Milford chronicle., 1889-09-20
THE GRAVE DIGGER.

rattle Of musketry came from the direC
ton of the village. The old grave digger
Boloski Weakened by the noise, sat up on b
miserable pallet, listened a moment to th
sharp. quick reports, then called aloud
'Milenal Milenaln
looming, father, comingln she answered
and already the little naked feet Shove,
themselves upon the rounds of the ladde
which led from the loft.
ibid you hear them, Milenap he cried
"the sounds Of the gun shotsl They ar
fighting In the villagen-a violent fit O
coughing interrupted his words, and another
rafting volley.
Milena had descended just as she quitteC
her couch Of straw-a young girl, TAN, Wig
orous and scantily draped In brief chemise
She bad thrown about her shoulders a short
pelisse Of sheepskin, but her Amazon hips
showed themselves firm and beautiful under
their light covering, and her virginia. breasts
appeared an instant, white as polished mar
BILE, against the black fur.
ut is true then!" said she, leaping the last
steps; lit has come at lastl"
What, my childf demanded the sick one
''The revolution has broken out tonight,
which has been expected so long"
mumbled Boloski, and he crouched again
upon his couch. Mllena, meanwhile, hur.
riedly arrayed herself In a wadded petticoat
and her fathers long boots Binding a scar
let handkerchief about her abundant locks,
she went out to learn what was passing.
The cemetery was situated upon hill, sur
rounded by low earthen wall, with the hut
Of the grave digger standing at its gate. II
was an excellent post Of observation, yet
Milena did not stop there, but passed on into
the darkness, beneath the bare branches Of
the willows, upon which the ravens were
already croaking, and with a single, careless
glance upon the files Of tombs, with their
leaning crosses. Everything was mournful
and desolate, everything covered by the mel !
aneholy shroud Of winter. She herself
walked in snow so deep and thick that it |
mounted almost to her knees. The cold was
terrible; the frozen breath of the night |
whipped and stung the skin like red hot nee
dies, but Milena only rubbed her face with
handful Of snow and buttoned her pelisse
closer.
Below, in the heart Of the valley, the vii.
lage 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 inclosure, to which was attached the
figure Of the dying Saviour; shining icicles
pendant from the thorns which crowned his
brow and from the nails which pierced his
hands and feet.
Milena listened intently; not murmur for
the moment broke the stiffness. She STONED
and gazed up at the heavens, the vast blue
vault which seemed to her satin canopy, re-
tanned in place by golden nails, which sparkled
and scintillated above her, while beyond
there on the other side Of the forest, rode the
red disk Of the rising moon.
All at once, gliding, crouching form passed
her like fash, pair Of glowing eyeballs
glared into her own.
"a wolff" she murmured. and, with an
energetic movement, wherein shone all the
savage strength Of this child Of nature, she
seized stone from neighboring wall, and
threw herself forward. A low howl responded ,
10 the stroke Of her arm, and the hungry ,
beast was gone as it had cOme-a shadow
through those files of tombs and spectral ,
crosses
A fresh crash Of musketI.y sounded in the
another, and still another. Alilena Z
at a run the slope Of the road which !
led to the village, and, at the beginning of !
the first houses, met a neighbor and a I
wounded man, the wife, whom she knew well, I
supporting the husband, whose blood dyed O
the snow at every step. 4
What Is the matterl" demanded AIilena. h
The peasants Of our village" replied the
man. and OF MikouloR are struggling with c
The insurgents down by the cafe and the little a
wood. All goes well, however; the scythes =
ire sharp and do their bloody moving; the /,
heads OF the rebels fall like grainln s
Sop said Milens; and she aided the peas.
mt to place her husband in his bed and 70
bind his wounds; then retraced her steps to
her father.
An hour later a loud knocking sounded II
lpon the gate Of the cemetery. a.
See what 1t is Milena,n said the grave n
igger again. and Milena, obeying the com I"
nand, opened the wicket obstructed bv frost. 60
o find before it a row Of sledges encompassed b.
y horsemen, the barrels Of their nuskets Ii
nd the blades Of their sickles sparkling in Ii
be rays Of the moon. az
Come, open the gate, old molel" shouted m
voice from the crowd; open the gate and al
pen quickly. We bring you a score of dis. tn
nguished guestsln fu
But / want no guests" replied Boloski vi
'om the interior. II am i'll, as you know tn
ell; dare not go out on a night like this. or
Ill or no." cried the voice again. Htbe tel
ork must be done" br
wei, bury them yourselves Them
I'VE cannot; we have not time.n
IN that case" said Milena, brusauelv.
lutting the wicket to end the discussion 10,
IT'S who win bury them for your And
10 went out to open the gate to the four 90,
AIDED sledges, bearing the bodies Of the dead o..
surgents, and to the conquerors. armed ri
18th their bloody sickles and cleaning -
ythes.
Throw them there, upon the snow.n said ",
to the mayor Of the village, who greeted mo
Z as she appeared with friendly nod; inv
" start the business for you at the rising snil
the sun" sPi
No" said the mayor, "that would not be iigl
tristan; the wolves and ravens are already o1t
siting to do their work, they must 81 Gin,
ried now. You will receive for the lob tat,
Q usual sum- in addition to that, two mar
arts Of brandy, and, for your back, a new eav
lisse. Is it bargainF' 80 80,
"A bargain" she answered; t'pu BEGIN co.
len you say;" and with arms akimbo and -
1uss fists upon her hips she regarded the viii
lie of Peasants and sledges RAPIDLY dis os !
Urging their score Of dead. Her beautiful Won
o remained impossible; pity seemed IN,
anger to those hard features and vet It =,
at charm, what passion, In those great t-v
ok eyes, in that sensitive nose, in that toid
D, severe mouth IA
he mayor counted the money into her q 80
ID, placed the bottle Of brandy on the the
W beside her, and the sledges slowly drew bo,.s
again, the peasants following in their wake five
Identity as they had come. ana
But the pelisseF' demanded blilena 49,
Tomorrow, when the work Is done.n ~
nd the mayor also quilted the cemetery, had
-1l.en4 .Ook up ner spaae, and With the