The Washington critic., 1890-02-19

trees bent under the gusts, grooned and
eemned 10 utter cries, those deep AMI
mniIied cries that come from forests during
tcmpests
Nfhe torn-of leaves, already yellow,
were living about Ike birds, whifling, fall-
ing and then whIsking along the walks as
II they we're active animals.
"Eycuing was approaching, and u was
growing dark IN the shades OF the trees
The agitation of the wind and the branches
excited me, causing me to gallop about Hike
a mailman, and howl In imitation Of wolves.
"As soon as | saw my parents | went TO-
ward them with furtive step under tue
trenches In order TO surprise them ~ II |
were n veritable prowlcr.
"But when few steps from them
stopped seized with fear. | heard my
father in terrible ~ of anger, say to my
mother:
",Your mother is a fool, and besides It is
not o question Of your mother, but of you,
] tell you that | need this money, and |
mean that you shall sign.'
"Mamma answered In q firm voice:
"I will not sign. 1t is jeans fortune.
am keeping it for him, and do not wish
you to waste it in riotous living as you
havc wasted your own inheritauce.'
"Then papa, trembling with fury, turned,
and seizing his wife by the neck, began to
might full in the face.
"Mamma's hat fell Off, and her hair loos-
ened and few about In wild confusion; she
tried to parry the blows, but did not sue
ceed. And papa struck blow after blow
like u mailman. She rolled upon the
! ground, hiding her face with her arms
| Then he turned her over on her back It
beat her more, pushing aside her hands
| with which she was shielding herself.
GAS for me, my dear fellow, it seemed tC
me that the world was coming to an end
that the eternal laws had changed. fell
within me the upheaval that is produced IL
one bv supernatural things, monstrou
catastrophes, irreparable disasters. NJ!
little hend had become confused aud be
wildered. And | began to cry with al
my might, not knowing why, filed witt
fear, with grief, with terrible fright. NJ.
father heard me, turned around, saw me
and, strengthening up, started for me.
thought he was going to kill me, and fle'
like an animal pursued by hunters, running
straight ahead into the woods.
81 ran perhaps an hour, perhaps two,
do not know. Night having come l fel
on the. grass exhausted, and | remaine
there in bewilderment, devoured by feal
proved upon by sorrow capable of break
ing poor child's heart forever. wa
cold, perhaps ] was hungry. Dayligf
came. l did not dare to rise, to walk, t
return, to run farther away, fearing that
might meet my father, whom / neve
wanted to see again.
"Perhaps l should have died of miser
and starvation at the foot of my tree If
forest constable had not discovered me all
carried me home by force.
81 found my parents wearing their &C
customed expression. My mother simpl
said to me: What fright you have give
me, you naughty boy. did not sleep la
night at ALL / did not answer, but bega
to cry. My father did not say a word.
GA week later went back to school.
"Well, my dear fellow, all was over ft
me. | had seen the other side of things, tl
bad side; have never seen the good sit
since that day. What was 1t that took plai
In my mind? What strange phenomena
reversed my ideas? do not know. b
never since have / had any taste for an
thing, any love for anybody, any wis
ambition or hope whatever. And alwa
see my poor mother ON the ground. in. tl
walk, and my father beating her. Mann
died a few years later NY father is st
living. have not seen him since. Waite
one beer!,
They brought him his beer, which
gulped down at one draught. But in pic
ing up his pipe again his trembling hal
/ dropped it and 1t broke. Then, with
gesture of despair, he said: There, til
indeed is real sorrow. 1t will take me
} month to color q new one.h
! And he launched through the immen
! saloon, now full of smoke and drinkers, |
g eternal cry:
waiter, one beer-and new pipen'
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