Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-06-24
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.
BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT.

BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT.
Paris was Observation-Disclosures
the point of death. Even the sparrows
on the house-tops were few and far be-
tween, 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 boulevards, his hands
IN the pockets of his overcoat, feeling
hungry and depressed, when he unex-
pectedly ran against friend. He re-
cognized Nj. Savage, an old-time chum
of the riverside.
Every Sunday before the war Morisot
used to start at daybreak with his bam-
boo fishing-rod III his hand, his tin bait
and tackle-box upon his back He used
10 take the train to Colombes and to
walk from there to the Island of Ma
ranthe. 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 NJ.
Salvage, a linen-draper from Paris, but
stout and jOyial withal, as keen a fisher
man, moreover, as he was himself.
This morning, as soon as they. had
recognized each other, they shook
ing again under such different circum-
stances.
M. Savage sighed and murmured, GA
nice state of things ~
NJ. Morisot, gloomy and sad, answered,
land what weather! To-day is New
Years Day" The sky. in fact, was
clear, bright, and beautiful.
They began to walk along, sorrowful
and pensive. Said Morisot, And our
fishing, Ell? What times we used to
have -
them again ?''
They went into little cafe and had
glass of absinthe, and then started again
on their walk
They stopped at another cafe for an
other 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
famed their faces. Mr.. Savage, upon
whom the fresh air was beginning to
take effect, suddenly said
Suppose we were to go?"
<'GO where ?"
why, fshingr"
But where ?"
1'To our island, of course. The French
SJUtposts are at Colombes I know Col.
Dumoulin; he will let us pass through
easily enough"
Morisot trembled with delight at.the
very idea. ''All right; I'm your man f"
They separated to fetch their rods.
An hour afterward they were walking
East along the high road toward the
gtown commanded by Col Dumoulin.
Ho cd OF lai Il
1T, and they went on their way rejoicing
in possession of the password
Soon they had crossed the lines,
passed through deserted Colombes, and
found themselves in the vineyard lead
2 ing down to the river. 1t was about IL
y o'dlock.
On the other side the village Of Agen-
teuil seemed as if it were dead. The
hills of Orgremont and Saumons COM
manded the whole country round. The
great plain stretching out as far as Nan
terne was empty as air. Nothing IN
sight but cherry trees and stretches OF
gray soil.
NJ. Savage pointed with his finger to
the heights above and said: The Prus-
slams are up there" and a vague sense
of uneasiness seized upon the two
friends
The Prussians They had never set
eyes on them, but for months past they
had felt their presence near, Gncircling
their beloved Paris, running their be-
loved France, pillaging, massacring, in
satiable, invincible, invisible, all-power-
full, and as they thought on them sort
of superstitious terror seemed to mingle
with the hate they bore toward their
unknown conQuerers. MOrisOt MUIR
mured Suppose we were to meet
them ?" and Savage replied with the
instructive gallantry of the Partisan:
1tWell we would offer them some of our
fish for supper"
All the same they hesitated before
wenturing into the country, inundated
as they were by the all-pervadlng 81
Ience.
Eventually NJ. Savage plucked up
courage.
"Come along let's make start; but
we must be cautious"
They went through the vineyard,
bent double, crawling along from bush
TO bush, ears and eyes upon the alert.
Only one strip of ground lay between
them and the river. They began to run,
and when they reached the bank they
crouched down among the dry reeds for
shelter.
Morisot laid his ear to the ground to
listen for the sound of footsteps, but he
could hear nothing. Iney were dlOHo,
quite alone; gradually they felt reas-
4sured and began to fish.
The deserted Island of Maranthe mid
them from the opposite shore: The
little restaurant was closed, and looked
as if it had been neglected for years.
NJ Savage caught the first gudgeon
M. Morisot the second. And every
minute they pulled up their lines with
a little silver object dangling and strug-
Cling on the hook. Truly, miraculous