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A short story by Margery Verner Reed |
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Candles |
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Title: Candles Author: Margery Verner Reed [More Titles by Reed] BEFORE a statue of Joan of Arc, in a little country church, a child knelt in prayer. OH protect my papa--the little one prayed. SHE lighted a candle--offered it to the Maid of France. * * * * * A YOUNG girl prayed at the feet of the Saint. She burned a candle. FOR ANDRE--for his safety. THE invaders entered the village,--heeding neither church nor ground of the dead. THEY ripped open shallow graves to show the living they had power--even over those who had gone. They killed the priest. And the nuns, even, from the school. THEY damaged. DESTROYED-- THE church caught fire. The candles, burning before the Saint of Domremy, blazed into one huge flame. It shot up to the roof. And seemed to cry-- O JOAN OF ARC--come back--France needs you. * * * * * THE child-- AN Angel of Heaven THE young girl who had prayed for Andre--two officers had taken her. SHE struggled-- A SWORD-- THE flames of the burning village had revealed it. MONSIEUR L'ABBE had said suicide was sin--but surely God would forgive-- SHE pierced the sword into her white flesh--blood flowed to the ground. LITTLE FOOL muttered the maddened officer. HE went back to the village--for more destroying. A STONE from a burning house-- HE died with an oath. BUT Andre, weeks before, had died with prayer upon his lips--a thought for his sweet betrothed. [The end] GO TO TOP OF SCREEN |