Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/290

284 "Then we have the same destination, only I travel by water and he goes by land."

Just then the boys ran into the room; John and Willie showed the gamekeeper a buzzard that Orel had shot, and the latter told his father that they had been at the dam and had seen crazy Victorka.

"Is that poor creature still alive?" wondered Mr. Beyer.

"Yes, indeed, though it would be better if she were under the ground," replied Grandmother. "But she is failing fast; it is very seldom that we hear her sing, except on bright moonlight nights."

"But she still sits by the dam and looks into the water, often till after midnight," replied the gamekeeper. Yesterday I went past her; she was breaking off willow twigs and throwing them over the dam into the water; it was late, I asked: "What are you doing here?" She made noreply. I repeated the question. She turned, looked at me, and her eyes flashed. I thought she was going to spring upon me; but she must have recognized me, for she turned away and began again to cast twig after twig into the water. One cannot do anything with her. I feel sorry for her and should be glad to know that her miserable life is ended, and yet if I did not see her at the dam, and hear her song when I watch in the night, I should miss her and feel lonely," said the gamekeeper holding the buzzard in his hand.

"When a person becomes accustomed to a particular object it is hard to give it up," replied Mr. Beyer, putting a bit of glowing fungus into his short, wired clay pipe, and after taking several