Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-02-05


meadows, far from the barn ward
and at night they call to each othc
WIN long, sad lowing; instinctively
they formed themselves into groun
and would have followed anyone VIII
called TO them. In the death-strickel
villages many houses were left one,
and deserted, the kettle still hancin,
nom the crane, the table set for tn
midday meal just as the dread spcctr
bad found it. Robbers would hay,
nothing TO do but to walk into thes,
oWnerlcss homes, and then with we'll
nlled sacks to return 10 their noun
'alns in all safety and what matter
II some one vcnturcd TO intcrfer,
with them?-knives are sharp, ant
who would notice one more corps,
among so many dead F.?
The mouniaineers, however, did
not stir from their lair. Why wa.
thisf Because they, too, were dying.
1t seemed, indeed, that they were
carried off in greater numbers than
the people of tho valley, and when
the force of the pestilence was sub.
siding in Querterac, the "vagabonds
up there" continued obstinately 10
die and to be buried. People won
dered and admired, for every evening
at dusk, three or four wagons fol-
lowed by mourners came down TO the
cemetery. These miserable pugans
treated their dead with religious
respect, instead of casting them into
the streams which rushed swiftly
through the ravihcsl The spectators
Runaway when these wagons appeared,
and the mourners passed on through
empty streets.
One evening about twilight, Ser
geaat Valgeuod, ever on the lookout,
saw a wagon drawn by a broken
winded mule coming towards the city
gates. Behind it walked Mcritas and
a few of his tatterdemalions, singing
psalms in their degenerate patois,
while the long outline of a coffin could
bes seen on the wagon. Valgenod
drew himself up and salutcd in mill
tai style as the funeral train ap-
f.rorched, for the dead ara-''l-------sss--i
SCI, r. Rave been, and as he passed
The custom-house, old Merilas, his
eyes rcd and his face pale, raised his
great, gaunt arms towards heaven and
sobbed out:
"NIy wife, my wifev'
"Poor fellow" thought Valgenod,
and lie lighted his pipe quickly and
felt deeply touched,
A short time after similar pro-
cessIon came down the mountain road;
this time there were three collins oil
the wagon, and Merilas walked be-
hind. 1t was night and the lurid light
of the torches carried by the atten-
dants cast fantastic shadows upon the
walls of the customs building. The
old smuggler tore his hair as he
walked, and filled the air with his
.My SONS, my sonsl Give me
back my sonsl" he cried, hoarsely,
while Yalgcnod salutcd three times,
and the whole post barred their heads
out of respect for the fathers grief.
This was repeated every evening.
Meritas, who was generally the chief
mourner, lost by the epidemic not
only his wife and sons. but
also his daughters, nieces, me-
phews and cousins. His despair
was so great that he had to be sup
ported by his attendants, and one day
he bcsought Valgenod TO kill him and
end his misery.
ellis brain is turned-'tis no Won
der" said the officer, who felt his
former respect for his old enemy
deepening into affection.
This lasted for three weeks, and the
people of Querlerac were surprised
and dismayed to find that pestilence
still ragged in the mountains, though
it had disappeared from the valley.
One evening three funeral wagons
came across the bridge as usual, and
one of the mules having gone too near
the edge, the wagon lurehed from
side 10 side, and the coffin was thrown
ont ut The feet of Sergeant Valgenod.
Immediately Meritas and the Other
mourners spread out their arms like
great wings AMI fed at full
seed towards the mountains leav
inc the officers to gaze thunder
struck. at the coffin, of which the lie
had burst open, and instead of corp'
there rolled out four bundles of mer'
ehandise carefully labelled.
ITO arms!p cried VaIgenod, "freP
and the whole post went in pursuit o.
the smugglcrs. Too late,s however
and when the other collins were foun'
on examination to contain the sam
cargo as the first, Sergeant Valgeno'
tore his hair in exas Grafton.
But the people of Querterac were l
an ecstacy of joy when they learne'
that not single member of the noun
tain band had died of the plague
The dread visitor had passed away Q
last. but the smugglers had improve
the opportunity and made their FOL
tune. :,
Sergeant vaIgenod CRASHED h
teetl. in rage, and sworc that the nel
arrival from the mountains would