Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1891 — FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH. [ARTICLE]

FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.

Ony de lfoapMsant In the Strand Magxxine. Paris was blockaded—famished — at the point of death. Even the sparrows on the house tops were few and far between, and the very sewers were in danger of becoming depopulated. People ate anything they oould get. ' ■' M. Morisot, watchmaker bv trade, was walking early one bright January morning down the boulevards, his hands in the pocket? of his overcoat, feeling hungry and depressed, when be unexpectedly ran against a triend. He recognized M. Sauvage, ah oldtime chum of the riverside. Every Sunday before the. war Morisot used to start at daybreak with his bamboo fishing rod in his hand, his tin bait-and-taekle box upon his back. He used to take the train to Co! ombes and to walk from thereto the Island of Maranthe. No sooner had he arrived at the river than he used to begin to fish and continue fishing till evening. Here every Sunday he used to meet M. Sauvage a lineudraDer from Paris, but stout and jovial withal, as keen a fisherman moreover,“as he was himself. Often they would sit side by side, their feet dangling over the water, for half a dav at a time, and say scarcely a little by little they became'mends. Sometimes they never spoke at all; occasionally they launched out into conversation but they understood each other perfictly without its aid for their tastes and ideas were the same. On a spring morning in the bright sunshine, when the light and delicate mist hovered over the river, and these two mad fishermen enjoyed a fouetaste of real summer weather Morisot would say to his neighbor: “Hein! not bad, eh?" And Sauvage would say: “I know nothing to beat it." This interchange of sentiments was quite enough to engender mutual understanding and esteem. . In autumn, toward evening, when the setting sun reddened the sky and cast shadows of the fleeting clouds over the water ; when the whole horizon was lighted up and the figures of these two friends were illuminated as with fire; when the russet brown of the trees was lightly tinged with gold, and the trees themselves shivered with a wintry shake, M. Sauvage would smile at M. Morisot and say, “what a sight, eh?" And M. Morisot, without even raising his eyes from his float, would answer, “Better than the boulevards, heln!" This morning, as soon as they had recognized each other, they shook hands warmly, quite overcome at meeting each other under such different circumstances; M. Sauvage sighed and murmured, “A nice state of things. ” M. Morisot, gloomy and sad, answered, “And what weather! Today is New Year's day." The sky. in fact, was clear, bright and beautiful.

They began to walk along, sorrowful and pensive. Said Morisot, “And our fishing, eh? What times we used to have!" Sauvage replied, “When shall we have them again?" They went into a little case and had a glass of absinthe, and then started again on their walk. < They stopped at another case for another glass. When they came out again they were slightly dazed, like people who had fasted long and then partaken too freely. It was lovely weather; a soft breeze fanned their faces. M. Sauvage. upon whom the fresh breeze was beginning to take effect, suddenly said: “Suppose we were to go?" “Go’where?" , “Why. fishing!". “But where?* 7 “To our island, of course. The French outposts are at Colombes. I know Col. Dumoulin; he will let us passthrough easily enough." Morisot trembled with delight at the very idea “All right: I'm your man.’ They separated to fetch their rods. Au hoi r afterward they were walking fa>t along the high road toward the town commanded by Col. Dumoulin. He smiied at their request, but j granted it, and they went on their | way rejoicing in the possession of the 1 password. Soon had crossed the lines. ■ passed through deserted Colombes, and found themselves in the vineyard leading down to the river. It was about 11 o'clock. On the other side of the village of Ageuteuil seemed as if it were death j The hills of Ogremont and Saumons commanded the whole country road, j The great plain stretching out as far as Nanterne was empty as air. Nothing in sight but cherry trees and stretches of gray soil. I M. Sauvage pointed with his finger to the heights above and said: "The Prussians are up there;"and a vague sense of uneasiness seized upon the two friends. j The Prussians! They had never set eyes upon them, but for months! past they had felt their presence near, encircling their beloved Paris, ruining their beloved France, pillaging, massaereing, insatiable, invincible, invisible, all-powerful, and as they thought on them a sort of superstitious terror seems to mingle with the hate they bore toward their unknown conquerors. Morisot murmured: “Suppose we were to meet them?” And Sauvage replied, with the instinctive gallantry of the Parisian: “Well, we would offer them some of out fish for supper. ” . All the same the}' hesitated before venturing into the country, intimidated as they were by the all-per-vading silence. ’ Eventually M. Sauvage plucked up

oourage. “Come along, let’s make a start; but we must be cautious." They went through the vineyard, bent double, crawKng along from bush to bush, ears and eyes upon the alert. ;; , - - Only one strip of ground lay between them and the river. They began to run, and when 'they reached the bank they crouched down among the dry reeds far shelter. Morisot laid his ear to the ground to listen for the sound of footsteps, but he could hear nothing. They were alone, quite alone; gradually they felt reassured and began to fish. The deserted island „of Maranthe hid them from the opposite shore. The little restaurant was closed and looked as if it had been neglected for years. M. Sauvage caught the first gudgeon, M. Morisot the second. And every minute they pulled up their lines with a little silver object dangling and struggling on their hook. Truly a miraculous draught of fishes. As the fish were caught they were put in a net which floated in the water at their feet. They positively reveled in enjoyment of a long-for-bidden sport. ~ The sun shone warm upon their backs. They heard nothing—they thought of nothing—the rest of the world was as nothing to them. They simply fished. Suddenly a smothered sound, as it were under ground, made the earth tremble. The guns had recommenced firing. Morisot, turned his head and saw above the bank faraway to the left the vast shadow of Mount Valerien and over it the white wreath of smoko from the gun which had just been fired. Then a jet of flume burst forth from the fortress in answer, a moment later followed by another explosion. Then others, till every second, as it seemed, the mountain breathed out death and the white smoke formed a funeral pall above it. M. Sauvage shrugged his shoulders. “They are beginning again,” he said. Lg..... ' j

