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


Yes, have met her face to face. BY
"her," refer to the woman in black; she
who of all women kills the quickest and
surest. | saw her in lS73 and am ore Of
the few who have seen her, and lived to
tell the tale. My poor mother saw
her and was soon numbered with the
dead.
My mother was dead and buried before
l heard of her illness. received writ
ten message from my little brother, julius
1t was very short: "Mother is dead-lont
come home"
OF course returned home rs soon az
possible. l was in despair. ! was not
afraid of the cholera What had l, in my
state of mind, to dread. In fact, / almost
prayed for death.
When l arrived in the vicinity OF our
village, shuddercd to see on every hand
signs Of the desolation that had been
wrought by the scourge. The church
bells in the villages, at other times so mu-
steal, morning, noon, and night, were
ti,llnb and silent as the grave itself. The
wheat in the fields had ripened. The
golden grain had fallen to the earth and
sprouted again. There was nobody to
gather the rich harvest. Wagons
loaded with empty collins were the only
vehicles to lie seen on the public high
ways.
lost no time in reaching my native
village. The nearer l approached my
destination the more was weighed down
by n dreadful sense of desolation. White,
tieecy clouds were drifting across the
azure sky. My Imagination trans
formed the clouds into weird shapes. To
mt they looked like troops of specters
in white winding sheets, carrying long
scythes.
AS passed the country house of 4 gem
tleman, Mr.. Nasay, with whom was well
acquainted, saw him leaning over the
gate. He stared at me without the slight
est sign of recognition. There was an
expression of intense WEAKNESS OH his
face. After i had nassed the gate he
aroused himself and called out:
when you get to kisalva, stop Il mo-
lnent ut the Silky mansion and tell Silky
that my wife, who is his wife's sister, is
dead"
nodded an assent, and drove on. 1t
was not long before met the coachlnan
of the Silky family. He was ON hose
back
Where are you going?" asked
Il am going to inform Mrs. Nasay that
her sister has just died."
| delivered my message to the coach
man.
I'm that case might as we'll go back"
remarked the coachman, in 4 matter-of-
fact sort of Il way, as if nothing unusual
had happened, adding "As they both are
dead they can tell each other so in he
next world" and turning his horse he rode
slowly back.
y, 49,
and was surrounded by the scenes of my
boyhood There was no hurrying to the
gate to meet me, no waving of handle
chiefs, no signs of welcome The windows
did not greet me with their friendly eyes,
FOR they were covered by the Shutters
No door opened as my carriage drove up
There did not seem to be a living human
being on the premises A face appeared
above the fence of our next door neighbor
It was young Janos kazi. He stared ut
Inc stupidity but said nothing.
Good morning. Janos."
Him." he grunted, as he turned away.
walked through the yard. The same
aeathlike stiffness prevailed. | tried to
open the DOORS but in vain. They were
no answer. : white cat came out of the
on as if surprised to see me.
There was II peculiar smell of cooking
in the air, and going through the stable
into the yard. | saw my young brother
Julius. He was sitting on the ground in
front of the small fire trying to broil
chicken on stick. BY his side was our
house dog, Hector
'.Iulius'
The boy looked up, recognized me, shook
hands, but he did not smile or show any
indication of being glad to see me. l looked
ut him more attentively. and perceived
chat Il wonderful change had taken place.
There was Il peculia: look of age about
han. Between his eyes were three deep
perpendicular lines. or, rather burrows.
What are you doing, my loy.' asked
Il am getting dinner" he replied, indif-
lcrently.
Why do yo7, attend to that. Is there
nobody in the place to cook for your
Nobody" he replied, drily.
Where are they all:' asked.
"Who.'
The rest of the people belonging to the
house,"
They are dead"
Are all the servants dead?'
Most of them are dead, but SOME ran
away"
why did you stay here: Why ,ii,sn',
you go to our re]atives."
They refused to see me- They were
did of the cholera
y, there is nobody on the premises
"ept Hector. / must feed
in the house ill.,
use. Some
md