The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-19

Hthin-lipped, and humorous. He
Swas8on1y#jus redeemed from ugli-
mess by the spIendor of a pair of
55eyer-quest ting, luminous eyes, so
adarksas to be almost black. OF the
whimsical quality Of his mind and
This rare gift of graceful expression,
shiswritings afford us very ample
#eyid ence. OF his gift of oratory he
had already: achieved certain
ssfamesfor it in the Literary Chant Der
ofsRannes-one of those clubs In
Which the Intellectual youth OF
France foregathered to study and
discuss the new PHILOSOPHERS that
were permeating social life. But the
hardly enviab BILE. He was too impish,
too caustic, too much dispos ed-so
thou ght his colleagues-to ridicule
their su blimest theories for the
Regeneration of mankind. Himself
She protested that he merely held
them up to the mirror of truth, and
that it was not his fault if when
reflected there they looked ridicu-
s1ous.
AIl that he achieved by this was
TO exasp and his expulsion
sSfromSa society grown mistrustful of
him must already have followed but
Tor his friend, Philippe de Vilmorin,
a divinity student of Rennes, who,
himself, was one of the most popu-
Lar members of the Literary Cham
her.
oming to Gavrillac on Novem-
4 her morning, Philippe found in that
sleepy Breton village matter to
quicken his already lively indigna-
ton. "A peasant, named Mabey. had
been shot dead that morning by a
gamekeeper of the Marquis de La
d'Azyr- The unfortunate fell
low had been caught in the act of
taking a pheasant from a snare, and
the gamekeeper had acted under
explicit orders from his master.
Infatuated by an act Of tyranny
$50 absolute and merci1ess, NJ. de
sS5Vi1morin proposed to lay the mat
& ter before M. de Kercadiou Mabey
was vassa1 Of Gayrillac, and Viii
MORN hoped to move the Lord of
ssGavrillac to demand at least some
measure of PREPARATION for the widow
and the three orphans which that
4 brutal deed had made.
But because Andre-Louis was
Philfppe's dearest friend, the young
5sseminarist sought him out in the
first instance. He found him at
breakfast and after embracing him,
s%deafened him with his denunciation
sssooffS2 M. de La, Tour d'Azyr.
have heard Of it already said
y You speak as if the thing had
mot surprised you his friend re-
q preached him. propose to go to
q your godfather, NJ. de Kercadiou.
shall appeal to him for Justice.
Against M d La Tour d'Azyr?''
554 sS want;you to come to NJ. de Ker-
cadiou with me, and to use your in
n fluence to obtain justice. I suppose
III am asking too much"
81 confess that have not your
hi charity, my dear Philippe. am
SstoRched by Mabey's fate. But, hav,
ing conquer the shock OF his news
st to- my emo tons, I do not forget
that, after all, Mabey was thieving
when he me his DEATH
de Vilmorin heayed himself
up Yin his indignation.
Sometimes 7 think that you have
mo heart. With you tits always the
& law, never equity. y GU are not like.
ss1ysSto beEof4 assistance to me IN my
interview with M.-sde Kercadiou.'
He took up his hat, clearly with the
intention of departing.
sS$Andre-Louis sprang up ana
caught him by the arm.
M - VOW, said he, that this is the
8dast time ever / shall consent to
TX: Jaw or politics with you, Phil