Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1871-01-26
dangerous, and a few were sunk in the

EulA4lllG tiiNliA t'dcoiNiiaNNlN NAiNl
passed. >
| was surprised. Fabre was so com
pletely the soldier, that, till that moment
it had never occurred to me to question
his motive for entering the army. Then
it flashed across me- ,tiE
Y" You ere eonscript perhaps" The
thought seemed to have found uttermce
almost involuntarily. | was vexed with
myself, fearful he might be offended. dc
had always maintained degree OF renc-
ence as TO his personal history,
If NJ 'sieu has any interest in the mt
ter, he shall hear" Fabre replied. " L is
simple story, scarcely worth the tell
! ing" -----'.--,--
| Relieved from the fear of having given
! offence, l assured him, with perfect ksl-
| cerity, should feel an interest in all he
chose to tell me. We were now in a
| boulevard where there were shady trees,
! and seats at intervals
Let us sit down, 'then,' Fabre said
at is cool here AND he lifted his mill
| tary cap. M'sieu shall hear all, 1t he
pleases.H gHT q 5E Ni .l%
I'VE were only peasants" he began, as
| we sat down under the acacia trees and
| lighted our cigars ave were born a
few miles from Folk, in Ariege, aad my
| father, and nv iather's father, before him
| My father sas yine-dTcsser When my
| brother Pierre was a mere youth, and |
! little more than child, my father met
with an accident that lamed~ him; and
after that he Was unable to work at the
| vines, and was glad to take any odd JOBS
that came to hand. Pierre did not count
for much he was idle, and had a rowing
disposition. Instead of helping, he was
| always getting into trouble"
was a strong, well-grown lad, and
had no fear Of work, and was ambitious
You will smile, hLsieu What has a
peasant to do with amiIitiont you will
| say All, well! the hearts of rich AMI
poor are much alike, suppose.
Il had set my heart on one day being
| a proprietor; and when went to work in
| the vineyard, | said to myself will enc
day have vineyard Of my own. ] had 10
labor hard, not only to keep myself, but to
help my poor old father BY working
early and late, and by a bit of carpenter,
ing took up at odd hours, ! not only kept
the pot boiling, but, week by week, con
trived to hay little by. Each vintage
| added to my store, for had an endin view,
you see, M'sieu.
In few years expected to have saved
enough TO buy horse and cart. Rather
| could not do much among the vines, but
| he could drive cart, and earn money AS a
| carrier This would be beginning
| After that we would be able to hire hit
| of garden ground, and, when father 10
longer needed my help, ] Woyld bring
| Toinette home. Sic would feed poultTy
| and attend to the garden. We could send
poultry and vegetables to the market, at
Folk, in the cart, and, so it would go On
| by degrees, till at last should find myself
! master Of vinegard Oh, it WAS t'ass
tiful plan of life had laid down 4 thing
to laugh at--was it not, NJ sieuy"
"T0inette and | had been plHtcllows
| when we were children, and Whenever |
pictured q home of my own, il was with
| Toinette there | dare say thagg were
| prettier girls in the village ] do NOT know
| only know that loved her, and love is
not critical,
Years went on, and grew from youth
| to manhood The little stGre accumulated
| slowly for you see ii was but tes francs
| here and there that | could save. But
thought when father had the carrying
| business, VIC should get ON rapidly Toi-
nctte listened to. all NY projects and
| encouraged me in what was endeayoring
to do. was now nearly twenty five, and
| | had all but few francs OF the sun
had been working and saving nine years to
| gain, Nine long years
Il knew ! should be able to cam the
rest of the money wanted before the win
| ter was over. Toinette was weaving some
pretty scarlet fringe to trim the harness
Of the horse I was going to buy, She
was to meet me on the road home rtm
Folk, and have the first ride in the new
cart ; and when father was fairly started
| as a carrier, | was TO speak to the ure
about our marriage. We had settled all,
| you see.
"Were you ever in our part If the
country, M'sieu? No Ali it is gnnd
| and beautiful there, / There. instead Of
this dead level, we have the mountains,
and the river flashes along in rapid CIR
| rent, foamng and dashing against he
rocks when the SHOWS are melting frm
the upper mountains On the opposte
| side Of the river to where we lived, was
an old ruined castle, on the summit fa
| rounded hill. The ascent to tnc GAe
was planted with trees, and wasa fav5ft
walk. Here, often, in the long sun IIe,
rare holidays, Toinette and used to wan
der talking about our future that was t.
| be spent togcther-always together Or
we used to sit beneath The old walls over.
| looking the river, and were as hap as
the birds that few IN and out Of IT, ivy
| over our heads.
T Fabre paused for awhile Then draw.
| ing the back of his hand across his brow,
] Il. 4. : ht. pg1.
! "Just for the moment NJ sieu, il Almost
seemed TO me that ] could hear the mur.
| mur of the river and Toinette's Yoict that
was,J sweet as the lapse OF waters, hr The
song of birds--at least il was 80 q my
| ears.
When we have fixed in our mind, the
way we will 60 in life, It seems tina the
! good God-for our benefit no d0lbt--
! stops us, and turns our steps into offer
| ent path altogether The timt for
drawing for the CONSUMPTION wa ap.
preaching, but it gave me no conesrn ]
/ had drawn a lucky number befor and
should do so again, ! made no doutt |
had great faith in my luck, becaIe all
had gone so well with me hitherto
when the day came, Pierre and J. and
/ the other young men Of the distrF.. as
! sembied 70 draw the numbers. Ytieu. ]
| thought the earth had given way from be
| meath my feet when the number | held
| was read out | have no doubt my taecks
were blanched, for the sergeant Whispered
coward AZ he passed me | think when
we were before stopol he recaIid his
word.
II was not a coward in the sense h.
meant But it is no light thing to have