The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-18

bleak mountains that lost themselves in gray mists. e !
 seidem did thegfoot of man tread the desoIate spot. An eagle rose scream- ing ano-fiew off. complaining at the intrusion. They trod over quaktnR ground till they approached a great stone The poor COW lowed piteously as if she realized the terrors of the spot and knew that her fate was de- ctded.
 Kaspar had to turn away to hide his tears He gazed toward the defile through which they had entered where sharp ear could hear the distant growing and booming of the sea. Then he gazed hopelessly and in fear at the far peaks. around which coal black clouds and settled and from which there came at times a mighty murmuring as If great voices were lamenting and accusing.
 When he turned around again he saw that Wilm Fake had-tied the cow to the stone and stood with uplifted ax, in the act of feiling the poor creature.
 The sight was too much for him, de- spite his resolves always to accede to every wish s'of his companion. He threw himself to his knees beforeNhis partner and exclaimed. as he held up his hands:
 "For the sake of the good God. II the beast! Spare yourself and me! Spare your soul! Spare your lifei"
 Seeing that Fake did not stir, his voice assumed a despairifig tone and he begged: .u fsEEk@
 "If you must tempt God, wait till tomorrow and kill some other animal instead of our dear cowPi -.ss
 'Kaspar, are you madT' yelled Wiim, glaring like madman. and without h Ia oN stQhAl1 the COW and starve?" -~- You shall not starve." said Kaspar. his face becoming resolute and strong. "So long as have hands you shall not starye, will work for you from morning ti1i night. Only do not throw away your souls salvation and do not Kill the poor creature.
 "Then take the ax and split my head open" said Fake. T will not stir from this place till have what de- sire.s Can you lift the treasures of the Carmilhan for me? Can your hands. earn more than the miserable daily necessities? No! But your hands can end my pain and search. Strike! Make me the victim"
 "WiIm," said Kaspar. weeping. and relapsing into the old. helpless condi- tion, "Wilm, kill the COW, kill me! do not care. It is only for your saliva ton dnd. your soul that I am in fear! See! This stone here Is the old altar of the Picts. and the sacrifice that yod are going to offer belongs to the powers of the darkness" trr
 "I know nothing of those things answered Fake. laughing wildly. and as one who is determined to hear noth ing that might change his resolution, "Kaspar, you are mad. and will make me mad But here" he continued, hurling the ax from him and picking up the knife that lay on the stone. Here! Keep the COW and lose mey' He made motion as If to stab him self
 Kaspar threw himself on hls friend with an unaoeustomed swiftness of thought and action born of the moment. He tore the knife from his grasp. ran to the ax, swung 1t high and brought 1t down with such force on the beloved cows head that the animal fell dead at its masters feet without a groan.
 A fierce flash of lightning. accom- panied by single fearsomA crash of thunder, followed the act. Fake looked at his friend Sas a man would marvel at a child that had dared to do what he had not ventured himself.
 Strumpf seemed equally unmindful of the thunder and needless of his part ner's astonishment. Without a word he began to skin the COW. Wilm had to force hllnsen To assist. He did it with reluctance that was as great as had been his previous haste and de- termination,
 A storm seemed to have centered it. self over their very heads While they worked over. the bloody carcass the mountains voileyed back the voIleys of thunder and binding lightnlngs flash ed around the stones. The wind screamed SO fiereely through the val ley that the messy plains and the black gorges seemed to scream back in re- ply.
 Roth men were drtppsnr wifh rain