The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-07-17
HlLLSDALE. MICH, TUESDAY, JULY II, 1860.

'i -'''' a. b g 49,
,' fled What Is literary man or "a poet I
| Wat .,ulcc,l, compared with general Of an
, 4rny2 Tat is the destiny am desirous Of,
aud to possess it, woudhfreely give ten years
of my cxistencc.'
IL accept and take them; they belong to
| me- Don't forget it," said Zago."
, He"e the narrator again paused, observing
lhe sort of trouble and hesitation which my
| couu,enance bespoke.
Il told you, young man." he sad "tbat
You would find difficulty in believing me.
1t scenrs to you like dream--a chimcrs;
aud to myself too. Nevertheless, the grades
and honors which / obtained were not an illu-
, sion. The soldiers who were led on in battle
the rodouh,s which Were carried, the colorS
. which were taken, and tho victories with
which Franco rang again all were my do ng
all that glory was mire."
III wa ked about with immcnsc strides. and
srok" with enthusiasm ard fire. was thun
dcrstruck with amazcment, and asked myself
''Who can this ba near mel Is it Caignv |!
Can il he Richeieu? or is il the Marechal de
Saxe?"
From tho state ofexaltation, with which he
hal spoken, my unknown fell into a complete
state Of u,ertal pros,raticn and, approaching
ne, said with sombre q.y--
"IagO had said trhly, hu.. when, a little Ia.
ter di-gust'd with this yan glory, aspired
to something more positive, and desired gold
and ricf rs, as the price of five or six moro
year, o' my life, he granted my desire-chat-
cauN, lands, forests. This morning. even, all
these were in M possession and If YOU doubt
my wnrd. if YOU di>hrlicvc obout Zago. wait.
walt awhile He will come, YOU shall SEQ
Linn, and you will yourself observe, wiki yonr
owo eyes, that which confounds my r,tson.
;ni which is, most unhappily, only too true"
H. approached the chimney piece. at gaznd
at the clock wi h gesture Of horror, as he
whispered
"OnIy his morning, at break Of day, felt
50 weak aud i'll rha, could scarcely move -
rang for NV ,aict. 1t was Za.o who APP
l#. "Nyhat j. the n,attcr with me-"
cllyd.
MASTER, nothing but what is perfectly nat
umI. rhe bour approaches
What hour?' | asked.
"'Can YOU not guessG Heaven awarded
YOU sixtv years of life. You were thirty when
| commenced obeyirg YOU
"Zagor ! cried, in horror, do you speak
.eriousya'
"'Yrs master In five years ,ol have
spaut twenlv-f five years Of existence. You
gave them t, me-they are mine, and those
years will now be added to mine
"'What! that wvs the price Of your ser
vcesp
"Others have paid for them more dearly;
tor instance. Fabert, whom also protecte'.'
"'Be ,iIent-be silent" | cried. s 1t is i'm
possible
Just as you please. Only prepare your
>o' t,r you cave only half an hour TO liveH
You are jesting-mocking me-
"No, in the least Calculate for yourself,
Thirty-iive years of actual existence aud twen-
ty-fve which you have lost. Total-sixty.
That is your amount, and | have mine
II. endeavored to leave. felt myself
growing weeker. Life was deserving me.
"'Zago! Zago? cried, accord me few
hour--only few hours
"No. no, he answered; that would be
taking away from my own; AMI fully appre-
ciate he value of existence. No treasure in
the world could sufficiently pay for two hours
of life
81 was almost speechess; the chill Of death
was freezing my veins; nv cyesight was
growing dim.
"'W-ll, them | exclaimed, making su-
prelne eft rt, take back tho.e gift' which
have sacrificed ALL Graat Inc only four
hours, aud take all my rchcs-ny gold, so
much wished for
$50 be it. You have been good mas
ter to ue--l consent
81 felt my strength returning, and cx-
claimed
"'Four hours how short a time it is IA
90, Zsgo. four more, rnl take back my literary
fame. | renouucc all claim to those works Of
which | wa. so proud, i)r which was by all
appI"ndcd"
"'fout hours for thatH sail the negro,
with disdaIn; 1T is great dcalz Never
minl, though; will not refuse your last re-
quest
""Not the last, not the last | cri-l join
ing my hands together in prayer. 'Zas3, "a
20. brseech you, grant me until this eve.
uing, just twelve hours--the day, in short
and let all my exploits, my victories. my mill
tary glory be forever eifaced from the memory
Of man Only this one dly. Zago, and | will