The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-05-10

had he gone when the beast came to
the cabin. He found himself alone
with the woman.
"a mile from bis cabin the husband
stopped to light his pipe. See, gentle
men, how the supreme arbiter played
his hand The man attempted to un-
screw the stem, and the stem broke.
In the wilderness you must smoke.
Smoke is your company. 1t Is voice
and companionship to you. There were
other pipes at the settlement, ten miles
away. bnt there was also another pipe
at the cabin, one mile away. So the
husband turned back He came up
quietly to his door, thinking that he
would surprise his wife. He heard
voices-a mans voice. woman's cries.
He opened the door. and in the excite
ment of what was happening within
neither the man nor the woman saw or
heard him. They were struggling. The
woman was in the mans arms, her
hair torn down, her small hands beat
ing him in the face, her breath coming
in low, terrified cries. Even as the
husband stood there for the fraction Of
| a second taking in the terrible scene
the other man caught the woman's
face to him and kissed 1t. And then
! It happened. 1t was terrible fight.
| and when it was over the beast lay on
| the floor bleeding and dead. Gentle
men, the supreme arbiter broke a pipe
| stem and sent the husband back In
timer
| No one spoke as Father Charles drew
his coat still closer about him. Above
the tumult of the storm another sound
came to them. the distant piercing
shrek OF whistle.
'The husband dug grave through
the snow and In the frozen earth" con.
| cluded Father Charles, ''and late that
afternoon they packed up a bundle and
set out together for the settlement
The storm overlook them They had
dropped for the last time into the
snow, about to die In each others
arms. when put my light in the win
dow. That is all, except that ! knew
them for several years afterward and
that the old happiness returned te
them-and more. for the child was
born, a miniature OF its mother. Their
they moved to another part Of the vii
derness and to still another. So yOr
see, gentlemen. what q snowbount
train may mean. for If an old sea tale
a broken pipestem"-
The door at the end of the smoking
room opened suddenly. Through i
there came cold blast of the storm, I
cloud of snow and man. He wa!
bundled in great bearskin coat. ant
as be shook out its folds his strong
ruddy face smiled cheerfully at thos'
whom he bad interrupted
Then suddenly there came Il chang
IN his face. The merriment went from
it. He stared ut Father Charles Th
priest was rising. his face more tens
and whittier still. his hands reaching OH
to the stranger.
In another moment the stranger ha
leaped to him-not to shake his hands
but to clasp the priest in his grea
arms. shaking him and crying out
strange joy, while for the first tim
that night the pale face of Fathe
Charles was lighted up with. a red an
| Joyous glow.
. After several minutes the newcome
released Father Charles and turned
the others. with great, hearty laugh
, Gentlemen" he said, you must pa
, don me for interruptiny you like thi
, You will understand when | tell 20
, that Father Charles is an old friend I
mine, the dearest friend have G
earth. aud that haven't seen him f
/. years. I was his first penitent!"