Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-10
THEN READ THIS
TTHE priest extended his hand ar

of the long border-unly ! can explain
what those names mean" quavercd
the old man apprehensively cutchinE
the packet. II can point out the
names TO the great bihsop, He shall
understand them. then; this is one
sine Tetreault Of the withcred leg
who has come so many times for his
dole to the little door Of the barn, this
is Basil Laliberte, who
"And what is this all about my
man? We are very busy here, Speak
quickly. Is petition? For whom is
this petition
I'VE ash for the good pere Leclair
back again--it is AttcCat who beCs. !
am the very humble man, good father.
But you shall not think it is strange
that 7 have been sent, for | know the
people, have been in all the homes
Another priest had started TO pass
through the hallway. He paused and
listened with momentarv interest, for
Biledeau was sobbing his entreatics.
priest inquired Of Father Callahan,
so he says"
"That's the northern parish where
little old priest has lost his head over
some matter of local politics. He has
been transferred. There's an end of
It all. I don't remember the details
But it has all been settled"
He passed on with a swish Of his
cassock
You hear. my man, II has been
settled Yet you may leave your papers
with me. Do you hear? You may
leave your papers. They will be filed
with the report of the case. How.
ever. nothing can be done 1t is all
settled"
Anaxagoras stared stupidly, agony
and woe and doubt in his eyes
81 have come these many miles. !
have come all the way from the north
to tell the bishop. to show the papers
10 him"
The burly priest was curt. hut there
messenger of the wistful eyes caught
: hold upon his sympathies. Had Rep.
resentative Clifford been there to be.
hold he would have had fresh faith
only for an instant, "The bishop is
not strong. Do you not know that he
is a very old man? He is i'll. We can
not disturb him with matters that
have been settled I am very sorry
you have come so far on useless er
rand. say, you may leave youl
papers. That is all"
But the old man did not loose his
hold on the precious packet
Il must give them to him" he NUT
tered. 81 cannot go home and tel
them I did not do my duty."
The priests face Aardened. III
waited a few moments in cold silence
Then he turned away. Anaxagora'
looked after him without speaking o.
imploring, for the hopeful though
came to him that perhaps the prizes
bishop. The father spoke 10 the aco
lyte and passed out of sight, his hlacl
robe dragging on his heels.
The acolyte opened the door.
you are to go" he said. When tn,
old fiddler stood motionless, he pushe,
him gently and repeated the command
"I have not seen the bishop" Ther
was a wall in his voice.
"You must not speak loudly here
my man. You cannot see the bishor
He is i'll. Please go away quietly"
without exactly understanding VIII
his feet carried him away, the oil
man found himself on the outside o
the broad door.
He had been dismissed; he had bee
sent away, and his packet was sti
where Representative Clifford had bu
toned IL! All, why should not a wis
man as the representative have know
that poor Billedeau could not do I'll
great deeds? That bitter though
whirled above all the other emo
t1OnS lndL IHduc thc VI ain VI 81
old fiddler dizzy. Sobs choked hin
tears flooded his eyes. He staggere
away into the bedlam of the stree
The rush of humanity terrified hir
The noises dinned his ears. Far ava
between high buildings, he saw tree
(. He dragged himself in that directio
like a stricken animal who seel
refuge by instinct. He understoc
trees; they understood him. He W;
homesick for trees, for the open.N o
the weary miles between him and Il
blue st. John!
II was a park to which he came
4 spacious, breezy, wooded vista whe
birds twittered and waters splash
from fountains. He hid himself aw'
from the paths and sat down up'
: his bucket.
The lofty golden cross was still wit
IN the range of his vision.
SO he must go back to far Atteg
ana tell his people that he had fail
- n,iserably? He had been sent al
4 TI| IN.. y