Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-01-14
A VOLUNTARY DEATH.

meals together. 1
Louis had the deep eyes, the pale com /
piexion and the long and disheveled hair
OF all those young men who came TO town
from the country TO conquer glory.
He was a writer soon found his name
in Sunday journals and reviews. and then
he began 10 write those short and exquisite
sketches which have made his reputation.
Thus i've years passed, when l met him
one day In the editors office of a journal
for which worked
Each of us was rs much pleased "a the
other at thus meeting again; and after the
first What is that your Is that you''' We
stood facing each other, Shaking hands
and exposing. in "A laugh Of cordial delight,
our teeth, which in old times we used TO
exercise on the same crust OF poverty He
bad not changed. He had not even sacri
feed his long hair, which he threw back
with the graceful movement of horse /
who losses his name. Only he had the /
clear complexion aud calm eye OF con. /
tented man, and his slim figure was clad ia |
most fashionable costume.
I'VE won't drift apart again, will WEI" |
said he affectionately, taking me by the
arm; and he led me out in the boulevard, |
where the April sun gilded the young
leaves of the plane trees.
All, happy day. How we exhausted the
Don't you rcmcmberss" do you re.
member the fried eggs which tasted OF
straw. and the dreadful rice milk, the mel.
ancholy air OF your landlady. aud the Ger
man who used to pawn his watch every
three monthsi"
Those days Of hardship for Louis were
finished He had from afar applauded my
success, AS | had watched his. But one
thing did not know, and that WAS that he
had married a woman whom he adorcd,
and that he had charming little girl
Come and see them; you shall dine
with me"
let myself be persuaded. and he carried
me to n pretty suburb, where he lived In a
cottage among the trees. There every.
thing made you welcome No sooner had
we opened the door of the garden than a
young dog frisked about our feet
Down. Dick! He will soil your clothes. "
But at the sound OF the bell Mrs. Miraz
appeared at the steps with her little daugh.
ter In her arms. An imposing and beauti-
ulblonde, her well nodded figure wrapped
in a blue gown.
Put on plate more. I've an old com
rade with me-"
And the happy father, keeping his hat
on his head and caressing his little girl
showed me all over his establishment-tht
dining room, frightened nv light bits %
faience; the study, Astounding in books
with its window opening out on this greer
turf, SO that pun of wind had strewI
with rose leaves the printers proofs which
were scattered on the table
This Is only beginning, you know. 1
wasn't so long ago that we were working
for three sous "a line"
And while | luNuriated under a blossom
ing Judas tree which | saw in the garden
Miraz, at ease Ia his home, had slippe'
into his working; vest. put on his slippers
and, lying on his sofa, caught little Heller
Ill ss, 4 l..aa I..tsl
hi Houp lai''
do not remember ever TO have had
more perfect impression of cOntentment
We dined pleasantly-two good courses
that all; dinner without pretense
where we served ourselves with the peppe
mill
The charming wife presided with he
bright smile having her child by her sid
In high chair She spoke but little, bu
her sweet and intelligent attention fol
lowed our light and paradoSieAl chat, thu
good humored fooling of men OF letters
and at the dessert she took IA rose from thu
bouquet which ornamented the table an,
placed it In her hair near her ear with
supreme grace. She was indeed that love
ly and silent friend whom dreamer re
quires.
We took our coffee tn the study-thel
intended To furnish the salon very sooI
with the price u a story 10 be published
by Levy. then, as the evening was cool,
fire Of sticks and twigs was built, an,
while we smoked, MiraZ and |, recalling
old memories. the mistress OF the hous
holding ON her knees little Helen. nos
ready for bed. made her repeat Our Faith
err and Hail Mary" which the little on
lisped, rubbing her little feet together be
fore the warm flame
We saw each other again. often at first
then less frequently, the difficult and com
plcated life of literary labor taking "a
each bis own way. 80 the years passed
We met shook hands. Everything ~
ing wellf" "Splendidly." And that wa
all Then, later. | found the name q
Louis Mraz but rarely in the journal
and periodicals. Happy man; he is rest
ing" said 10 myself. remembering tina
he was spoken OF as having made SINAI
fortune Finally, last autumn. | learne
that he was seriously Ill.
hurried To sec him lie still lived a
the pretty suburb, but on this somber da
Of the last Of November the little hous
seemed cold. and looked naked among tn
leafess trees. 1t seemed to me shrnnke
and diminished, like everything that "
have not seen for a long time,
The dog was probably dead, for his bar
no longer answered the sound of the be
when passed the little gate aud entere
the garden. ali strewn with dead leave
where the night y frost had withcred tn
last ehry>anthemums
II not his wife--shc was absent
was Helen who received me-Helen, VIII
had grown To BE great girl OF IA, with "a
awkward manner. She opened for me TIA
door Of her fathers study, aud brusquel
lifting her great black eyelasaes turne
on me timd and distressed glance
found Miraz huddled in AN easy chal
In the corner Of the fireplace. wrapped in
sort Of bedgown, with gray locks streal
ing his long hair, and by the cold, clnmm
hand which he reached toward me. by IL
pailid face whice lac turned upon me
knew that he was lost Horrible! found
my unhappy comrade that worn and RUNE
lock which used to strike formerl
among the poor Poles we used TO nee.
'Ah, well, old man. things arc not goin
wellf"
"Deueedly bad. my boy he answere,
with heartbreaking smile II am Ro-n
out stupidity with consumption, As they
IN the fifth act you know, when the We
cradle doctor, with head like BerRnge
feels the first walking gentleman's pulls
and lifts his eyes toward heaven, sayin
Tho death struggle approaches On
the difference is that with me II continue
a. attsA gH.s4 ~ -