The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-03-20
THE LAST OF THE TEN.
BY BOHEMIAN.

spinning; the mother and daughter
were down at the river washing; little
Paola was in the field watching the
single peacock, all that remained of the
gallant and strutting ten that had once
been his especial charge. The grand
mas heart was sad, for it was eight
years since her son had been outlawed
and had gone to hide in the mountains
that overlooked the blue Mediterran-
can. The mother was pensiye because
she knew not when she would hear the
cry: He is taken. he is taken" The
little daughter was sorrowfuI because
she had to kneel there by the river on
Christmas, for they were too poor to
remain idle even on a holiday. Paola
was disconnected; his beautiful flock
Of proud peacOcks had been stolen;
only one had been left by the brigands
when they made their last descent from
the mountains. Their goat, too, had
disappeared, In the solitude of the
mountain side near the shores of the
lovely sea the lad reclined in the sun
shine with his one peacock ambling
haughtily around him like some prince
ly dame with a profound disbelief in the
saying about fine feathers. How grand
she was, this splendid creature, with
her feathers like TainbOws in color and
her tread that of an overconscious
queen! The boy bent in alteration
before her. "How splendid you are!"
he said.
Yes; it was true. Little Paola adored
this, the last of his pets. The loss o.
the others had made it more dear to
him. They had once had two or three
goats and he had little hut all to him
self overlooking the sea. Here he slept
in storm and sunshine. 4 peacock
may seem an odd sort of pet, but it is
none the less true that a species of de
yotion existed between the disdainful
bird and the peasant lad. The latter
was the admireT; the former looked
upon him with superior condescension.
When it rained the boy took the last
of the flock to his hut, where there was
barely room for both of them within.
The lad, it should be said, had once been
devoted to a little, lazy, unfortunate
donkey, but it was nothing compared
to this affection. a donkey, he told
himself, was well enough in its way,
with its red tassels and bright harness,
but it was not to be mentioned in the
same category with this gorgeous and
overwhelming creature whose attire
was so bright and glowing that no
princess in the world would compare
with it. He guarded it as the apple of
his eye, and granny said he had rather
live with his gay and disdainful friend
than with them, which probably was
true. Granny was a very discerning
old lady, but she was mournful COM
pani0n, for she often rocked to and fro
and lamented their hard lot. Such be-
wailings were not cheering, and Paoll
preferred the mountain side, the shade
of the olive trees, the beach running
down to the caressing sea, the blue sky
that changed at sunset aud-above all
the last of the ten.
But OH that day when granny sat
spinning and the mother and daughter
were washing, a misfortune befell
Poala. A priest who passed him called
out:
''PaoIa, are you not coming to
church,"
Il cannot" was the reply. 1T would
run away" ut" was the last of the
flock.
81 wonder why peacocks don't 90
to church," thought the lad. Such
magnificent beings must have a soul,
if have, who am ugly, ragged, dirty
and-and-hungTy."
This problem occupied his atten-
ton for some time and he glanced with
commiseration at his gorgeous com
panion whose feathers Just then had as
sumed their most imposing appear
ance. 1t was a new aspect of their
relationship. Heretofore he had been
the humble one, mutely adoring; now
a sense of superiority swept over him
andhepityingly surveyedhis feathered
friend. But the latter was as dis
daiIful as ever. It seemed a hardened
sinner who cared not whether or no
1t Haunted its gaudy feathers through
the golden gates. Don't pity me; I'll
have good time while I'm here" it
seemed to say. Just watch me strut
around and admire myself" And the
boy grieved greatly. But its exulta-
ton was OF brief endurance. A shad-
ow fell upon them and a harsh voice
was heard:
'HeIo, boy!"
The lad looked up and saw fierce
bewhiskered man whose aspect would
have terrified almost anyone.
How do you do, sir" said Paola,
politely, You're a brigand, aren't
your"
You've guessed it. Now don't cry
out, youngsteT. If you do, I'll wiring
your neck. Besides, it would do you
no good for this is a lonesome spot"
What do you want?"
For answer the man seized the pea
cock, killed it and strobe off with it,
leaving the lad weeping as if his heart
would break, He was alone in the
world, for after all his home was no