Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-17
THE GRAVE DIGGER.

A rattle Of musketry enme from the direc-
ton Of the village Tbs old grave digger.
Boioski, waksned by the noise. sat up on bus
miserable pallet. listened . moment TO the
sharp. quick reports. then called aloud
~Mileaa. Milenar
Coming. father, eomingT she answered,
and already the little naked feet showed
themselves upon the rounds OF the ladder
which led from the loft
Did YOU hear them, AilenaF be cried.
-.the sounds Of the gun shotsf They are
fighting in the villase"-a violent IT, Of
coughing interrupted has words. and another
rafting volley.
Milena had descended just as she quilted
her couch of straw young girl, tall. Wig
orons and scantiiy draped in q brief ehenise
She had thrown about her shoulders short
peIisse Of sheeIsSin, but her Amazon hlps
showed themselves firm and beautiful under
their light covering and Der virginia. breasts
appeared an instant, white as POLISHED mar
BILE, against the black fur.
1T is true then :" said she. eapiug the last
steps; lit has come at LAST
What. my childf' demanded the sick one
THE revolution has broken out tonight.
which has been expected so long
YES, and a great misfortune IL Is. TOO,
murnbled Boioski, and he crouched again
upon his couch Mlena, meanwhile, nur
riedly arrayed herself In wadded pettieoat
and her fathers long boots Binding scar
let handkerchief about her abundant lsexs.
she went out to learn what was passing.
The cemetery was situated upon a hill. sur
rounded by low earthen wall, with the hut
Of the grave digger staining at its gate I
was all excellent post OF observation, yet
Miiena did not stop there, but passed. on into
ha ha bra uf
the willows, upon which the ravens were
already croaking. and with u single, careless
glance upon the files Of tombs, with their
leaning crosses. Everything was mournful
and desolate, everything covered by the mel
ancholy STROUD Of winter. She herself
walked III snow s. deei, and thick that 1t
mounted almost to her knees. The cold was
TERRIBLE the frozen breath of the night
whipped ard stung the skin like red hot nee
dies, but Milena only rubbed her face with
handful Of snow and Outtoned her oelisse
closer
Below, in the heart Of the valley, the vii
iage had delivered itself to strife and blood
shed, yet here upon this sacred ground all
was peace. A large cross rose In the middle
Of the ipclosure, to which was attached the
figure OF the dying Saviour; shining iciciss
pendant from the thorns which crowned bis
brow and from the nails which pierced bis
hands and feet
Milena listened intently. not murmur for
the moment broke the stiffness. She stopped
and gazed up at the heavens, the .ast blue
vault which seemed to hnr a satin canopy, re-
tanned in place by golden nails, which sparkled
and scintiliated above her, while beyond
there, on the other side Of the forest. rode the
red disk of the rising moon.
an., . pli,ltpv crolehiup form raes.d
her like a flash. a pair Of glowing eyeballs
glared into her own.
"A wolfl' she murmured, and, with an
energetic movement, wherein shone all the
savage strength Of this child Of nature, she
seized stone from a neighborng wall, and
threw herself forward A low howl responded
to the stroke of her arm, and the hungry
beast was gone as it had come-a shadow
through those files Of tom0s and spectral
crosses
fresh crash Of musketry sounded in the
distance; another, and still another. Milena
traversed at run the slope of the road which
led to the village. and at the beginning Of
the first houses met neignbor and
wounded man, the wife, when she inew well,
supporting the husband. whose blood dyed
the SHOW at every step.
Nv hat is the inatterf' demanded Milena.
THE peasants of our village" replied the
man, land of Mikouloir are struggling with
the insurgents down by the cafe and the little
wood All goes well. however, the scythes
are sharp and do their bloody moving, to
| heads Of the rebels fall like grainl"
$50" said Milena. and she aided the peas
| ant to place her husband in his bed and to
| bind his wounds; then retraced her steps to
| tranquillize her father.
An hour later a loud knocking sounded
upon the gate of the cemetery
See what it is, Milena," said the grave
| digger again. and Milena, obeying the COM
mand, opened the wicket INSTRUCTED by frost,
| to find before it a row OF sedg es encompassed
by horseuen, the barrels of their muskets
| and the blades Of their sckes sparkling in
| the rays of the moon
Come, open the gate old molel" shouted
| voice from the crowd: open the gate. and
| open quickly We bring you a score Of dis
| tinguished guestsl''
But | want no guests" replied Boloski
| from the interior II am ill., as you know
we'll, | dare not go out ON a night like this. y
Ill or no." cried the voice again, the
work must be done
"Well, bury them yourselves, then"
| 1--WE cannot. we have not time
| an that case said Milena, brusquely,
"'tis | who will bury them for you" And
she went out to open the gate to the four
loaded sedges, bearing the bodies Of the dead
insurgents, and to the conquerors, armed
| with their bloody sic.;les and cleaning
scythes.
Throw them there, upon the snow" said
she to the mayor of the village, who greeted
| her as she appeared with a friendly nod:
| IN start the business for you at the rising
| Of the sun"
NO" said the mayor, that would not be
| Christian. the wolves and ravens are already
waiting to do their work they must lie
| buried now You will receive for the job
| the usual sum. in addition to that. two
| quarts Of brandy, and. for your back, a new
| pelisse Is it bargainf'
"A bargain she answered. I'm bpgin
when you say" and with arms akimbo and
robust fists upon her hips she regarded the
| defile of peasants and sledges rapidly dis
charging their score of dead Her beautiful
face remained inpassable, pity seemed
stranger to those hard features, and yet
| what charm, what passion in those great
black eyes, in that sensitive nose, in that
| firm, severe mouth
The mayor counted the money into her
| hand, placed the bottle Of brandy on the
snow beside her, and the sledges slowly drew
| on again, the peasants following in their wake
as silently as they had come.
| But the pelisseF demanded MilenA
Tomorrow, when the work is done"
| And the mayor also quilted the cemetery.
and Miiena took up her spade, and with
| great swallow Ut brandy commenced to dig
the first TRENCH grooming she worked the
words of an ancient gravediggers song
| The sad melody, monotonous and slow d
beftted the song Of the dead. was accompa-
MED by the dull ringing Of the iron upon the
frozen ground, the distant bowling Of the
hungry wolves.
Another swallow Of brandy, another swing
Of her muscular arms. and 50 it went till the
trench was done, and Milena. waiting q mo-
ment to regain her breath. gazed on the
corpsea
Twas doubtless YOU said she to an old
man with long white curls, clad in a rich
cloak trimmed with dbeline, and in whose
girdle sparkled . superb yataghan. twas
doubtless you who led the band Well. this
time, too. you shall go beforei''
And she took him in her arms like q little
child, descended into the trench herself and
gently laid him upon the ground With the
others she was not 50 ceremonious. an arm, .
leg. shoulder, anything. in short, that
helped TO lift and toss them to their bed In
the ditch. served her purpose.
But God help mel- she cried out sudden