The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-11

believe that thou dost know more of
 the fire than any one."
 Nello heard him in stupefied silence
 He could not believe that any one
 could say such a thing except in jest.
 yet he could not comprehend how any
 one could make jest at such a time.
 The whisper ran through the village that Nello had been seen in the mill yard after dark and that he bore BaaH Colgez a grudge for forbiddtng his in- tercourse with little Alois. No one
 charged him seriously with having set
 the ire: yet the villagers, seryile to
 their richest man and eager to hold
 his favor. gave grave looks and cold
 words to old Jehan Daas's grandson.
 Thou art cruel to the lad" said the
 miller's Vife. Sure he Is an innocent
 lad and a faithful one, and would never
 dream of such wickedness, however sore his heart might be-
 But because Baas Colgez knew that
 he was committing a great injustice he held to 1t grimly and ~stubbornly.
 It was 8 hard trial for-the lad to
 have the whole of his little world turn
 from him--especially hard in that
 snowbound. famine-stricken winter
 when the only light and warmth that could be found was by the village hearths, and when all drew nearer to
 each other, all to all, except to Nello
 and Patrasche.
 Then there arrived a man with a
 mule, who offered to take the milk in- to Antwerp. The burden that Patras- che had to draw became very light. He stopped every Nmorning at the old fa- Fmlliar doors and looked at them patti entIy No doubt it cost many a heart | a little pang to let the dog draw on hls l cart empty, but everybody desired to please Baas Colgez.
 The weather became wilder and cold CT with the approach of Christmas. Death entered the little hut and took
 away Jehan Daas. He had been only a | poor, paralyzed old man, who could not ' raise a hand in their help and defense 1 but he had loved them. A great soli-
 tudes and desolation closed around Nelio and Patrasche. They refused to be comforted as they followed the rough
 deal box to the white churchyard on the white winter day.
 The owner of the hut, a hard. miser- ly man. demanded the rent, which was overdue. He would grant no mercy and ! claimed every stick and stone, every
 poor pot and pan in the place. Let us go, Patrasche,' said Nello
 "Dear, dear old Patrasche. We witi 1 not wait to be kicked out"
 It was the twenty fourth day of De-
 cember when they departed and took l the accuHlOUleQ TOdu LO AulWcTp. Id- | trasche hung his head for he missed
 his harness and knew that something | waA wrong. At one of the cottages | Nello stopped timidly and asked | "Would you give Patrasche a crust l He is old and has had nothing since | yesterday morning"
 The woman shut the door hastily
 murmuring some vague words about
 wheat and rye being very dear. The l boy and the dog went on wearily | They asked no more.
 By slow and painful ways they reach l ed Antwerp. If I had anything that | could sell to get him breadw thought
 Nello, but he had nothing except his
 thin linen and serge that covered him scantily and his pair of wooden shoes l Patrasche seemed to understand. He nestled his nose in the lads hand as fl | to comfort him.
 1 to be proclaimed at noon. On the steps 1 of the building and in the entrance hal | was a crowd of youths--some of his | age some older, all with parents oI
 relatives or friends. His heart was | sick with fear as he went among them l holding PatrGsche close to him. The | great city bells clashed out the hour The doors of the inner hall opened | The eager panting throng rushed in. l It was made known that the selected | picture would be raised above the rest | on a wooden dals. A mist obscuret | Nello's sight, his head swan, his | limbs almost failed him.
 When his vision cleared he saw the | drawing raised on hign.
 It was his own!
 | A slow, sonorous voice was proclaim. | Ing aloud that the victory had been
 won by Stephen Klesslinger. son of q
 wharfnger of the burg of Antwerp. When Nello recovered consciousness | he was lying on the stones outside and Patrasche was licking his face and moaning over him. In the distance (
 throng of the youths of Antwerp were
 shouting around tn cir successful com
 rade and. escorting him with aeclama 1 tions to his home on the quay. ] The hnN ataa.narel | ta hlz feet nl