Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-07-16
FAITHFULUNTO DEATH

FAITHFULUNTO DEATH
Paris was Observation-Disclosures
the point of death. Even the spar
rows on the housetops were few and
far between. and the very sewers were
in danger of becoming depopulated.
People ate anything they could get.
Nj. Morisot, matchmaker by trade,
was walking early one bright January
morning down the boulvevards, his
hands in the pockets of his overcoat,
feeling hungry and depressed, when
he unexpectedly ran against friend.
He recognized NJ. Savage, an old
time chum of the riverside.
Every Sunday before the war Morisot
used to start at day break with his bam-
boo fishing rod in his hand, his tin
bait and tackle-box upon his back. He
used to take the train to Colonies and
walk from there to the island of Mar
anthe. No sooner had he arrived at
the river than he used to begin to fish
and continue fishing until evening.
Here every Sunday he used to meet M.
Savage, linen-draper from Paris.
but stout and jovial withal, as keen
fisherman moreover as he was himself.
Often they would sit side by side.
their feet dangling over the water for
half day at time, and say scarcely
a word yet little by little they became
friends Sometimes they never spoke
at ALL Occasionally they launched
out into conversation, but they under
stood each other perfectly without it's
aid for their tastes and ideas were the
same.
On spring morning in the bright
sunshine, when the light and delicate
mist lowered over the river, and these
two mad fisherman enjoyed fore.
taste of real summer weather. Morisot
would say to his neighbor: HEN! not
bad, eh?''
And Savage would reply: II know
nothing to beat it,
This Interchange of sentiments was
quite enough to engender mutual I'M
Outstanding and esteem.
In autumn, toward evening, when
the setting sun Redeemed the sky and
cast shadows of the feeting clouds
over the water; when the river was
'decked in purple; when the whole
horizon was lighted up and the figures
of the two friends were illuminated as
with fire; when the russell brown of
the trees was lightly tinged with gold,
and the trees themselves shivered with
wintry shake, M. Savage would
smile at M. Morisot and say: what
a sight, eh?''
And M. Morisot, without even rails
ing his eyes from his float would an
swer: Better than the boulevards,
heinz
This morning, as soon as they had
hands warml y you quite overcome at meet
ing again under such different circum-
stances
M. Savage sighed and murmured:
"A nice state of things"
M. Morisot, gloomy and sad, an
swered: "And what weather! Today
is New Years day." The sky, in fact,
was clear bright, and beautiful.
They began to walk along sorrow
ful and pensive. Said Morisot: "And
our fishing, eh? What times we used
to have!"
Savage replied: when shall we
have them againp"
They went into little cafe and had
glass of absinthe, and then started
again on their walk.
They stopped at another cafe for
another glass. When they came out
again they were slightly dazed, like
people who had tasted long and then
partaken too freely.
1t was lovely weather; a soft breeze
tanned their faces. M. Savage, upon
whom the fresh air waa beginning to
take effect, suddenly said:
Suppose we were to go!'
go whereP"
why, fshing!'
"But whereP"
10 our island. of course. The
1rench outposts are at Colonies. I
know Col. Dumoulin; he will let us
pass through easily enough"
Morlsot trembled. with delight at the
very idea. "All right, I'm your man"
Ihey separated to fetch their rods.
AN hour afterward they were walk
ing FAST along the highroad toward the
g commanded by Col. Dumoulin.
ne smiled at their request but grant
90 II, and they went on their way re-
word.
soon they had crossed the lines,
passed through deserted Colonies. and
eound themselves in the vineyard lead
1g DOWN to the river. 1t was about
Is o'clock. .5f
Un the other side the village of Agen-
s y, seemed as is if it were dead. The
lils OF Orgrement and Saumons COM
handed the whole country round. The
Ieat plain stretching out as far as
aIlerne was empty as air. Nothing
slght but cherry trees and stretches
gray soil. 4,
a Savage pointed with his finger
the heights above and said: ,sfhe
russians are up there. = and . vague