M. Morisot, anxiously watching his float bob up and down, was suddenly seized with rage against the belligerents arid growled out: “How idiotic to kill one another like that.” M. Sauvage. It’s worse than the brute beasts. M. Morisot, who has iust hooked a bleak, said: “And to think that it will always be thus so long as there are such things as governments. M. Sauvage stopped him: The republic would not have declared war.” M. Morisot, in his turn: “With kings we have foreign wars) with the republic we have civil wars.” Then in a friendly way they began to discuss politics with the calm common sense of reasonable and peaceloving men. agreeing on the point that no one would ever be free. And Mont Valerien thundered unceasingly, demolishing with its cannon baits French houses, crushing out French lives, ruining many a dream,many a joy, many a nope deferred, wrecking much happiness and bringing to the hearts of women, girls and mothers in France and elsewhere sorrow and suffering which would never have an end. “It’s life,” said M. Morisot. “Say, rather, that it’s death.” said M. Sauvage. They started, scared out of their lives;* as they felt that some one was walking close behind them. Turning around, they saw four men—four tall, bearded men,dressed as servant in livery, and wearing flat caps upon their heads. These men were covering the two fishermen with rifles. □ The rods dropped from their frightened hands and floated aimlessly down the river. In an instant the Frenchmen were seized, bound thrown into a boat and ferried over to the island. Behind the house they had thought uninhabited was a picket of Prussian soldiers. A hairy giant, who was sitting astride a chair, and smoking porcelain pipe, asked them in excellent French if they had good sport. A soldier placed at the feet of the officer the net full of fish which he had brought away with him. “Not bad, I see, but we have other fish to fry. Listen, and don't alarm yourselves. You are a couple of French spies sent out to watch my movements disguised as fishermen. I take vou prisoner and I order you to be shot. You have fallen into my hands —so much the worse for you. It is the fortune of war. In as much however, as you- came through the lines you are certainly in possession of the pass-word. Otherwise you could not get back again. Give me the word and I will let you go.” * The two friends, livid with fear, stood side by side, their hands nervously twitching, but they answered not a word. The Jofficer continued: “No one need ever know’ it. You will go home quietly and you secret will go with you. If you refuse it is death for you both, and that instantly. Take your choice.” They neither spoke nor moved. «, The Prussian calmly pointed to the river and said: “"Reflect, in five minutes you will £e jt the bottom of that water. I suppose you have families?" i Mont Valarien thundered unceasingly. ! The two Frenchmen stood perfect ; ly still and silent. * The officer gave an order in German. Then he moved 'his chair farther away from the prisoners, and a dozen soldiers drew up in line twenty paces off. “I will give you one minute,” he said, “not one second more.” He got up leisurely and approached the two Frenchmen. He took Morisot by the arm and said, in an undertone: “Quick! Give me the word.

Your friend will know nothing. 1 will appear to give way." M. Morisot aid not answer. •The Prussian M. Sauvage aside and said the same thing to him. M. Sauvage did not answer. • They found themselves once more side by side. c - The officer gave another order: the soldiers raised their guns. By accident Morisot’s glance fell upon the net full of fish on the ground a few steps off. A ray of suifshine lit up their glittering bodies, and a sudden* weakuess came over him. “Good-by. M. Sauvage," be whispered. “Good-bv, M. Morisot," replied M. Sauvage. They pressed each other's hands, trembling from head to foot. “Fire!” said the officer. M, Sauvage fell dead on his face. M. Morisot, of stronger build, staggered, stumbled and then fell right across the body of his friend, with his face turned upward to the sky. his breast riddled with bails. The Prussian gave another order His men dispersed for a moment, returning with cords and stones. They tied the stones to the feet oi the dead Frenchmen, and carried them down to the river. Mont Valerien thundered unerase ingly. Two soldiers took Morisot by tlie head and feet. Two others did tho same to Sauvage, The bodies swung 4o=a®d fro, were launched into space, described a curve, and plunged feet first into the river. The water bubbled, boiled, then calmed down, and the little wavelets tinged with red, -circled gently toward the. bank. The officer, impassive as ever, said “It is the fishes’ turn now.” His eyes fell upon the gudgeon lying on the grass. He picked them up and called out: “Wilhelm. A soldier in a white cap appeared. He threw fish toward him. ‘ ; Frv these little animals for me at once, while they are still alive and kicking. They will be delicious. Then he began smoking again.