Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/352

 and prayed for me, will the Lord God send down brimstone,” and he sobbed aloud.

Again said the mayor “Take it not so to heart, pantata, perhaps your son will grow wiser, and all will yet be well.”

“Not take it to heart! Already it is late, dear neighbour, already it is quite pitch dark in those chambers, ay, it is dark there in broad daylight.” And here it seemed again as though he once more came to himself a little.

And not long after this he said “I know what would do me good for this one day, and where I could sleep. If some one would lead me to the burial ground to the grave of my father. But where is there any to be found to lead me thither. There is not one.”

“If you wish it, pantata, we will go at once,” said Vena. “I will conduct you thither, I will stay with you there as long as you please.”

“So be it, so be it,” said Loyka, and laughed, and looked from one to another and in fact allowed himself to be conducted by Vena in the direction of the cemetery. Almost all that group of neighbours followed him at a few paces distance, and accompanied him to the outskirts of the village.

And Loyka went with Vena to the burial ground.

But close behind them, even to the burial ground itself, went two small souls in great sorrow and tribulation they were Frank and Staza.