraint. of far horizons. to seek
which he had quilted the city. He gazed
about him at the hills and the olive
fields n at the busy cuItivators of
those fields. There was scarcely a
glance for him, so intent were the men
and wonlen upon their tasks.
This endless absorption in trivial
ity." he muttered to himself "in town
and country-is the human race in a
conspiracy"
a team of oxen, vociferously driven
by a grown lad of Is or SO, passed Ig-
lips moving, took it for prayer, and
greeted him piously. Ignatius laughed
within his heart. All the world was
dull and stupid. He was becoming in
fected himself. No great or illuminat-
ing thoughts had visited him that
morning, yet here he was in the open
country. This was the home of Serfs
and pumpkins. Every inch of soil was
cultivated and every foot of soil, al
most. produced it's food. This was all
one vast outdoor workshop. What knew
these folk of thought or of the ~inspira-
ton that came from green fields and
the distant stars? Only in the hills
could such inspiration be found. There,
among the cleaning peaks of the Apen-
mines, Or, better still. the Aims. Law the
i~mmemorial silence that is the think
er's garden, and there peradventure he
might find what he was still and al
ways seeking. Thither. accordingly, he
straightway bent his steps.
Now mountains, as travellers well
know, ave a trick of seeming near
and vet remaining far. Grand and
aloof they are and eve seem to re-
cede from human each. Nevertheless.
ignatius with the zeal of the born
seeker, strove doggedly on through
field and plain, passing villages and
cities on his way toward reality and
the distant peaks. SO intent was he
now that he scarcely observed the life
about him or the folk among whom
he passed on his tho final stage of
his lifelong quest. He had begun to
ascend h uplands and found him
self at last on the very slopes of the
foothills. He gaZed UP to the gilt
tering peaks thrusting at the heavens,
and they seemed very near to him.
Yet" he said to himself. II am only
at the beginning of my Journey
choly sigh escaped Ignatius, for he
was no longer young. Footsore and
travel weary as he was, a black de-
spair began to settle upon him. The
mocking demons of ease and luxury
swan before him as in a mist; his
nnht hnrao ~ t1oryr 49,
him for a fool. He turned about to
gaze regretfully back upon h road
he had ONE and then, lest his faith
should forsake him, he again adj
dressed himself TO his task. But in
that one momen when his back had
been turned upon the foothills, a very
singular thing happened. A stranger. |
whom he had not at all perceived, was
now coming toward him, staff in hand.
from the mountains.
A friendly gray beard was the
stranger, clad in the worn habit of
a pilgrim. with a face as red as an
apple, glowing from exertion. They
hailed a other. those two way
farers, as ever lonely wayfarers will. |
and taking occasion to lay down their
stairs md scrips, sat them down by |
the roadside for a few moments Of talk
n repose. The brooding sun Of italy
hung over them, and something in
the war; humanity gave
even the distant landscape am air of
intimacy. It flashed upon the monk
that perhaps no was unwillingly hee-
ing from what he had been so intent
~ seeking. Confidnces were not great
~ in his manner. and yet, so friendly
and arniable was the stranger, and SO
starved was Ignatius for
ina very soon he found himself teli-
Ing this unknown all the story OF his
Wanaerings and his lifelong quest.
Now" he concluded, Il am facing
those cleaning hills, and not before
] 9 the topmost Of them. all aglit-
YET there IN he sum-. Shall I know
true freedom or happiness, or feel nv
task fulfilled.p
The stranger smiled appreciation.
said he. displays a spirit
dear to every heart; but, my friend. he
added after q brief silence, Il have ia
2 scrip lying here on the grass the
means Of saving you much toll ana
WEAKNESS. Of rewarding you for all
your effort" And on a sudden. as the
old man began to tumble with his wal
iet. isnatius realized that the unknown
VAS sspeaiang as no mere everyday pill
grim, III as one hayirr n,,tbnri+,,