Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-07

Ills people against ipldiS lhiSt
promises, and the lawyer reports
the matter to the bishop, who sends
Father Leclair to distant post as
punishment clifford and Aldrich
get the people of the parish TO sign
petitions asking the return Of
Father Leclair. Father Horrigan
comes to Attcgat in Father Leclair's
place
THEN READ THIS
GIVES, you must go, AnaXagoras.
l. have been down there in the vii
lage square walking under the trees.
looking at the men as they came and
went, trying to decide who should
carry the precious papers away. |
could not find the right one. But the
moment | saw you it was all settled
in my mind You came like an answer
to prayer. why. there is no one else.
should have thought Of you first OF
an"
The girl stood up, radiant II her
excitement and joy.
II believe God has led Monsieur
Billedeau among the people. To and
him for this service" she declared.
raptly. "Of all others he can speak
best for them. He has been in all the
homes; he loves them. and they love
him. Oh, | have seen it all with my
own eyes, sir! Out Of his heart and
his knowledge he can speak to the
great bishop for the poor folks OF
Attegat."
The old fddler's lips worked word
Iessly. He ground a dusty boot upon
the crushed hat which lay AT his feet.
He writhed like one who feels agony
IN his veins.
Listen, AnaXa goras. and under
stand what this service may mean.
The people are inflamed. This trouble
has made two parties. Men of the
stamp OF Louis Blais will work upon
those who hate the Yankees, and they
will be ready to fight. But others will
be as ready to fight all who have
turned with Louis Blais against the
good priest. We must have Father
Leclair back in Attegat. He is the
only one who can bring the people
together. They will not fight across
him when he is back here again. II"
can plead he can make them under.
stand how bad it will be to fight He
will make them wait until wise heads
can bring matters straight once
moe"
"The bishop will listen TO you. He
will understand that you are one Of
the people" cried the girl; and a smile
from the patriarch encouraged her
to proceed. 1T will be like the poor
folks talking to him. He will see
them through your eyes, Mser Bile
deau. Go to him as you are; talk to
him as you talk to us about the Aca-
dams. whom you love so we'll"
"The psychological instrument"
muttered Clifford, in his beard. I'm
on the right track in this thing. A
bright girl sees the point in jify."
He arose and went TO Billedeau and
put his hand on the fiddlers shoulder.
The round eyes which slowly turned
up to hfszwere like the eyes OF dos
under the lash.
''Come. my good man. take heart.
You are going out to save your peo.
pie and bring your good friend back to
his stone house and his garden-back
to his church and those who need him.
ft1e a grand service"
Af\the touch on his shoulder Bile
deau slid from the hard chair and
crumpled down on his knees.
.Oh, great Representative Clifford"
ne mourned, one hand upraised in ap-
peal, one hand tugging at his con.
stricted throat, you have called me
by my name-that's Buledeau. You
have looked at me as though you knew
me. I do not understand. Yes. am
Biledeau. But I'm much afraid that
you don't know | am Billedeau-the
old fiddler-only the old fiddler! So
only dream that you talk to me as you
have talked"
'It Is no dream-not this" declared
Cnfford, brusquely. "I want you to
be very wide awake from now on, my
friend. I'm putting a big thing into
your hands. but you are just the one
to do It,"
mo. / cannot do it! l am nothing
but Fiddler Billedeau, say. You do
not understand. l do not have even
a roof over my head. l am what Vetal
Beaulieu says ! am, though my good
friends have made me forget 1t. | am
a vagabond."
"You are a good man. you have done
your share for your fellowmen in the
world. Some one called for this pur'
pose, some for that, Anaxagoras. Now
you are called on for this greater
service. You must carry the papers TO
the bishop"
The man on the floor began TO
rhiver. II was the shuddering OF one
whom mortal fear has overtaken.
"The bishop" he suffered. "The