The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-06-25

smuggle Madrid into France"
! Meritas was d smuggler, as Valgenod
was d custom house officer, from tenn
permanent md instinct. 1t was his voca-
tion. Numerous were the tricks that he
invented, the schemes that he devised.
and he was never caught. I'm the caves
of the mountains were hidden bales Of
tobacco, cloths, skins, Spanish laces and
liquors. In some way or another all this
merchandise was gradually smuggled
into France, but how, no one. not even
Valgenod, knew.
1t was the third day of the epidemic,
Just about twilight, that Valgenod,
scenting the winds and looking around,
saw q cart, drawn by a broken winded
mule, entering the valley and going
straight toward the gates of the town.
Behind came Meritas and q few i'll clad
fellows of his tribe, who were singing
psalms in q harsh patois. The cart was
q rallied one, and in spite of the approach
ing darkness the sergeant made out the
long shape OF q coffin.
"Ah,' = he moaned There is suffer
ing up there too. Honest people are not
the only ones to die, I see.
He drew himself up to let the process
sion pass and gave the military salute
Ia corpse deserved such salute even
though it was one of those reprobates.
Before the walls Of the custom house,
Meritas, whose eyes cleaned like two
fires in his pale face, raised his long,
lean arms to heaven and sobbed:
my wifel Ny wifel My wife,"
Poor old man = said Va1genod, and
he drew a match to light his pipe, for
he felt an unusual tenderness creeping
over him.
Two days later another procession
was seen winding around the mountain,
and Meritas was walking behind. This
time there were three collins i'm the cart.
"Well, now," thought Valgenod,
these cannot all DO his. Perhaps 1t is
subscription.
But the old slnuggler was tearing his
beard and shrieking in broken tones at
the top of his voice:
my sonsl My sonsl Who can give
me back my sons?"
The sergeant saluted three times, and
the entire post, drawn ont In line along
the open gratings, uncovered piously
before the bitter grief of the distracted
father.
Every evening at the setting OF the
sun q funeral procession passed through
the town, and Meritas invaribly formed
part of the cortege. He walked with .
friend on each side supporting him, call
ing aloud ON God, blessing the dead and
lamenting his fate. He buried i'm order
his wife, his sons, his daughters, his
!, nephews, his cousins. One day he be-
sought Valgenod okill him and end his
suffering.
He is getting silly, and there is
some reason for il, " said the sergeant,
Struggling his shoulders.
Finally, SO strong is pity, he felt his
former respect grow into love for his old
enemy.
These funerals continued for three
weeks. Then the people in the town be
gan to wonder. Querterac awoke from
its stupor, and the epidemic seemed to
have disappeared. The deaths became
fewer and fewer; the windows were
opened; every one would have regain.
ed confidence il it had not been for those
mournful professions that came down
every evening from above, a lamentable
proof that the epidemic was still rag
ing, If not in the city, at amy rate II
the outposts.
One evening-it was the last-thfet
carts, az usual, were crossing the city
bridge. One of them, the foremost,
struck against q milestone. The mule
backed, and the cart upset, throwing it
contents, two collins, at the feet Of Val
qenod. In the fall the lid of one of ths
collins fell OH. Immediately Meritai
and all the mourners, spreading on
their arms like the wings of birds, fet
Ia the mountains. Valgenod was aston
ished to see instead Of the corpse, befor'
which he was already preparing TO fee
rolling between his legs four bales o
merchandise carefully marked.
.sTo arms, = he cried.
The post ran mp, but 1t was too late
The smngglers had escaped. The othe
carts were seized and the collins opened
They were all filled with merchandise
Valgenod tore his hair.
This then was the key to the mystery
the explanation OF those numerou
deaths. of those pious burials. Not on
of those ''rascals up above had die'
from cholera. Meritas had not lost
wife or o daghters or cousins. al
the collins that had entered Quertera
and had been saluted by the custom
house officers had been loaded wit
lace, liquors and tobacco They ha'
been taken through the deserted streets
andsthe contents stored in q house at Tia
gates Of the cemetery. When the hons
was searched, IL was empty. The rnel
chandise had been sent away every da
! to the large towns.
The villagers smiled. Valgenod swos
|, that In future he would refuse to pa
I 4 skeleton unless he turned his pocket
! inside out. Meritas disappeared :
Translated From the French of Maurit
Montigut For Short Stories.
Feedfng by Clockwork.
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