Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-10-30

ing made a small fortune. Finally.
last Autumn, learned that he was
seriously ill.
hurried to see him. He still lived
at the pretty suburb; but on this
sombre day OF the last of November
the little house seemed cold, and look
ed naked among the leafless trees 1t
seemed to me shrunken and diminish
ed, like everything that we have not
seen for long time.
The dog was probably dead, for his
bark no longer answered the sound OF
the bell when | passed the little gate
and entered the garden, all strewn
with dead leaves where the nights
frost had withered the last chrysan-
themums.
1t was not his wife-she was absent
it was Helen, who received me
Helen, who had grown to be great
girl OF 4, with an awkward manner.
She opened for me the door OF her
fathers study, and brusquely lifting
her great black eyelashes, turned on
me a timid and distressed glance.
found Miraz huddled in an easy
chair i'll The corner OF the fireplace
wrapped in sort of bed-gown, with
gray locks streaking his long HAIR;
and by the cold, clammy hand which
he reached towards me, by the pallid
face which he turned upon me, Iknew
that he was lost. Horrible. found
in my unhappy comrade that worn
and ruined look which used to strike
us formerly among the poor Poles we
used to see.
"Ah, well, old man, things are not
going well?"
"Deucedly bad, my boy" he an
swered, with a heart breaking smile.
"Im going out stupidity with con-
sumption, as they do in the fifth act,
you know, when the venerable 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 it con-
tinues; 1t will not conclude, the death
struggle Smoke away; that doesn't
disturb me" he added, seeing me put
my cigar one side, his cough sounding
like death-rattle.
tried to find encouraging words.
l talked with him, holding him by the
hand and patting him affectionately
on the shoulder, but my voice had in
my own ears the empty hollowness OF
deceit, and Miraz, looking at me,
seemed to pity my efforts.
was silent.
Look" said he, pointing to his
table; "see my workbench. For six
months have not been able to write"
made new effort to revive him.
Die! at his age, NONSENSE He wasn't
taking care Of himself. He must pass
the winter in the South, drink good
draught of sunlight. He could. He
was easy in his money matters.
But he stopped me, putting his
hand on my arm.
LISTEN" he said, gravely, 1--WE have
seen each other seldom, but you are
my oldest, perhaps my best, friend.
You have proved me pen in hand.
Well, | am going to tell you something
In confidence, for you to keep to your
self, unless it may serve on some oc-
casion to discourage the young liter
airy aspirants who bring manuscripts
to you-always a praiseworthy action.
Eyes, | have been successful. Yes,
have been paid a franc line. Yes,
have made money, and there in that
drawer are certain number ofyellow,
green, and orange papers, from which
coupon is clipped every six months,
and which represent $500 of income.
1t is rare in our profession, and to
gain that poor hoard have been
Obliged to initiate the unsociable vir-
tues of miser, know how to deny q
jewel to my wife, a dress to my
daughter. "But at last | have that
money. And | often said to myself,
If should die their bread is assured,
and here is little marriage portion
Tor Helenl And was content was
proud!-for | know them, the stories
OF our widows and our orphans, the
4-penny help of the Government, the
tobacco shops for 600 francs
in the province, and, il the
daughter is intelligent and pretty
like mine, the dramatic author, an
old friend of the father, who advises
her to enter the Conservatory OF
Acting, and who makes of her-mercy
OF God! that shall never be.
But for all that, my boy, it is nee
cessary that | should not linger
Sickness is expensive, and already it
has been necessary to sell one or two
bonds from that drawer. To seek
the sunlight, as you suggest, to bask
like a lizard in the tropics, one more
bond must go, and there would not be
enough to last to the end, if should
wait for seven or eight years more,
now that can no longer write. Hap
| PLY, there is nothing to fear. Bus
what have suffered since have been
incapable of writing, and have felt
my hoard of gold shrink and dimin-
ish in my hand like the Magic Skin
OF Balzac is frightful. Now you under
stand me, do you not? and you will
no longer bid me take care OF myself.
No; if you still pray to God ask him
to send me speedily to the under
takers"
Fifteen days later some thirty OF us
followed the hearse which carried
Louis Miraz to the cemetery. 1t had
showed the day before, and DR.. Ar
mold, the old frequenter OF painters
studios, the friend and physician OF
the dead man, walking behind me,
called, in his brusoue voice.
Every commonplace, but always
terrible the contrast: burial in the
snow-black on white. The Funeral
OF the Poor Brrl"
At last we came to the edge of the
grave. The place and the time were
sad. Under a cloudy sky the little
yew trees, swayed by the wind, threw
down their burdens OF melted snow.
The bystanders had formed circle,
| and were watching the praye-dippers.