The herald., 1896-03-03

their little children hid themselves in the
tents so that they should not see the exc
cution and only now and then cry of ex-
asperation was beard from them. The men,
in a feverish state Of excitement, made
the final preparations. They moved the
wagons TO one SIDE put them in line, and
chained the beasts to them. The Police
Captain, with the druggist, Foma Fomitch,
beside him, passed along the line Of the
condemned. The bears felt uneasy; the un-
usual surroundings, the strange prepara-
tions, the enormous crowd, the large gath
ering of their own speces-all this made
them very excitabie. They tossed their
chains violently or gnawed at them, giving
out dull and prolonged growls.
Old Ivan stood near his huge, old lame
bear. His son, an elderly gypsy, already
gray, and his grandson, with burning eyes,
hurriedly chained the bear to the wagon.
The Police Captain, coming near them,
said:
"Well. old man, order your boys to start"
A general commotion and tumult began
among the throng of the lockers on, but
soon they queted down, and amid the dead
silence low but grave voice was heard
The old man. Ivan, spoke.
ALLOW me, kind sir. to say a word or
two.
Comrades, let me be the first to finish.
am the oldest among you. In a year I
will be ninety, and have been bear leader
all my life from childhood In all the camps
you will not find beast older than mine"
He stopped his curly gray head over his
chest, shook it a few times, and wiped his
eyes with his fist. Then he Strengthened
himself up, raised his head, and continued
to speak in louder and firmer tones than be-
fore
That's why I want to be the first to
finish. never thought to live long enough
to gee such calamity; / never thought that
my beloved bear would live to see it; but it
seems such is cur fate. With my own hands
have to kill him, my bread winner, my
own benefactor! Unite him-let him loose.
He will not go away. 1t is no use for us,
old comrade. to run from death. Let him
loose, Vasia / do not want to kill him as
one would kill cattle-tied up. Don't be
afraid" he said to the restless crowd, che
will not hurt anybody"
A young gypsy united the enormous beast
and led him away from the wagon. The
bear sat down on his hind legs. the fore
paws hanging down. He swung from side
to side. signing heavily, with a rattle in
| his throat. Truly, he was very old; his
teeth were yellow, his shaggy coat of a
faded reddish color slightly grizzled. In a
friendly and mournful way he looked at his
| master with his single small eye. Dead
was the clinking Of gun barrels and the dull
rap of the ramrods upon the wads in charg-
ing the rifles.
"Give me the riae." said the old man,
firmly.
His son gave him a rife. He took 1t,
pressed 1t to his chest. and addressed the
bear with the following words:
'In a minute l will kill you, Potap
God help me that my old hand may not
tremble, go that the first ball may pierce
your heart. 1 don't want to torture you
it is not such an end as you deserve, my
old bear, my dear friend. 1 took you as g
young cub; one eye had been put out, youl
nose was rotted by the ring; you were
sick. you were pining away. l looked after
you as after my own son; I petted you
reared you, and you grew up large, brave
and strong bear. Another like you coul6
not be found in all the camps gathered
here. You grew up and you didn't forge
my kindness to you. l had not friend
among men ar good to me as you were
You were good and gentle, quick of appre
hension, you learned every trick easily
have never seen a beast better and more
intelligent than you What would have be
come of me without you? Thanks to you
work, all of my family is living now. Yo,
earned me three pairs of horses; through
you l was able to build winter hut. Yol
have done great deal for me; you hav'
freed my son from the military service.
have a large family, and every one o
, them, from the youngest to the Oldest, yol
| have fed and provided for. How dearly
love you! l never hit you too hard, and !
} | have offended you in any way-forglv
J me. l bow my head to your feet"
} He threw himself on the ground befor
the bear. The animal growled gently an
; pitlfully TIE old man was weeping bit
} terly, his whole body trembled
"Shoot, father." exclaimed his son, Cd
) not tear our hearts any longer
, Ivan rose. Tho tears ceased runnin
from his eyes. He tossed back his gra
mare from his forehead, and continued il
a firm and clear voice:
: 'And now | have to kill you | am or
+ dered to do it, my dearest frend-to Ghoo
! you with my own hands. You are not per
1 mitted to live any longer in this world
i What then? Let Cod in heaven be judg
I between US and these men,"
He grasped his rifle with a firm han
0 and leveled it at the beast, aiming at th
g heart, just under the left paw. The bea
: seemed to understand what it meant. II
uttered ptiful, despairing growl, an
0 raieing his two forepaws as If to cove
i his eyes that he might not see the terribi
gun. he stood upright.
A heavy moan aSrrnp1 tn ranks of gyi