The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-07-15

That 1a siro'asA The gates 81 death came t.
Frank. L. stanton.
THEIR LAST CATCH.
Ono clear morning i'll January-that
terrible January during the siege, wher
famine was knocking at the very gates
OF fatis-M. Morissot, u clotkmaker by
tlft.ie, bat rendered an idler by force O.
circumstances, was strolling. slowly
along the OTTER boulevarls. AS witt
bowel head aud hands thrust deep in hi.
pockets lie walked On e%ngrossed in his
own SD thoughts, be suddenly stopped
before man whom he recognized as al
old friend. 1t was NJ. Savage, whose
acquaintance lie had made on the river
hank.
On each Sunday before the wa
Morissot used to set out at dawn with d
hanlhoo eane in his hand aud a tin ho,
strapped on his back. He went by the
Afgenteuil Railroad rs far as Colombes
aud then walked to the Isle of Mnrante,
Scarcely arrived at that dreamy place he
would begin to fish, and would stay
there until nightfuA.
On each Sunday he used to meet
stout, jovial fellow, NJ. Savage Of the
Rue Notre Dame de Lorette.. who was
also IN enthusiastic fisherman. They
often passed n half day together, sitting
side by side, their lines in their hands
and their feet dangling over the current,
and a friendship soon sprang UP be,
Msen them.
On some days they would not ex.
change a word with one another, bul
they grew into that perfect understand.
ing which exists between persons O
similar tastes aud who experience
similar emotions.
The two friends shook hands cordial.
~, but both felt a'tinge Of sadness a
meeting under such gloomy circunl.
stances. nj. Savage sighed and muir.
INJURED:
What a condition of things!!' rs..,
Morissot gloomily replied:
"And what fine weather!!n
They began 10 walk side by side and
Morissot continued:
and oar tishingP How pleasant ii
is to think of it!a
M. Savage demanded:
" ncl sHal VIC ever Ge hple TO 90
againp"
They entered a little cafe and drank
together AN absinthe and then resumed
their promenade along the boulevard.
Morissot stopped suddenly.
Another glass?'
Nj. Savage assented:
AT Your pleasure" and they went in.
to another cafe. When they ca4as OF;
III. Salvage %eNelaimed:
'eupposing w go2"
"Whcre2"
why, fishing, to be sure"
sBut wherep!"
10 our old place. The French ad,
vaneed posts are near Colonies. ]
know Colonel Dumoulin, and | am SURE
that he will let us pass"
Morissot tremhled with anticipation
.Good!!" he cried. 81 am with you,'
and they parted to get their hooks ant
lines.
An hour later they we're walking side
by side on the highway, and soor
reached the villa in which the Colone
had established his headquarters. He
smiled at their request and good,
naturally granted them "A pass.
BY IL O'clock they had passed the
outer pickets and Colonies, and found
themselves at the border of a small
vineyard that stopped down toward the
Seine.
Before them lay the apparently deat
and deserted village Of Argentcuil. The
heights of Orgernont and Sannels domi.
mated the landscape, and the broat
plain that extends as far as Nanterrt
was a picture of desolation with its leaf
less trees and grey stretches of bare
earth.
Id. Savage pointed towards the sum
nit Of the hills, and mur1nured:
"The Prussians arc. there"
"Ehp Surprising We should meei
thempr
NJ. Savage replied with that Partisan
joriality which never deserted him:
"We would offer them n fried fish"
But still inundated by the ominous
silence they hesitated to venture acros.
che field. AT length III. Savage de
cidcd:
"Come! Conner And stopping down
they crept through the vineyard, dodg
ing from bush to bush, straining thei1
eyes and cars to detect the slightes
suspicion of pursuit.
A street.-the Of bare ground remained tx
be creased. After a long hesitation
they summoned their courage and run
ming at full speed attained the river banl
and concealed themselves among the
dry reeus.
Mor1issot listened with his ear to TIN
ground for sounds Of pursuit, but III
heard nothing. aud upon this assurance
of their safety they began to fish.
Before them the abandoned isle O
Marante shut out the view OF the oppo
lsite shore. The little restaurant wa;
closed, and appeared TO have been de
serted for years.
NJ. Savage caught the first gudgeon,
Morissot the second, and from time t.
time they pulled in their line with a isl
'wiggling on the hook.
Tie sun poured its warm rays upor
them, and absorbed in their pastims
which had been SO long denied them
they soon became Obvious to their sur
rourdings.
Suddenly q dull sound seemedto burs'
from the earth. The cannonade wa.
being resumed.
Morissot turned his head. and away
to the Jeff he perceived the great sill
houette of Mount YaIarien, which bort
upon its brow a tlfts of smoke. Soon ;
second jet of tiMnc shot out from thu
fortress, shortly succeeded by third in
tonation. Then others followed, and a
regular intervals the mountain sent fortl
It's death-dealing breath and exhaled
its milky vapors, which, rising slowly
in the calm atmosphere, hung like s
cloud above it.
n. Savage shrugged mis- shoulders
aThey are beginning again he said
Morissot, who was a%nxiously watch.
ing his float, was suddenly seized with
the anger Of Il peaceful man, whose calm
is disturbed. aud grumbled:
isn't it stupid to kill one another like
that?"
NJ. Savage replied:
"ihey are worse than the beasts them,
selves"
And Mnrissnt vino had i,ct ,tulIed II