Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-02-20

DCSh uu asSuICu IVltuIo " 1Ou, DUt
luck turned against me and ! shall be-
called a thief! But before that hap
pens / shall be dead. Pardon me and
pray for me. Only for that bull move
ment-'
There were still n few lines, but
Theresa could not read them-she was
faint. Her little black eyes were
yelled, and a visible shiver moved the
muscles of her temples and her neck.
The old man shook his list toward the
horizon and murmured some curses
against the bulls.
What u dreadful letter. when we
had hoped for so much happiness"
There's said nothing for some time
she was thinking.
There Is a telegraph, you know, I
which carries the news quicker than a
horse. Let US go to tell the little one
that we will pay everything"
Yes, dear; but howp"
1--WE will sell the vineyard!
1t belongs to the child" added the
mother, trying to excuse her sons
folly, land he is our only heir"
Then she read the letter once more.
"Oh! good Lord! II he were dead!'
They hurried on, not exchanging n
single word, lost in their thoughts.
They reached the city and made
their way with tottering steps TO tho
telegraph office. where the clerk had
much trouble to arrange tho following
dispatch for them:
ave send the money. Courage!
Come home"
The same evening the old man went
on his way TO sell mis- property to a
neighbor who had tried to buy it for a
long time; the neighbor did not show
himself generous; he felt that the poor
old couple needed the money.
He was willing to pay out his money,
but ho wanted everything they pos
sessed; the little low house, the old
furniture. oven to the last sheet.
The old couple hesitatcd.
The postman brought a lettor, again
a large white envelope, which they
tore open with trembling hands. 1t
was dated from Paris:
Thanks, my dear parents" it read;
you have given me life for the second
time. Your dispatch arrived as | was
about to die. shall come and thank
you, and we shall celebrate u golden
wedding Your atfectionate SOD,
ROGER"
They hesitated no longer, and The
next day everything was sold for cash
except one old donkey whose skin was
nearly hairless. The donkey was not
sold because it would not follow its
new master.
The poor old people had told their
neighbors that they had sold their
property because they were going to
live with some relatives in the neigh.
borhood.
The money had been sent of to the
little one. There were still 1000
francs lacking. They had been able
to scrape together but 2S, 900 francs,
and 10 her great regret Theresa had
been obliged 10 leave behind her crop
of pears which was still on the tree.
They went away together at nightfall,
slowly dragging their heavy feet or
the ground on which they had grown
old. They did not daro to look
around, ashamed as they were of their
sorrow, sincetheir sacrifice had brought
back the life OF their child.
They could still see the stecple rising
through the twilight, and each, with
out daring to tell il to the other,
thought sorrowfully that in a few days
later the bells were to ring for them
for their golden wedding"
They halted near a shepherds house;
a covered wagon stood near by in the
meadow, an old abandoned wagon,
left TO fall ia pieces because it was no
longer of any use. There were n few
sheaves in q neighborirg field, and
~,,.Il . -.n Hal II ..z-L1- A.. u.
man carried them into the narrow
wagon.
Without saying a word tho two old
people stretched themselves upon the
hard straw, but without closing their
eyes, without being able to forget their
misfortune.
The next morning at daybreak they
went together TO ask for work az a
farm where they were not known. A
pretty girl. with robust arms. burst
out in laughter on seeing them. Real
ly, what did they want, the poor old
creatures?
They understand that they were
useless, went back to the old al andon-
ed shepherds wagon which had given
them shelter the night before. and hand
in hand they again stretched them
selves upon the straw and closed their
eyes.
But hunger tortured them and they
became d%elirious; the bulls! the bulls! !
they cried in their delirium; but no
one heard them, and after awhile their
voices were silent. Roger arrived in
time for the golden wedding;' the
price Of the old home and vineyard
had saved him; he had speculated with
it and had won 100, 900 francs. He
returre ed to Avigon joyful, but it vas
not for a golden wedding that the
bells rung, it was for a funeral. His
parents had been taken from the
wagon in which they had persisted,
and the celebration was postponed to
another scene.