The Valley of Vision

try he would not have understood you. The long word would have been Greek to him. But the thing itself he knew well. The prelim

iving and confusion in his thoughts. He did not comprehend why he was going, except that he had promised. He was not sure

e and mysterious, humble and glorious, most human and most heavenly, flows under that place like a hidden stream, rising at every turn in springs and fountains. The poor little village lives in and for her memory. Her p

which the walls are decorated. They are stiff and conventional, but the old man found them wonderful and told with zest the story of La Pucelle-how she saw her first vision; how she recognized the Dauphin in

Pierre, but one who knew the shrine better. He showed the difference between the new a

re this ancient statue of St. Michel she must have often knelt to say her prayers. The cure of the parish was a friend of hers

d hollyhocks blooming in the garden. Pierre found it not half so good a house as "L'Alouette." But to the custodian it was more precious than a palace. In this upper room with its low mullioned window the Maid began

woods, her heavenly voices spoke to her and told her what she must do for her king and her country. She was not afraid or ashamed, though she lived in so small a house. Here in this very room she braided her hair and put on her red dress

the room. Behind him, at a table covered with a white cloth, two captains on furlough had already made their breakfast. They also were pilgr

e son of an Italian doctor at St. Jean de Maurienne. He was a s

e was very courageous. She was only a girl. But she had a big, brave idea which possessed her-the liberation of her country. Pure? Yes. I am sure she was virtuous. Otherwise the troops would not have followed and obeyed her as they did. Soldiers are very quick about those things. T

tect. He was tall and pale and his large brown eyes had the tranquillity o

hy not credit her when she says she heard God and the saints speaking to her? The proof of it was in what she did. Have you read the story of her trial? How clear and steady her answers were! The judges could not shake her. Yet at any moment she could have sa

sacrificed herself and she saved

able to clasp the hand of his companion, "there is nothing

and stood at attention. They returned his

lowed them. He watched them going down the village street toward the railwa

The air felt as if it had passed through a furnace. The low, continuous thunder of

ferns, looking idly at the foxglove spires above him and turning over in his mind t

y he became aware of some one near him. He spr

ck. Her eyes were the color of a topaz. Her form was tall and straight. She carried

he fell on his knees. "Pardon, lady," he stammered. "Forgive my rudeness. Y

ight, I am a shepherdess, too. I have kept my father's sheep in the fields down there, and spun from the distaff while I watc

range experience-too simple for a heavenly apparition, too real for a common dream. "Wel

e of mine. I have co

then? How can I

oldier of France and

he muttered, "not fit to speak to you. I am

ng afraid of fear. For if you are afraid of it, you hate it. If you hate it, you will have not

ay that. You had no fear when you foug

bound me to the stake at Rouen and kindled the fire around me I knew ver

warrior born. You were

my thigh. I never saw the blood of Frenchmen flow without feeling my heart stand still. I was not a warrior born. I knew

f light, enveloped and hid the shepherdess. When it melted she was clad in shi

for France. Be of good cheer. Do not

Orleans when the fort of Les Tourelles fell? What he did know was that something seemed to spri

e horse turned a

ching out his hands to her. "Stay

ne deep into his heart. "Here I cannot stay," answered a low, s

Can you give tha

Your only fault was

May I go back

ander of the man she loves? Be what she

he word of peace? Will

. "After the penance comes the absolution. You will find peace only at the la

p the knee, the foot of the Maid. As he fell to the ground som

at his hand carefully. There was only a scratch on it, and a tiny dro

t and drank deep. Then he sprang up, shaking the drops from his mustache, f

nce. I am going with the other boys to save her. I was born for that." He took off his c