The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1894-07-07

homes ana lives, rudely dtspelling so
many happy dreams, SO many anticipate
ed pleasures, and opening in the hearts
| of women and mothers in this and
other countries wounds which will never
heal.
"Such is life, adeclarcd NJ. Savage.
"Say rather such is DEATH" lightly re.
piled Morissot.
Suddenly they tre:mblcd with fear,
realizing that some n marched behind
them, and, turning their he.ds, they saw
four German soldiers covering them
with their muskets.
Their lines slipped from their hands
and fell into the river, and within a
few moments they were seized, bound.
thrown into a boat and carried to the
island.
Behind the house which they thought
deserted they found a squad of German
soldiers.
A bearded giant sitting astride a
chair and smoking a huge pipe with
porcelain bowl asked them, in excellent
French:
We'll, gentlemen, have you had good
luckP"
BY way of reply one Of the soldiers
deposited ut the officers feet the basket
full of fish which he had taken care To
bring with him.
The Prussian omiled.
"Ah! that's not bad. But another
thing first. Listen:
40 me you are two spies sent to
watch Inc. ! take you and | shall shoot
you. You pretend to be fishing in order
TO observe me better. You have fallen
Into my hands-so much the worse for
you. Such is wal.
"Bnt rs you passed the advance posts
you surely have the password with
which to return. Tell it to me and I
will release you" :
The two friends, pale and trembling,
their hands agitated by a slight, nervous
trembling, remained silent.
The officer continued:
mo one will ever know it. You will
return in peace. The secret will disap-
pear with you. To refuse is Immediate
death. Choose"
The two friends made no replv.
The Prussian calmly said while point
ing towards the river:
Think that In five minutes you will
be at the bottom of that stream. In five
minutes. You have families?"
The two friends stood rigiNly erect
and made no reply. The German gave
a few orders in his own language. and
then moved his chair in order not to
be too near the prisoners. Twelve men
with loaded muskets then placed them
selves at a distance of twenty feet.
"The officer continued:
II will give you one minute-not a
second more"
He arose and brusquely approached
the two Frenchmen. Taking Morissot
by the arm he led him IL short distance
away and said in a low voice:
Quick! the password. Your comrade
will never know"
Morissot made no reply.
The PruSsian then took Sauyage'
aside and made the same proposal to
him.
M. Savage made no reply.
Then again found themselves side by
side.
The officer gave a command, and the
soldiers raised their arms.
BY chance, Morissot's glance fell upon
the basket of fish lying on the ground a
few PAGES away. The shining scales OF
the still living fish sparkled in the sun
light. In spite of himself his eyes filled
with tears and he stammered:
Goodbye. M. Savage"
ID. Savage responded:
Goodbye, M. Morissot."
They shook hands. The officer cried:
"Fire!'
The twelve reports rang out like one.
NJ. Savage fell like q block. Morissot,
who was taller, wavered, turned and
fell across his companion, face upward,
+ flood of blood rushing from his
breast.
The German gave a new order, where
upon his men marched away, but re-
turned presently with cords and stones,
which they attached 10 the feet OF the
corpses.
Two soldiers took Morrissot by the
head and feet and bore him to the river,
and two others followed with Savage.
The bodies, poised for an instant were
thrown into the stream and, describing
a curve as they fell, plunged feet fore
most into the current.
The water foamcd and boiled, and
then became calm, while a few little
waves reached as far as the shore. The
surface was slightly stained with blood.
The officer, Still serene and unruffied,
quietly remarked:
Now it is the turn of the fishes"
Then, turning toward the house, he
noticed the basket of fish on the grass.
He picked it up, examined it, smiled
and cried:
"Wilhelm!"
A soldier wearing a white apron ran
up at his call, and the Prussian. throw
ing the fish at him, commanded:
FRY these for me while they are still
alive. They will be delicious"
Then he resumed his pipe.