Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-06-10

J
Eight young men, accompanied by
eight girls Of remarkable beauty, ar
rived, and ordered a private room,
| where they were served with a sumptu-
GUS repast At its close one Of the
rarity raised his glass and proposed
Success to the cholera!" The toast
was received with riOtous shouts of
APPLAUSE, and all drank it with deliri-
Gus laughter That very night every
one of the jewellers died in horrible
| agony; their bodies as usual, were
thrust into nimsy collins and buried
enc on top of another in hole hastily
! dug for the purpose Dismal stories
! ike these reached us every day, but
we were not morbidly impressed by
! them. Stella was a living charm
against pestilencei her innocent play
fulness and prattle kept us amused
and employed, and surrounded us with
an atmosphere that was physically
/ and mentally wholesome,
One morning one of the hottest
mornings of that sCorching MONTH
woke at an earlier hour than usual
A suggestion of possible GOODNESS in
1 the air tempted me to rise ana stroll
! through the garden. My wife slept
soundly at my side. | dressed softly
without disturbing her. As ! was
about to leave the room some instinct
made me turn back to lock at her once
more, How lovely she was she
smiled in her sleep! My heart beat as
| ! gaZed-she had been mine for three
I years mine only,--and MY passionate
admiration and love of her had in
creased In proportion to tina. length
Of time / raised one OF the scattered
golden locks that lay shining like a
sunbeam on the pillow, and kissed it
tenderly. Then-all unconscious Of
my fate-I left her.
| A faint breeze greeted me as
sauntered along the garden walks-a
| breath Of wind scarce strong enough
to flutter the leaves, yet it had a salt
SAVIOR in IL that was refreshing after
the tropical heat of the past night
was at that time absorbed in the study
of Plato, and as | walked my mind
occupied itself with many high prob
lens and deep questions suggested by
! that great teacher in a train of
profound yet pleasant thought, |
strayed on further than intended, and
/ found myself at last In by-path, long
! disused by our household winding
/ fCotway leading downward in the di-
tection of the harbor. 1t was shady
most uncCnsciously, till | caught a
glimpse OF masts ana white sails
cleaning through the LEAKAGE of the
ONereaching trees. | was then about
, &c retrace my steps, when | was
startled by a sudden sound. 1t was
, low moan of intense pain--a smothered
cry that seemed to be wrunE from some
animal in torture. | turned in the di-
rection whence It came, and saw lying
face downward on the grass, a boy
a little fruit-seller Of eleven or twelve
years OF age His basket Of wares
stood beside him, a tempting pile OF
peaches, grapes, pomegranates. and
melons-loyely but dangerous eating
in cholera times | touched the lad on
the shoulder
What ails you?" | asked. lie
twisted himself conyulsively and
| turned his face toward me-a beautiful
face, though liyid with anguish.
The plague, signor!" he moaned
the plague! Keep away from me- for
the love of God! | am dymg!"
| hesitated For myself | had no
fear, But my wife my child-fov
/ their sakes il was necessary to be pru-
dent, Yet ! could not leave this poor
/ boy unassisted l resolved to so to
the harbur in search Of medical aid.
With this idea in my mind l spoke
( cheerfully
Courage, my boy" said; do not
lose heart, An ii1ess is not the plague.
Rest here till return; I am going to
fetch a doctor"
The little fellow looked at me with
/ Wondering, pathetic eyes, and tried
to smile He pointed to his throat.
and made an effort to speak. but
! Nainly Then he crouChed down in
the grass and writhed in torture like
I "a hunted animal wounded to the death.
+. ] left him and walked on rapidly,
reaching the harhor. where the heat
was sulpmrous and intense, | found
La few scarod-loohng men standing
70 { oil. IS H y.