Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-04-12
The Tears of Houssan


Copyright. 1906. by Mcclure, Phillips g. Co
1t was Just past midnight in the great
geological gardens when one Of the Gle
plants who had been nouding in sleep
suddenly opened his eyes to their wild
est extent and threw up his trunk and
sucked In the air With IL kissing orn
He looked down the long aisle past the
cages OF the lions and tigers with a
steady stare, and when the figure Of a
man came into view the great beast
uttered a grooming. coaXing sound.
The man came swiftly but quietly
forward, and the elephant encircled
Tim with his trunk and showed extray-
agant signs Of affection. The lions and
the tigers rose up to stare through thc
bars OF their cages at the intruder. Had
be been a stranger their growls and
roars would have brought the watch
maj In short order.
"Chanda, my dearly beloved, l have
come to talk With thee" whispered the
man to the elephant as he stroked his
trunk with careSsing hand. "Thcy said
they would kick me if they found me
about the place again, but l have riSkeu
that to talk With thee. Dost remember
how long ago it was, Chanda. that l
was brought here from Bombay to be
.hy keeper and thy master? Sixteen
long years have passed since that day.
We We're good friends from the start.
| treated thee we'll, and thou gavcst me
thy friendship. Sixteen long years,
Chanda, hath we been good friends,
and not Il quarrel during that time.
Thou hast been ailing, and l hath cured
thee. | hath been ailing, and thou hath
sy%mpathized With me. Is it not so,
dearly beloved?'
Chanda Rugged the man and made a
gurgling sound in his throat.
"And the other day, after sixteen
years-after 1 have become an old man
after the unbroken period Of friend
ship between us-the manager sent me
away at a days notice. 1t is true that
I drank too much Of the strong wine Of
the country, and that when Janviers Of
the lions made fun Of me I 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.
81 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 mai thou
might in time have a liking, but not for
Janvlers. 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 a moment as if asham-
ed and Inundated.
"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 l say I shall whisper in thy ear.
Listen to the words Of Houssan, be-
loved"
With hands smoothing and caressing
the great tapping ear the trainer wills
pered away for three or four minutes,
while Chanda stood so quiet that he
seemed turned to stone. Then the
%Whisperer drew back and raised his
| voina q littln opI ocl-o1.
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 putted the trunk. "'Tis for
thee and me, that we may be together
for years more. Make no bungle over
it. If 'tWere some IL clse-some one
who had not plotted against thy friend
and brother-a broken arm or a few
broken ribs might suffice, but with Jan
viers, no. Make sure, dearly beloved,
that it goes beyond that, else you Will
see me no more. I have said what l
have said and must go. If l were
caught here I should be treated in a
manner to humiliate me in thy sight.
One more caress, beloved, and then
go. Tomorrow night hope to sleep
at thy feet again"
When the man had glided away like
q ghost the elephant stood quietly for
five minutes. There was mischief III
his quietness. Then he began weaving
to and fro and 1inging his trunk about.
There was menace in the action. There
was no trumpeting; only q sound like
the Kissing Of q great snake.
Il have heard that sound in the for.
ests Of India" said n Of the tigers
to himself, land it always meant death
to something"
When morning came Janviers anne
with 1t. 1t was for him to feed and
water the great beast. He was in
Burly. impatient mood, and be did not
notice certain signs that would have
told him much.
Back with you, BRUTE" he shouted
rs he fourished the iron bar over Chan
la and threatened to bring it down.
A trunk shot forth like a serpent and