Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-07-18
MASTER
JOCK.

Singing, tno Cunk1nS Oh glasses ana merry
discourse were mingled together In a
joyous hubbub. There was not single
guest who, go long as he still had posses
sion of his tongue, did not call down
blessings on the head of the master of the
house. And he, too, was in an excellent
,humor, and his face beamed, though he
drank far less wine than usual. Evening
had now fallen. The heydukes brought
in large oandelabras, the blinking Of
glasses went on uninterruptedly. At that
moment the rumbling Of a carriage was
audible In the courtyard.
The fiscal had returned from his mis-
don-but alone.
Master Jock sank back dejectedly in his
chair when he learned from the mouth Of
the messenger that Abellino really could
not come, because he was sick but he had
sent what he promised, all the samoa
birthday gift to his dear uncle, with the
hearty wish that. he might find his great
est Joy therein.
1t was as much as six strapping fellows
could do to bring in the long box which
contained the birthday gift, and they
hauled 1t on to the table go that all the
guests might see 1t.
The four ends of the box were fastened
down by strong iron clamps, and these
! had to be removed with the aid of pinchers.
What could there be in this boxp The
guests laid their heads together about 1t,
but none of them could guess.
Suddenly all four clamps burst asunder,
the four sides Of the box fell aside in four
different directions, and there on the table
stood-a covered coffinl
A cry of Indignation resounded from
every corner of the room.
A pretty present for a SEVENTEEN birth
dayi A black coffin covered with q velvet
pail, at the head of it the ancient esoutoh.
con Of the Karpathy family and on the
side, picked out with large silver nails,
the name-J-o-h-n K-a-r-p-a-t-h-y.
Horror sealed every mouth, only vail
of grief was audible-a heavy, sobbing
cry, like that of wild beast stricken to
the heart. It came from the lips of old
John Karpathy, who had thus been 60
cruelty derided. When he beheld the
coffin, when he read his own name upon
1t, he had leaped from his chair stretched
out his arms, his face the while distorted
by q hideous grin, and those who watched
him beheld his features gradually turning
dreadful hue. 1t was plain, from the
trembling of his lips, that he wanted to
say something, but the only sound that
came from them was a long drawn out,
painful rattle. Then he raised his hands
to heaven and, suddenly striking his fore
head with his two fists, sank back into
his chair with wide open, staring eyes.
The blood froze in the veins of all who
saw the sight For few moments no.
body stirred. But then wild hubbub
arose among the guests, and while some
of them rushed toward the magnate and
helped to carry him to bed others went to
fetch the doctors. The coffin had already
been removed from the table.
The terrified army of guests was not
long in scattering in every direction.
Late that night all the roads leading from
the castle of Karpathy were thronged with
coaches speeding onward at gallop. Ter
ror and hope were the only guests left be-
hind In the castle itself. But the rockets
still continued to mount aloft from the
blazing fireworks and write the name
"Karpathy" in the sky in gigantic fiery
letters visible from afar.
Now, what was more natural than that
the mob Of breathless, departing guests
should lose no time in presenting their
respects and paying their court to the heir
presumptive of the vast possessions of the
Karpathy family, his honor Abellino Kar.
pathy?
They had all seen John Karpathy sink
back in his chair, stricken by apoplexy
He had not died on the spot, 1t is true, yet
he was as good as Dead anyhow, and there
were many who carried their friendly
sympathy with his highly respected neph-
ew SO far az to urge him vehemently to
hasten at once-yes, that very night-to
Karpatfalvar take possession and seal up
everything, to prevent any surreptitioua
flching of his property. But the young
squire was suspicious of all premature
rumors ana resolved to bide his time,
await more reliable information and only
put in an appearance on receiving news Of
the funeral. EARLY next morning the dean
arrived to greet him. The very reverend
gentleman had remained behind at Kar-
patfalva last of all, in order to make sure
that Master Jock really signed the oodi-
Gil in favor of the college in which he was
interested. He brought the melancholy
intelligence that the old gentleman had
not indeed actually given up the ghost,
but was certainly very near the last gasp,
inasmuch as it was now quite impossible
to exchange reasonable word with him,
which signified that the dean had been
unable to get him to subscribe the codicil.
The dean was followed the same day by
q number of agents and stewards attached
to the Karpathy domains, who fastened
to introduce themselves to his excellency,
the heir and their future patron. They
brought still further particulars of the
bodily condition of the expiring head Of
tho family. A village barber had bled
him, whereupon he had somewhat recov-
cred his senses. They had then proposed
to send for q doctor, but he had threatened
to shoot the man down II he crossed his
threshold. The barber was to remain,
however. He had more confidence in him
he said, because he would not dare to kill
him. he would take no medicine, nor
would he sec a soul, and Mike Kis was
the only person who had admittance to
his room. But he could not possibly last
longer than early tomorrow morning; Of
that they were all quite certain.
Abellino regarded the appearance Of the
agents and stewards as of very good au-
gury. It showed that they already regard
ed him as their master, to whom homage
was justly due. On tho following day q
whole host Of managers, cashiers, scribes,
shepherds, tenants and other small fry
arrived to .recommend themselves to Abel
limos favor. The moments of their old
master, they said, were most assuredly