The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-03-15
The Tears of tlOussan

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copyright, 1906 by Mcclure, Phillips & Col
1t was just past midnight in the great
geological gardens when one of the ele-
plants who had been nodding in sleep
suddenly opened his eyes to their wild
est extent and threw up his trunk and
sucked in the air with a Kissing sound.
| He looked down the long aisle past the
cages of the lions and tigers with a
steady stare. and when the figure Of
| man came into view the great beast
| uttered grooming, coaxing sound.
The man came swiftly but quietly
forward, and the elephant encircled
him with his trunk and showed extrav-
| agant signs Of affection. The lions and
| the tigers rose up to stare through the
bars of their cages at the intruder. Had
he been a stranger their growls and
roars would have brought the watch
man in short order.
"Chanda, my dearly beloved, | have.
come to talk with thee whispered the
man to the elephant as he stroked his
trunk with caressing hand. 1'They said
they would kick me if they found me
about the place again, but have risked
that to talk with thee. Dost remember
how long ago it was, Chanda, that
was brought here from Bombay to be
thy keeper and thy master? Sixteen
long years have passed since that day.
We were good friends from the start.
/ treated thee we'll, and thou gavest me
thy friendship. Sixteen long years,
Chanda, hath we been good friends,
and not one quarrel during that time.
Thou hast been ailing, and hath cured
thee. I hath been ailing, and thou hath
sympathized with me. Is it not so,
dearly beloved?'
Chanda Rugged the man and made
gurgling sound in his throat.
"And the other day, after sixteen
years-after have become an old man
LATTER the unbroken period of friend
ship between us-the manager sent me
away at days notice. 1t is true that
/ drank too much of the strong wine OF
the country, and that when Janviers of
the. lions made fun Of me l drew my
knife and would have stabbed him.
''Then they discharged me-"
The elephant lifted the man clear OF
the ground with his trunk and swung
| him back and forth pendulum fashion.
The lions and tigers got up again to
look.
.I would not give place to any man,
Chanda, but to Janviers least of all.
He will be hard on thee He will prod
thee with the iron and beat thee with
bars He will be thy master instead of
thy friend For some other man thou
might in time have liking but not for
Janviers. 1t is four days since he took
: charge of thee. Hath he beaten thee
yet? Methinks there is a fresh wound
on this ear"
The elephant hung his head and rock
ed to and fro for moment as if asham-
ed and Inundated.
il "Dost want thy old friend and broth
er back, Chanda? Aye, thou dost, and
there Is a way. There is a way, and
but one way The watchmen are
asleep and the beasts are quiet, but
what say shall whisper in thy ear.
Listen to the words of Houssan. be-
:. loved"
With hands smoothing and caressing
, the great tapping ear the trainer whis-
pered away for three or four minutes,
seemed turned to stone. Then the
whisperer drew back and raised his
voice little and asked:
"Wilt thou do it, old friend--wilt
thou do it for thee and me?'
Again the elephant lifted the man
with his trunk and swung him to and
[ fro, and the sounds in his throat almost
seemed to form words
Brave old Chanda," whispered Hous
: san as he patted the trunk. "'Tis fol
{ thee and me. that we may be together
for years more. Make no bungle over
$ it. If 'twere some one else-some one
0 who had not plotted against thy friend
: and brother-a broken arm or few
: broken ribs might suffice, but with Jan
$ viers, no. Make sure, dearly beloved
$ that it goes beyond that, else you will
D see me no more. | have said what
= have ssaid and must go. If I wer,
n caught here | should be treated in
manner to .humiliate me in thy sight
One more caress, beloved, and then
CO. Tomorrow night hope to slee]
$ at thy feet again"
n When the man had glided away lik
r ghost the elephant stood quietly 70
e five minutes. There was mischief Il
q his uuietness Then he began weaving
) to and fro and flinging his trunk about
IS There was menace in the action. Their
q was no trumpeting; only sound lil
It the Kissing of great snake
g II have heard that sound in the fol
q ests of India" said one Of the tiger
Le to himself, .'and it always meant deaf
IL to something"
re When morning came Janviers cam
10 with it. 1t was for him to feed an
t. water the great beast. He was
Surly, impatient mood, and he did nc
notice certain signs that would hav
told him much.
i IL