The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-07-10


did our mother die?"
IL don't know" he replied, in the same
Indifferent tone Of voice." can't keep the
run Of the days. It seems to me that it
was long time ago"
"Why didn't you let me know in time to
come to the funerals"
"Funerals! who talks of funerals? The
coachman took the coffin OH his shoulder
and carried it to the family vault
Tears rolled down my cheeks and fell
upon the hot Goals and ashes.
Don't cry" said the child in gruff
voice. "l.et us act like men. come what
may"
And this boy was only IL years of
age.
"What has become Of our coachmuu,
Klapkas I know that he did not rim
away"
HE is in corner of the stable on some
straw, dying"
went into the stable, and there lay the
faithful old family servant. The color OF
his face was BLUSH black, and he was
shivering as If from cold. The old man,
who had formerly served as hussar, had
fought manfully against the scourge
Two weeks previously, when he felt the
cramps in his feet, he tied cord tightly
around his legs above the knees, and thus
stopped the circulation Of the dread dis
ease. It seemed as if he had carried the
day, for the symptoms left him.
Even the cholera can't down old klap-
ka,' he said, boastfully, but he was mis-
taken. The cholera had got him down at
last. There he lay in a semi-cOmatOse con-
dition.
"Klapka!" exclaimed, "brave, honest,
Mihala klapka! Wake up! I've come to
see you. Don't you know mew
With great effort he opened his eyes.
A gray shadow fitted across his dark face.
Probably it was intended for a smile Of
recognition. He raised his hand as if to
make a military salute. He tried to
stagger to his feet but the cramps seized
him. and he fell back again ON the straw.
took my bottle of cholera medicine out
of my pocket. His eyes were closed, but
he seemed to know what I was doing. for
he opened his blue mouth. poured in "
few drops and it seemed to do him good.
Then he shivered all over, and heard 1.
hoarse, Growing sound. 1t was the death
rattle. He fell back and died, dreaming
that he had drunk brandy. He finished
his dream ON the other side OF the dark
river.
could not repress my tears at the death
of the faithful old servant
Hector was right said, returning to
the fire, "Klapka is dead"
II told you the dog knew it," replied the
boy, with perfect composure.
The dreadful scenes through which he
had passed had destroyed all feeling. He
was an old man before he had ceased to be
child.
That very day took him to the head
quarters of the sanitary committee in an
adjacent village, and put hin, in charge Of
his relatives. They tumigated the poor
boy and put new clothes on him. He re-
sisted with all his might. He fought like
tiger, and bit everybody who came near
him.
Twelve years have passed since that
dreadful day. but nobody has ever seen
him smile. The Indifferent, stolid express
sion, tinged with sadness, that was OH
his face when saw him at the fire in the
stable yard, is on his face to-day. He grew
up tall and handsome, ana it is not i'm
possible that gentle fingers have toyed
will. his curly locks and bright eyes have
beamed on him, but they have not etfaced
the three deep burrows that the woman in
black left upon his brow.--reXas Siitings
translation from the German.