The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1891-07-11

Yankee Blade.
FAITHFUL UNTO 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.
M. Morisot, matchmaker by trade,
was walking early one bright January
morning down the b~oulvevards, his
hands in the pockets of his overcoat.
feeling hungry and depressed, when
he Unexpectedly ran against a friend.
He recognized M. 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 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 NJ.
Savage. a lincn-draper, from Paris.
but stout and jovial withal, as keen a
fisherman moreover as he was himself.
Often they would sit side by side.
their feet dangling over the water for
half a day at a 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 its
aid, for their tastes and ideas were the
same.
On a spring morning in the bright
sunshine, when the light and delicate
mist lowered over the river, and these
two mad fisherman enjoyed a fore.
taste of real summer weather. Morisot
would say to his neighbor: Helm! not
bad, eh?"
And Savage would reply: Il know
nothing to beat it,"
' This Interchange of sentiments was
enough to engender mutual un-
Ederstanding and esteem.
In autumn, toward evening, when
the setting sun Redeemed the sky and
cast shadows of the tleeting 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
a wintry shake. M. Salvage would
smile at M. Morisot and say: What
a sight. eh?"
And NJ. Morisot, withou: even rails
ing his eyes from his float. would an
/. swer: Better than the boulevards.
thein!'
: This morning. as soon as they had
hands warmly, quite overcome at meet
ing again under such different circpm.
stances.
M. Savage sighed and murmured:
"A nice state of things"
N. 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.
full and pensive. Said Morisot: ':And
our fishing, ehP What times we used
to have"
Savage replied: "When snail we
have them againp"
They went into a little cafe and had
q 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
famed their faces. M. Savage. upon
whom the fresh air waa beginning to
take effect. suddenly said:
"Suppose we were to go!
go whereof, It
"Why. fishing"
"But whereof"
ITO our island. of course. The
French outposts are at Colonies. l
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."
They separated to fetch their rods.
An hour afterward they were walk
ing fast along the highroad toward the
town commanded by Col. Dumoulin.
He smiled at their request, but grant
ed it, and they went on their way re-
joicing in the possession of the pass
word.
Soon they had crossed the lines.
passed through deserted Colonies. and
found themselves in the vineyard lead
ing down to the river. 1t was about
II O'clock.
On the other side the village of Agen-
teuil seemed as is if it were dead. The
hills of Orgrement and Saumons COM
manded the whole country round. The
great plain stretching out as far AZ
Narterne was empty as air.. Nothing
In sight but cherry trees and stretches
Of gray soil.
N. Savage pointed with his finger
to the heights above and said: The
Russians are up there" and q vague