Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-09-05

and for against the sides of the coffin
with no more conjunction than if it
had been block of wood. Sickened
at the sight, turned away and said
no more. On reaching one of the more
important thoroughfares l perceived
several knots of people collected. who
glanced at one another with eager yet
shamed faces, and spoke in low voices.
A whisper reached my ears. "The
king! the king" All heads were
turned in one direction; paused and
looked also. Walking at leisurely
pace. accompanied by few gentle
men of earnest mien and grave de-
pertinent. I saw the fearless monarch,
Humbert of Italy, he whom his sub
jects delight to honor. He was max
ing round of visits to all the vilest
holes and corners of the city, where
the plague ragged most terribly; he
had not so much as cigarette In his
mouth to ward of infection. He
walked with the easy and assured step
of hero; his face was somewhat sad
as though the sufferings Of his people
had pressed heavily upon his sympa-
tre etc heart. barred my head rev.
erently as he passed.; his keen kind
eyes lighted on me with a smile.
"a subject for painting, yon white
haired fishermanv' heard him say to
one of his attendants. Almost l be.
trayed myself. I was on the point of
springing forward and throwing N.Y.
self. at his feet to tell him my story. 1t
seemed to me both cruel and unnat ural
that he, my beloved sovereign. should
pass me without recoynition-me, to
whom he had spoken SO often and so
cordially. For when I visited Rome,
as l was accustomed to do annually,
there We're few more welcome guests
at the halls Of the Quirinal palace
than Count Fabio Romani. I begin to
wonder stupidity who Fabio Romani
was; the gay gallant known as such
seemed no longer to have any ex-
iStence "a ''white-haired fisherman"
usurped his place. But though I
thought these things refrained from
addressing the king. Some impulse,
however, led me to follow him at q
respectful distance, rs did also many
others. His majesty strolled through
the most pestilential streets with as
much unconcern as though he were
taking his pleasure in a garden Of
roses; he stepped quietly into the
dirtiest novels where lay both dead
and dying; he spoke words Of kindly
encourag cement to the jgrief- stricken
and terrified mournersl who stared
through their tears at the monarch
with establishment and gratitude; sill
yer and gold We're gently dropped
into the hands of the suffering poor,
and the very pressing cases received
the royal benefactors personal atten-
ton and immediate relief. Mothers
with infants in their arms knelt to i'm
plore the kings blessing, which to
passify them he gave with a modest
hesitation, as though he thought him
self unworthy, and yet with a parental
tenderness that was infinitely touching.
One wild-eyed black-haired girl flung
herself down on the ground right in the
kings path; she kissed his feet and
then sprang erect with a gesture of
triumph.
Il am saved!" she cried, 'the plague
cannot walk in the same road with
the king"
Humbert smiled and regarded her
somewhat as an indulgent father might
regard spoilt daughter; but he said
nothing and passed on. A cluster of
men and women standing at the open
door Of one Of the poorest looking
houses in the street next attracted
the monarch's attention. There was
some noisy argument going on; two
or three baccamorti were loudly dis
cussing together and crying bitterly,
and in the centre Of the excited group
coffin stood on end as though
waiting for an occupant. One of the
|, gentlemen in attendance on the king
npnnA6n1 him nd to
proach, whereupon the loud clamor of
heads, and the women checked their
sobs.
What is wrong here, my friends 2"
| the monarch asked with exceeding gen.
tleness.
There was silence for moment; the
/ beccamorti looked sullen and ashamed.
= Then one of the women with fat
good-natured face and eyes trimmed
redly with weeping. elbowed her way
through the little throng to the front
| and spoke.
MAY the Holy Virgin and saints
bless your majesty" she cried in shrill
accents. "And as for what is wrong,
it would soon be right if these shame
less pigs, pointing to the baccamorti,
"OuAu AeL US dlOue. luey Will XIII n
man rather than wait an hour-one
little hour! The girl is dead. your
majesty, and Giovanni, poor lad, will
not leave her; he has his two arms
round her tight;-Holy Virgin!. think
Of it! and she cholera corpse-and
do what we can he will not be parted
from her. and they seek her body for
the burial. And IL we force him away,
poverino, he will lose his head for GER
tain. One little hour, your majesty,
just one, and the reverend father will
come and persuade Giovanni better
than we can"
The king raised his hand with a
slight gesture Of command-the little
crowd parted before him-and he en-
tered the miserable dwelling wherein
lay the corpse that was the cause of
oil the argument. His attendants fol-
lowed. ]. too. ayailed myself o. corner
In the doorway. The scene disclosed
was soterribly pathetic, that few could
look upon 1t without emOti0n-Humbert
OF Italy himself uncovered his head
and stood silent. On poor pallet bed
lay the fnir body of girl In her first