Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-25

you think I shall now be the rich
man and go along the border and be
hated by ALI, while / fear all? Shall
] spoil all the short time. that Is left
to me in this lie? MOI" He waved his
old fiddle above his head. His voice
rose till its tones cracked in anger
and protest and frightened grief. by
holy Saint Xavier, | will not be so
| abused!"
In all the years no one ever before
had seen such anger on the face Of
AnaXagoras Billedeau or heard such
| passion in his tones.
! He was now fairly at bay. His lips
were rolled from his teeth; he beat
the fiddle frantically about his head,
as though warting off some terrible
| thing.
Aldrich went to him, pressed his
hands on the shoulders of the rusty old
coat and urged the fiddler until ho
sat down on the grass. Aldrich sat
beside him, and Evangeline kneeled on
the other side and took Billedeau's
| hand.
Listen Billedeau we shall UNDER
stand this thing! You must not think
you are to carry all that money in
your pocket-all the money Of a rich
man. But. as you have gone UP and
down the land in your blackboard, have
you not often wished you could help
the poor people even more than you
helped them by the merry tunes from
your ,fiddle?'
YES, you have wished so, Monsieur
Billedeau,' cried Evangeline. For
did not you tell me on the long road
that you would like to see curtains
in the widows of the little houses and
ribbons for the hair of the children OH.
the feast days? All. yes, you said
hot 1,n 1a1 hi,
more than pork and cornmeal--they
needed and they longed for things for
| the soul as we'll as for the stomach
for they are French people. You said
all that to me, and you told me you
would go about here and there and
give such gifts if you were the rich
man."
There have been many losses in the
valley, Billedeau," said the husband,
on the other side. "The poor people
need furniture and a loan here and
there for lumber for new houses. You
need not carry much money in your
pocket. Notary Pierre understands
all the business. He is faithful and
honest. You can search among the
people for those who need. Then you
can go TO Notary Pierre and say, Il
will take such and such Of that money
! that you and I hold as trustees in
behalf of the soul Of Vetal Beaulieu,
who is now sorry Yes. AnaXagoras,
that will be it! You shall be trustee.
It shall be for Netal Beaulieu's soul.
You shall return the money to the
poor people carefully, thriftily and
faithfully. Come to me for advice
70 to Pere Leclair. We all can help
you"
"And I shall be glad every day,
Monsieur Billedeau, because my faith
er's money is doing good through your
hands" said Evangeline, pressing the
fddler's palm. II ask you to do this
good friend. For my sake do this!"
I ut is great work-a holy task"
altered Billedeau, at last. Forgive
me. I was angry. / did not under
stand I.was afraid. 1t was said the
money was for NE. It is for the poor
people. eh?' .,.
ut is yours, so that you may, help
the poor people as you ride here and
there" said Aldrich. r.".
Il do not pray God to give me wis.,
dom in that work. have no head for
wisdom" confessed the old man. II
will ask you and Pere Leclair and the
notary for wise advice. On that 7
shall depend. But I will sit here for
| time and ask God to give me many
more days among my poor people so
that | may perform this holy task"
The man and wife heard, the strains
of the old fiddle singing softly in the
dusk behind them as they walked hand
in hand up the lane from the
meadows; walked from under the
stars to rest under the roses with
which Madame Ouillette had decked
their new home.
THE END.