The Red Cloud chief., 1884-02-29
The Drulaard's Death.

At last. one bitter night. he sunk
down on the doorstep, faint and i'll.
The premature decay of vice and
proliigacy had worn him to the bone.
His cheeks were hollow and | yid: his
eyes were Sunken. and their sight was
dim. His legs trembled beneath his
weight. and a cold shiver ran through
every limb.
And now the long forgotten scenes Of
Il mis-spent life crowded thick and fast
upon him. He thought of the time
when he hal a home happy, cheer
full homeland of those who peopled it,
and locked about him then, until the
forms of his el!er ch ldren seemed To
rise from the grave. and stand about
him-so plain. so clear AID so distinct
they were that he could ouch aud feel
them. Looks that he hail long forgot
ten were fixed upon HIM once more;
voices long since huShed in death
sounded in his ear | ke the music of vii
lage bells. But it was only for an in
slant. The rain beat heavily upon him:
and cold and hunger were @aary ng Mt
his heart again. He rose. and dragged
his feeble limbs n few PAGES farther.
The street was silent and empty; the
few passengar rs who passed by. ut that
late hour, hurried quickly on, and his
tremulous voice was lost in the violence
OF the storm. Again that heavy chill
struck through his frame. and his blood
seemed to staGnaie beneath it. He
cOiled himself up in a pro, Getting door
way and tree TO sleep.
Drt ala.,S I,I Ill f~-.x L.. In -
g'szed eyes His mini wandered
strangely, but he Wa awake and con-
scious. The well-known sound of
drunken mirth sounded N his ears, the
g ASS was ut his lips, the board was
covered with choice rich food-they
were before him he could set them all.
he had but 10 reach out his hand and
take them. and. though the illusion
WIS reality itself. he knew he was
alone in the deserted street. w~atchinc
the ra;n-drOpS a they battered on the
stones; that death was com N upon
him by inches-and that there was
n ne TO care for or help him. Sudden
ly he started up in the extremity of
terror. lie had heard his own v ice
shouting in the night ar, he knew not
what. or why. Hark Il yroan-anoth-
er; His enseS We're leaving him; half
formed and incoherent words burst
from his lips; and his hands sought &c
tear and lacera C his flesh. He was 20
ing mad, and he shrieaed for help, but
his voice failed him.
He raised his head and Looked up the
long. dismal street. He re ole ted that
OutcaStS Ike h mSelf. condemned To
wander day and night in tho e dismal
streets. had sometimes gone distracted
vii their dismal lionel ness. lie re-
membered TO have heard many years
before that = homeless wretch had once
been found i2 a solitary corner, sharp
ening & rusty knife to plunge into his
own heart. preferr'ny death to that
endless. weary wandering to and ~.
In IN Instant his resolve WAS taken;
his limbs received new lie: he ran
quickly from the spot, and pau ed not
for reath until he reached tie river
SIDE. He crept softly d. wn the steep
stone stairs Il ut lead from the COM
mencement of Wa erloO Bride. down
to the waters level. He CIRQUE ed into
4 corner. and he'd his breath. as the
patrol ia sed. Never did the prison.
er's heart thr1b with { c hope of lib
erty and life half So eagerly "a did that
of the wretched man ut the prospect OF
death. The watch passed close to him,
but he remained unob ervtd and, after
waiting till the footsteps had died away
in the distance, he cautio sly descended
and stood beneath the gloomy arch
forms the landing place from the
Tie tide was in and he water flowed
at his feet. The rain had ceased and
t e wind was lulled. and al was for the
moment still and quiet-so silent that
81 ghtest sound OF the oppos tie
bank. even the rippl ng of tie water
aga .nst the farge5 that We're mOOred
there. was distinctly audible to his ear.
The stream stole lauguidly and slug
on. Strange and fantastic forms
rose TO the surface and bcckOneI him
to approach; dark, cleaning eyes
peered from the water, AMI see ned to
mock lis hes tatIon. while hollow muir
murs from behini urged him onward.
He retreated a ,ew PAGES. took q short
run. a desperate leap, and plunged into
The water.
Not five seconds had passed when he
rose to the water sur. ace; but what q
had taken place in that short
lime. in all his thoughts and feelings,
Life-life-in any form; poverty. ms
Try and starvation, anything but death.
He fought and struggled with the water
hat closed over his b adj. and screamed
n agonies of terror. The curse Of his
son rang in his ears. The shore
one foot of dry ground he could
Utmost touch the step. One hands
nearer and he was saved; but
he tide bore him onward. under the
lark arches of the brid e, and he sank
o the bottom. Again he arose and
truggled for life. Ftroue instant-for
me brief instant the building rs ON the
iver's banks. the lights On the bridge
through which the current had borne
lin. the black water and the fast-t;ying
were distinctly yisi Ile-once
more lie sank, and once acain be rose.
Bright plumes of fire shot up front
'arth to heaven and reeled he ore his
yes, while the water Numbered in his
ars and stunned him with its furious
oar.
A week afterwards the body was
washed ashore some miles down tho
liver, a swollen and dlstigured mass
Dracorp:xad and ppp;fi.j ~ uay homo