The morning call., 1891-03-07
A VOLUNTARY DEATH,

all those Young men who came 10 town from
the country to conquer glory.
He was a writer l soon found his name
in Sunday journals and reviews, and then
he began to write those short and exquisite
sketches which have made his reputation.
Thus five years passed, when met him one
day in the editors Office Of journal for
which l worked.
Each Of us was as much pleased as the
other at thus meeting again; and after the
first "What! is that you? Is that you?"
we stood facing each other, shaking hands,
and exposing in a laugh of cordial delight,
our teeth, which in the old times we used TO
exercise on the same crust Of poverty. He
had not changed. He had not even sacrificed
his long hair, which he'thIew back with the
graceful movement of horse vino losses
his name Only lie had the clear COM
plexion and calm eye Of contented man,
and his slim figure was clad in the most
fashionable costume.
I'VE won't DRIFT apart again. will we?"
said he. af.ectOuately, taking me by the
arm; and he led me out in the boulevard,
where the April sun gilded the young
leaves Of the plane trees.
All. happy days. How we exhausted the
"DOnt Won IemembeTS?' DO You Temrm-
Der the fried eggs which tasted of straw,
and the dreadful rice milk, the melancholy
air oil your ldDu iduN. anu Int S5lLitI NllU
used to pawn his watch every three
mOnths?'
Those days of hardship for Louis were
finished. He had from afar applauded my
Success, as l had watched his. But one
thing l did not know, ana that was that he
had married a woman whom he adored, and
that he had q charming little girl.
Come and see them; you shall dine with
me-"
l let myself bepersuaded, and he carried
me H. q pretty suburb, where he lived in
cottage among the trees. There every
thing made you welcome. No sooner had
we opened the doors of the garden than
young dog fTisked ABOUT our feet.
Down, Dick! He will soil your clothes"
But al the sound Of the bell Mrs. Mraz
appeared at the steps with her little daugh-
ter in her arms. An imposing and beauti-
ful blonde, her well nodded figure wrapped
In a blue gown.
Put On plate more. I've an old COM
Tade with me.
And the happy father. keeping his hat on
his head and caresSing his little girl,
showed ne all over his eStablishment-the
dining-Toom, frightened by little bits of
fairuce; the study, Astounding in books,
with its window opening out on the green
turf, 50 Jhat puff of wind had strewn with
TOse-leaves lie printers proofs which were
scattered on the table.
This Is ouly beginning, you know. 1t
wasn't SO long ago that we were working
= for sous lie.
And while l luxuriatad under a blossom
ing Judas tTCe which | saw in the garden,
MiraZ, at ease IN his home, had slipped into
his W, kins vest, put on his slippers ana
lying Oh biz sofa, caught little Helen in his
arms to toss her in the air" Hoop Ia!
Hoop ld."
/ do not remember ever to have had a
more perfect Impression Of contentment.
We dned PleaSaHtiy-Jwo good courses,
that was all; a dinner without prttense,
where we served ourselves with the pepper
mill.
The charming wife presided With her
bright smile, having her child by her side in
a h,gh chair. She spoke but little, but her
sweet and intelligent attention followed orr
light and paradOXlCal chat, the good
humnTed feeling OF men Of letters, and at
the dessert she tOOk 3 rose from the bouquet
which o.nameuted the table and placed it
in her hair near her ear with supreme
grace. She was indeed that lovely and silent
friend whom 4 dreamer requires.
We took our coffee in the Study-they in
tended td furnish the salon very soon with
the price OF Il story to be published by Levy;
then, Is the evening was cool, a IRE of sticks
and tvlEs waS built, and Willie we smoked,
MiraZ aId !, recalling old memories, the
mistress Of the house, holding on her knees
little Helen, now ready for bed, made her
repeat Our Father" and Hall Mary"
which the little one lisped, rubbing her little
feet together before the warm flame.
We saw each other again, often at first,
then less frequently, the difficult and COM
plicatrd life Of literary labor taking us each
his own way. So the years passed. We
met shook hands. Everything going
welt?" SpIendldly." Aud that vas all
Then laterl found the name of LOUIS MlrtZ
but rarely in the journals ana periodicals
"Happy man; lie Is resins L sad to ny
self reupmbering be aas spoken OF rs
HAVING made A small fdtune. Finally, last
autumn, l learned tlst he was seriously ill.,
i nmTried TO see Nm. He still lived ct the
pretty suburb Be II the a Gos aeS se pl I
cnII and IoaIed naked among the leafiess
treas Il s,smed to me Shrunken and dimin-
ishpd Hl5,eYerything that We have not seen
f"r log time.
NO lager answered the sound of the bell
nph l passed the little gate and entered
te garden, all streWn with dead leaves
%here the nights frost had Withered the
last chrysanthemums.
1t was not his Wife-she was absent-it
WIS Helen who received me-Helen, who
had grown to be great girl of IA, with an
awkward manner. Size opened for me the
door of her fathers study, and, brusquely
lifting her great black eyelashes, turned on
me timld and distressed glance.
found Miraz huddled IN an easy-chair in
the corner of the fireplace, wrapped in a sort
OF bed-gown, with gray locks stredking his
krng hair, and by the cold, clanmy hand
which he reached toward me, by the pallid
face which he turned upon me, | knew that
he was lost. HOrriblel l found in nv un-
happy c0mrade that worn and ruined look
which used to strike us formerly among the
poor Poles We used to see.
All, well, old man, things are not going
well?"
"Deucedly bad, my boy" he answered.
with heartbreaking smile. Il am going
out stupidity with consumption, as they do
In the fifth act, you know, when the vener-
able doctor, with head like Beranger, feels
the first walking gentleman's pulse and lifts
his eyes toward heaven. saying, the death
struggle approaches Only the difference
is that with me 1t continues, it will not con-
clude-the death struggle. Smoke away,
that doesn't disturb me-" he added, seeing
me pat nay cigar TO one side, his cough sound
ing like death rattle.
l tried 20 find encouraging words. l
talked with him, holding him by the hand
and patting him affGctionately On the shoul-
der, but my voice had in my own ears the
empty honowness of deceit, and Miraz, look
ing at me, seemed to pity my efforts.
was silent.
Look" said he, pointing to his table;
see my workbench. For six months l
have not been able to write"
made a new attempt 10 revive him. Die
at his agel Nonsensel lie wasn't taking
care Of himself. He must pass the winter
in the south; drink good draught of sun
light. He could. He was easy in his money
matters.
But he stopped me, putting his hand on
my arm.
Listen" he said gravely eve have
seen each other seldom, but you are my old
est, perhaps my best friend. You have
proved me pen in hand. Well, 1 am going
TO tell you something in confidence for you
TO keep to yourself unless it may serve on
some occasion to discourage the young
literary aspirants who bring their manu-
scripts 10 you-always pruiseWOrthy ac-
ton.
Yes, I have been successful. Yes, 1
have been paid a franc line. Yes, have
made money, and there in that drawer are
a certain number of yellow, green and orange
papers from which a coupon is clipped
every six months and which represent $500
OF income: 1t is rare in our profession, and
TO gain that hoard / have been Obliged 10
initiate the unsociable virtues of a miser.
know how to deny a jewel to my wife, a
dress to my daughter. But at last 1 have
that money. And l often said to myself, if
I should die their bread is assured, and
here is a little marriage portion for Helen!
and | was content was proudi-for
know Them the stories of our widows and