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

homes and nYes, radeiiy sdispelling -
many happy featns.sso mani antiopat-
ed pleasures, and opening in The hearts
OF women and mothers in this aud
other countries wounds which will never
heal. Ss8&
Such, is life, declared M. Savage.
Say rather such is death, 2 lightly~re-
piled Mo1issot.
realizing that some one marched behind
them, aud, turning their heads. they saw
four German soldiers covering them
with their muskets.
Their lines slipped from their hands
and fell into the river, and within a
few moments they We're seized, bound,
thrown into a boat and carried to the
island.
Behind the house which they thought
deserted they found a squad of German
soldiers.
A bearded giant sitting astride a
chair and smoking u huge pipe with
porcelain bowl asked them, in excellent
French:
well, gentlemen, have you had good
| luokp"
BY way of reply one of the soldiers
deposited at the officers feet the basket
full of fish which he had taken care to
bring with him.
The Prussian smiled.
"Ah! that's not bad. But another
thing first. Listen:
ITO me you are two spies sent to
watch me. l take You and L.sha!l shoot
you. You pretend to be fishing in order
Efr, pl,Sa1.y-n ,tta haitian. V,,, Hn,,n r.1lar,
into my hands-so much the worse for
you. Such is war.
sBut as you passed the advance posts
you surely have the password with
which to return. Tell it to me and l
will release you"
The two friends, pale and trembling,
their hands agitated,by a slight, nervous
trembling, remained silent.
The officer continued:<
"No one will aver know it. You will
return in peace. The secret will disap-
pear with you. To refuse is Immediate
death. Choose"
The two friends made no reply.
The Prussian calmly said willie point
ing towards the river:
Think that in five minutes you will
be at the bottom of that stream In five
minutes. You.have iamilies"
The two friends stood rigilly erect
and made no reply. The German gave
a few orders in his own language, md
then moved his chair in order not to
be too near the prisoners. Twelve men
with loaded muskets then placed them
selves at a distance Of twenty feet.
"The officer continued:
Il will give you one minuteAnot a
second more"
He arose and brusquely approached
the two Frenchunen. Taking Morissot
by the arm he led him Il short distance
away and said in a low voice:
Quick! the password. Your comrade
will never know"
Morissot made no reply.
The Prussian then took Savage
aside and made the same proposal to
him.
NJ. Savage made no reply.
Then again found themselves side by
side.
The officer gave a command, and the
soldiers raised their arms.
BY chance, Morissot's glance fell upon
the basket of fish lying on the ground a
few PAGES away. The shining scales OF
the still living fish sparkled in the sum
light. In spite of himself his eyes filled
with tears and he stammered.
Goodbye, NJ. Salvage"
I'd. Savage responded:
Goodbye, NJ. Mnrissot.n
They shook hands. The officer cr,v.
fire."
The twelve reports rang out like one.
M. Savage fell like a block. Morissot,
who was taller. wavered. turned and
fell across his companion. face upward,
r. Hood of blood rushing from his
brelst.
The German gave u new order, where
upon his men marched away, but re-
turned presently with cords and stones,
which they attached To the feet of the
corpses.
Two soldiers took Morrissot by the
head and feet aud bore him to the river,
and two others followed with Savage.
The bodies, poised for an instant were
thrown into the stream and. describing
a curve as they fell, plunged feet fore
most into the current.
The water foamod and boiled, and
then became calm, while o few little
waves reached as far as the shore. The
sulaace was slightly stained with blood.
The officer, still serene and unrufled,
quietly remarked:
Now it is the turn of tho fishes"
Then, turning toward the house, he
noticed the basket Of fish on the grass.
He picked it up, examined it, smiled
and cried:
"Wilhelm!"
A soldier wearing . white apron ran
up ut his call, and the Prussian, throw
ing the fish at him, commanded:
FRY these for me while they are still
alive. They will be delicious"
Then he resumed his pipe.