Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-11-18

h..
ehe pain passed over d little b..;d,a
a rnu ieu direct to the forester's housa
NAT worthy man was seated on tha
stone bench by the door. with . s,r;'.
OF broom corn in his hat and Tug
hunting dogs stretched at his fast "a
i; rS with his piercing eyes the
luase and his daughter in the distance
ne ealhe 70 meet them, raising his fell
nat IN salutation. 40 .''e
oood day, Monsieur judge said
ne, with the frank and cordial air Al
ene mountaineer, what happv cir.
cumstanees procure me the honor ri
such a visit?" oi u
Master Yeri," replied the GOOD
man, Il have tarried in the mon,,t . 4,
unth 1t Is too late to 90 home. Have
you a little corner vacant Mt vonr
Table. and bed at the disposition OF
Hey" cried the forester. "if there
was but one bed in the house. should
IL not be for the best, the most honor.
ed OF our ancient magistrates q,
Stantzl All, Monsieur Seller What
an nonor you do the humble dwelling
And mounting the six steps before
the door he cried out: Christina
CHRISTINA, run to the cellar. Jndoe
Zaeaarias Seller has come to repose
under our roof"
AT this d very little old woman.
with a figure as stiff as a ramrod but
stili fresh and smiling, appeared upon
the threshold and disappeared imme.
dlately, murmuring.
"oh, God Is 1t possiblel Monsieur
the judge"
An, my good people," said Zacha.
kindly" 'e 'oo
Monsieur" replied the forester. ali
you forget the good you have done,
Others do not"
Well, If the truth must be told,
Judge Zacharias passed the evening
with feri Forester and his family, for.
getfui OF the inquietudes of Therese,
ms promise TO be at home by O'Clock
and his old habits of order and sub.
mission.
Imagine TO yourself that humble
sitting room, with its ceilings streaked
with brown Orders, the round table
In the midst with its dish of trout and
plates OF fruit and honey, yellow as
gold, and worthy Papa Zaeharias
presenting each in turn to Charlotte,
who dropped her eyes, astonished at
the compliments and tender words oil
the old man.
"Ah. Monsieur Judge, you are too
| good, said Christina. you do NOT
know how much vexation this little
one gives us. You will spoil her with
so many fine words"
Dame Christina" replied Zacha.
rias, "you possess treasure. Mile.
Charlotte merits all have said Of
her."
Then Yeri, raising his glass, cried
ITO the health of our good and ven.
erahle Judge Zacharias," and all
drank to the toast.
"Ah." thought the Judge, "what
happiness it would be to live there
with Charlotte for companion, at
four steps from the river, where one
! could throw in a line from time to
time and follow the chase with Father.
mlaw Ieri Forester, raising the echoes
round about. All what an existencei"
When the clock struck IL he rose,
| How young and fresh he feitl With
what ar'ior. he would have placed a
kiss on Charlotte's little hand, only
he must not yet. He must wait.
ut is time for sleep, Master Yeri, y
said he. ''Good night and many
thanks for your hospitality"
And to see him mount the high steps
OF the stairs one would have said he
was but 2Oyears old. But those TWEEN
ty years lasted only quarter OF an
hour, and, oncein bed, with the covers
drawn up TO his chin, and handker,
chief knotted around his head, he said
to himself:
"Sleep. Lacharias; you are very
tired. You have great need of sleep. .
/ At nine o'clock the next morning he
| awoke, considerably chagrined at hav,
| ing slept so late after having boosted
the evening before OF his early rising
and coming down the steep stairs he
found only Dame Christina awaiting
him, the forester having gone about
his work in the wood and Charlotte to
haymaking. So, alter hasty break
fast. and thanking Christina again foI
her kindness, he took the way back to
the city, a good deal disturbed as to
how Therese would receive him, but
still cherishing the thousand illusions
which had Matched in his soul like 8
late brood OF linnets.
will not try to paint the reception
which the worthy housekeeper gave
him; her race even. She had not shut
her eyes the whole night; she had i'm
agined him drowned in the river; she
had sent ten peoplt to look for him
| etc.
Monsieur Seller heard these com
! plants with the same calmness
with which he had formerly listened
to the metaphors of an advocate
pleading a lost cause-he heard, but
said nothing.
By the beginning OF autumn he had
fallen into such habit OF being al
the forester's house that one would
have found him oftener there than al
home, ana Yeri found himself much
| embarrassed to refuse the presents
which the worthy magistrate begged
him to accept in return for his daily
hospitality. He would shake his head
sometimes and say to his vile:
81 never knew a better judge, a more
learned and respectable man thar
Monsieur Seller, but / believe he Is
out of his mind. Only the other day
be wanted to help me build the hut
for the titmouse, and then he must
also help Charlotte turn the hay
While all the peasants laugh at HIM
This is not proper. Christina; but ]
do not dare to speak to him, ne Is
so much above us"
LET him alone" answered Chris
tina. with alirtle milk and honey
this good Zacharias is content. he
likes to be with us, it is so simple here
and then he likes to talk to our little
| daughter. Who knows but that nj
NAV adopt her, and when he dies she
would be remembered in his viii.
The forester shrugged his shoulders
His natural sense made him divine
some mystery. but he did not 60 &c
the length of suspecting the foily o
the old Judge. One fine morning he
saw descending the mountain wagon
laden with three barrels oil kikeviI
wine. This was OF all the presents ne
had received the most acceptable to
Yeri Forester, for of all things he liked
| n glass of good wine. And when nc
had tasted the wine he could not heiI
crying out: -, 10.
"This good Zacharias is the oes,
man in the world. Go, Charlotte, ano
make for him a bouquet OF the lnesi
roses and jasmines in the garden an ,s
! when he comes give it to him yourself
1 God, what winel What fireF :,
Zacharias followed close upon the
! heels OF his present, and felt himsel !
/ mora than repaid by the flowers which