Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-03-19
udlble to the intensely interested

audible to the intensely interested
spectators.
when are you going to close down,
Simeon7" demanded Father Lucien.
standing over the PROSTATE liquor
seller.
"At once" yelled Simeon, bursting
into tears. "For Gods sake don't hit
me againi"
Simeon looked so abject that the
cure had not the heart to continue his
punishment. He looked about him. A
singlestick describes a circle having a
radius of several feet. Exercise 2
cleared the counter in a jiffy, leaving
a wreck of reeking spirits and broken
glass.
When the cure turned upon the en-
thusiastic, shouting throng, the grins
died off their faces.
Get out of here, my children !" he
shouted. And, twirling his singlestick
with indescribable velocity, he brought
1t down on one head after another,
much as one might strike row of
fence posts. The terrible implement
seemed to fly in all directions at the
same time. Father Lucien cracked the
last man across the shoulders and sent
him flying into the street.
"For Gods sake don't leave me
alone in here with him !" moaned Sim
con from the floor.
Father Lucien came back and stood
over him, twirling his singlestick
meditatively. At last he laid it down
upon the counter.
"It's all right, Simeon, my son." he
said gently. II think I've cured you
now. I'm going to hear your confes-
sion. A man never knows when he's
going to be sick, Simeon. Let me hear
you say your Act of Contrition, if you
haven't forgotten it."
l"Wait a minute" pleaded Simeon.
"Are you going to see my brother
Louis afterward"
I've seen him." answered the cure
"And Jean Pouliot, and Albert
Drouin, and George Moisan, and"
'I'm going to-" replied the cure
grimly. So Simeon. with new ex
preston of qualification, came bacE
into the church.
When, fifteen minutes later, Father
Lucien emerged from the shanty. Ste
Marie was an extraordinary sight
Every drink-shop had locked up, theil
owners had fed, and the streets were
packed with crowds which, at the sigh
Of the priest, set up yell of delight
The women pressed about him, sob
bing their gratitude. 1t was with diff
ficulty that he could make his way
through the feminine bodyguard that
accompanied him along his way. and
after he had persuaded them to &c
home the distant cheering still rang II
his ears.
II snail come back every week." wa.
Father Lucien's last promise to Ste
Marie. 81 shall break the head o.
every man who has brandy in hi
house."
"God bless you, father" came bacl
from a hundred throats.
And, being at last satisfied that Ste
Marie was closed as tightly as 1t wa
ever likely to be, Father Luclen tool
the homeward road to St. Bonifac,
again.
He went through the limits instea'
of along the shore, and was nearing
the village when he encountered Lafe
"Hello, Father Lucyl Where d
you come ." asked the latter.
I've just been paying pastora
visit to Ste. Marie," said the cure dc
murely.
Lafe stared at him. "What d'yo
call thatT" he demanded.
THAT is singlestick,' said FL
ther Lucien. at is good exercise
for old men like you and me. Lafe."
"Sort of light double club" sal
Lafe. whats that hair on the enC
father? Say, that looks like bloot
don't itT'
"That Is Simeon Duval's," the cur
answered. "You see, Mr.. Lafe--'
Lafe stopped short. Father Luc,
d'you mean to tell me you've knocke
out Simeon?
Pm afraid so. Mr.. Lafe. / couldn
get into his soul in any other wa