The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-11-26

L seSeS y ssAS ys00 5CtASS VuI0unA tlC
wood at this hour, my child?n
She pointed out to him, in the dis.
l.tance, at the bottom OF the valley,
the house of a forester.
Il am returning to my father, YER
Forester, whom you know without
doubt, Monsieur Judge"
$50 you are the daughter of the
worthy Yeri? You are the little Char.
lotte OF whom he often speaks when he
brings me his reportsp'
Yes, Monsieur Judge"
Very well, will accompany YOU
home. should like to see the worthy
Forester again, He must be getting
q little old?'
He is about your age, Monsieur
Judge, said Charlotte, simply; "about
90 years old.''
This artless response brought the
good man to his senses, and as he
went along he became very pensive.
What were his thoughts? No one
knows, but how many times it has
happened that u good and worthy
man. who imagines himself to have
discharged all his duties, has finished
by discovering that he had neglected
the greatest, the holiest, the most
beautiful OF oil, that of marrying in
his youth a good and noble woman.
and remaining true and loving to her
ever after. And what it cost him to
think it was now too late.
Soon Zacharias and Charlotte
reached the turn in the valley where
the path passed over little bridge,
and led direct to the forester's house.
That worthy man was seated on the
stone bench by the door. with a sprig
OF broom corn in his hat and two
hnnting dogs stretched at'his feet, and
recognizing with his piercing eyes the
Judge and his daughter in the distance.
he came to meet them, raising his felt
hat in salutation.
Good day, Monsieur judge said
he, with the frank aud cordial air of
the mountaineer, "what happy cir
cumstances procure me the honor OF
such q visit?"
Master Yeri," replied the good
man, II have tarried III the mountain
until it is too late to 60 home. Have
you a little corner vacant at your
table, and a bed at the disposition OF
afriend?n
"HeyN cried the forester, nif there
was but one bed in the house, should
( IT not be for the best, themost honor
ed OF our ancient magistrates OF
Stantz? All, Monsieur Seller, what
an honor you do the humble dwelling
OF Ieri Foerster'
And mounting the six steps before
the door he cried out: Christina,
Christina, run to the cellar, Judge
Zacharias Seller has come to repose
under our roof"
At this a very little old woman,
with a figure as stiff as q ramrod, but
still fresh and smiling, appeared upon
the threshold and disappeared imme-
dlately, murmuring:
"oh. Godl Is it possible! Monsieur
the judge"
"Ah, my good people," said Zacha-
rias, in truth you receive me too
kindly"
Monsieur" replied the forester, 'if
you forget the good you have done,
Others do not"
Well, if the truth must be told,
Judge Zacharias passed the evening
with Yeri Forester and hie family, for
getful OF the inquietudes OF Therese,
his 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 it's ceilings streaked
with brown girders, the round table
in the midst with its dish of trout and
plates of fruit and honey, yellow as
gold, and worthy Papa Zacharias
presenting each in turn to Charlotte,
who dropped her eyes, astonished at
the compliments end tender words of
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-
,ias, ''you possess a treasure. Mile.
charlotte merits all | have said of
her."
Then Yeri raising his glass, cried:
'9To the health OF our good and ven
erable 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
,llnlaw 4eri Forester, raising the echoes
lNnnd about. All! what an existence"
%A hen the clock struck IL he rose.
How young and fresh he felt! With
what ardor he would have placed
kiss on Charlotte's little hand, only
he must not yet. He must wait.
ut is time for sleep, Master Yeri,"
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 20 years old. But those twen-
tyyears lasted only quarter OF an
hour, and, oncein bed, with the covers
drawn up to his chin, and u handker-
chief knotted around his head, he said
to himself:
"Sleep, Zacharias; 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 boasted
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 Charlotteto
haymaking. So, alter a hasty break
fast, and thanking Christina again for
her kindness, he took theway back to
the city, q good deal disturbed us to
how Therese would receive him, but
still cherishing the thousand illusions
which had matched in his soul like
late brood al linnets
| will not try to paint the reception
which the worthy housekeeper gave
him; her rage even. She had not shut
her eyes the whole night; she had I'M
agined him drowned in the river; she
had sa,,t &ev, ,,or,,l%