Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-05
THEN READ THIS

were i'm his eyes, ana ne coulu not
wink them back.
my God, why is it that only few
of us really understand the heart OF
this thng-what lies under all the dis
pute and the politics. The people have
been foolish. blind, misled. Wreck and
ruin are headed this way II the spir.
itual influence Of that little father is
taken out of this parish at just this
time. when the folks need it most,
that stone house down there will stand
for the gravestone of all the hopes
we have ever nursed,"
His emotion communicated itself 10
Aldrich.
"You shall have the names, sir
will have my men at the door here
before the copies are ready, notary
A shout interrupted him. 1t was a
wordless chorus of woe. II was almost
ululation.
Aldrlch was at the door OF the
Office.
He saw Father Leclair riding slowly
through the square, passenger on
blackboard of which a grizzled habitant
was the charioteer.
Men were crowding about him. whip
ping off their hats; women came run
ming from yards here and there.
"But you are not going away. Pere
Lecair?" they cried. over and over
They could not seem to find other
words with which TO express their in
credulous grief.
The thin face OF the priest under
the broad hat was paler than usual
But he smiled bravely.
This poor old body must pass on,
my children" he told them. when they
had become silent and they under
stood that he wished to speak The
grizzled habitant had stopped his
horses, and now gazed straight ahead
in dumb woe. Il leave behind my
love, and If have done YOU service
: in any way / leave behind the
memory of it--so that YOU may re
turn that kindness to others if l am
not here to receive it from you. If you
feel YOU owe me anything l ask YOU to
pay il to the first you meet who may
be in need"
Aldrich pressed through the throng.
The notary, his wet pen in his hand,
and the patriarch doffing his straw
Nat, were at the officers heels.
'I did not understand that you were
to leave here so soon," protested the
young man. I'VE are not prepared to
See you 60 Pere Leclair.'
"The command was explicit" re-
! turned the priest. gently. II was or
dered to depart forthwith to my new
plece." He leaned close TO Aldrich.
"If seem to hurry away. remember
that an old man cannot endure too
much anguish. 1t is a bitter wound
while I remain here it seems as though
the knife is ranking in it, I must
hurry away These were the only
words OF complaint he uttered. lie
raised his head after moment, and
his face was serene once more.
81 have a long way TO go. I must
hasten on. my children!" He gave his
hand to his three loyal friends, one
after the other, and spoke to the man
who sat beside him on the blackboard
"Good-by, Father Leclair" rum.
bled the mems voices. and across the
diapason Of the chorus quavered III,
vomen's treble, and sobs threaded the
sound.
So he passed out of the throng whC
stood with barred heads and who re
mained thus until the blackboard top
ped the bill They peered after it anC
caught the last glimpse OF the LITTLE
figure wrapped in its frayed cassock
The old hound trotted behind in thu
dust
Notary Gendreaus voice broke th'
awed hush, He shook mis- pen a
the people.
.Come to- the door OF my office an,
wait, all you folk" he commanded
.There is a paper for you to sign. !
IL a petition to the great bishop o
the diocese. 1t asks him TO send goo,
Pere Leclair back to U.s."
They cheered excitedly trooping a
his heels.
..No, / do not guarantee th't it wi
bring him back" stated the notary
with legal caution. But let eac
toneue say a prayer as the han
erites the name. and then we wi
eskd OF the paper an&sope that Go
WIN speak for us TO those in the hig
places"
They thronged at the door an
crowded the narrow office and mu
tered soultully as they wrote thei
names with painful efforts OF thos
who use the pen but seldom. Man
made their marks and the notar
wrote their names on against IN
crosses.
-Ah. It was for the big school o