Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-08
CHAPTER VII.

cholera, had either left the place to-
their own houses Everywhere !
went something bore witness to the
terrible vantages of the plague AT
almost every corner | met a funeral
procession. Once | came upon a group
Of men who were standing in an open
doorway packing a dead body Into a
coffin too small for it. There was
something truly revolving in the way
they doubled up the arms and legs and
squeezed in the shoulders of the de-
ceased man-one could hear the bones
crack. | watchd the brutal proceedings
for minute or so, and then I said
aloud:
"You had better make sure he is
quite dead "
Tho h""camOrti looked at me in sur
prise; one laughed grimly and swore.
BY the body of Coo, if I thought he
were not | would twist his accursed
neck for him! But the cholera never
fails, he is dead for certain-see!" And
he knocked the head of the corpse to
and fro against the sides of the coffin
had been block of wood Sickened at
the sight, | turned away and said no
more. On reaching one of the more
important thOrOughtares, [ perceived
several knots of people collected, who
glanced at one another with eager vet
shamed faces, and spoke in low voices.
A whisper reached my ears, "The
king! the l1ng!" All heads were turned
IN one direction; ] paused and looked
also walking at leisurely pace,
accompanied by a few gentlemen of
earnest mien and grave department. |
saw the fearless monarch, Humbert of
ltaly-he whom his subjects delight
to honor. He was making round of
visits to all the vilest holes and cor
ners of the city, where the plague ragged
most terribly; he had not so much as
a cigarette in his mouth to ward off
Infection. He walked with the easy
and assured step of a hero: his face
was somewhat sad, as though the suf-
ferings of his people had depressed
heavily upon his sympathetic heart. 7
barred my head reverently as he passed,
his kcoE kind eyes lighted on me with
a smile
"A subject for painting. yon white
haired tiSherman!" I heard him say
to one of his attendants Almost |
betrayed myself. | was on the point
of springing forward and throwing
myself at his feet to tell him my story
1t seemed to me both cruel and I'M
natural that he, my beloved sovereign,
should pass me shout recognition
me, to whom 10 had spoken so often
and SO cordially. For when | visited
Rome, as | was accustomed to do an
Eually, there were few more welcome
guest at the balls Of the Quirnel Palace
than Count FahiO Romani. | began
TO wonder stupidity who FabiO Romani
was; the gay gallant known us such
seemed no longer to have any existence
"a 'white-haired fisherman" usurped
his place. But though | thought these
things | refrained from addressing the
king. Some impulse. however, led
me to follow him at a respectable dis
lance, as did also many others. His
majesty strolled through the most
residential streets with as much I'M
concern as though he were taking his
pleasure in a garden of roses; he step
Led quietly into the dirtieSt novels
where lay both dead and dying; he
spoke words of kindly encouragement
to the grief stricken and terrified
nCurners, who stared through their
tears at the monarch with astonish-
ment and gratitude; silver and gold
were gently dropped into the hands
of the suffering and poor, and the very
pressing cases received the royal bene-
factors PERSONAL attention and i'm.
mediate relief Mothers and infants
in their arms knelt to implore the
kings blessing to pacify then
he gave with modest hesitation, as
though he thought himself unworthy
and yet with a parental tenderness
that was infinitely touching. One
wild-eyed. black-haired girl flung her
self down or the ground right in the
kings path: she kissed his feet, anC
then sprung erect with a gesture o.
triumph.
II am saved!" she cried; The
plague cannot walk in the same roa(
VIII tic hlilS
Humbert smiled and regarded he
somewhat as an indulgent father Nigh
regard spoiled daughter: but he sai(
nothing, and passed on. A cluster 0
men and women standing at the opel
door of one of the poorest-loolin:
houses in the street next attracted tn
monarch's attention. There was SOM
noisy argument going on; two 0
three beccamOrti were loudly discuss
ing together and swearing prCfusely
some women were crying bitterly, an
in the center of the excited grou
a coffin stood on end as though wait
ing for an occupant. One of the gen
tlemen in attendance on the king pre-
eeded him and announced his approach
Ehereupon the loud clamor of tongue
ceased the men barred their heads, an
the women checked their sobs.
"Whnt is WRONG here my friends
the monarch asked, with exceedin
gentleness.
There was silence for a moment
the beccamorti looked sulIen an
ashamed. Then one Of the womel
with a fat sood-natured face and eye
trimmed redly round with weepin!
elbowed her way through the lit
throng to the front and spoke.
May the Holy Virgin and sain-
bless your majesty" she cried.
Shrill accents "Ao6 aS for what