Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-06-17
A FRENCH HORSE FAIR.

n
Twas looking one day at a print of a
country-man selling a horse, which was
hung up in the cafe of a small auberge
where was seated in company with an
intelligent young man, who said to me,
ssThat print reminds me Of the inter
esting story connected with tit hap
pened at a fair in this place few
years ago.
I pressed him to relate it to me, and
ordered in bottle of the best Bordeaux
in the house, to show my sense Of his
courtesy.
One gloomy autumn evening, two
persons were seated, silent and sad,
before an immense hearth, the fire
gradually becoming extinct; a very
pale and uncertain light was in the
room; an instantaneous brighter light
at times reflected on those countenances;
they glanced from one to the other, and
during these momentary coruscations
one would have said, looking at them,
that two spectres had come there to
warm their limbs, chilled by the icy
GOODNESS of the tomb.
A clock sounded-the man started,
and then sighed heavily. He was a
man in the prime of life; with manly
features, stalwart frame, and an ardent,
searching eye.
"Catherine,' said he, with an effort,
after regarded his wife's suffering coun-
tenance few seconds. cit is time
it is the Angelus.' %
She started in her turn.
Eth what, already ?" said she.
And both again relapsed into that
silent thoughtfulness. The neighing
of horse was heard The woman
gave convulsive movement, sighed
heavily, and placed her handkerchief
before her eyes.
Poor Bretonner p said she, and
burst into tears. "Poor Bretonne we
must separate, and never see her
morer'
ssYes," said the man, in mournful
tone, &" tomorrow she will have another
master, and even now she does not be-
long to me. Pierre Marcel, whom
heaven confound, is there waiting for
her. Hated Norman! Poor beast,
after having done me so much service,
and escaped the perils of twenty cam
paigns, you are to bee ONE the property
of that Norman householder.
'sNo, by heaven! he shall not have
thee yet, said he, sorrowfully to his
wife; "What am to do? Unjust pay
him. [ believe in my soul that the old
sorcerer has cast spell over me Out
OF the eight fine horses that I bought
from the fair, six are dead from the
epidemic; [ was compelled to sell the
other two for less than [ gave for them,
to meet my engagements. Poor Bre-
tonne alone remains to pay my debt to
the old miser, who laughs at my feel
ings. Oh, I hate him p
The man put on his large felt hat,
lighted his pipe, and proceeded to the
stable
The mare, at the sight of her master,
neighed, and turned round as If to ca
ress him. He saddled her In silence,
tied wisp of stray to her tail, and
putting on the bride, led her out of
the stable, endeavoring to move off
without being noticed but his wife
and children were at the door !; they
wept over the poor beast, who seemed
to recognize and return their fondness-
es. The father, with his hand resting
on her name, silently contemplated the
touching scene. In moment he ex-
claimed, Away, children, be Off"
and mounted the mare !; and like man
who had suddenly taken desperate
resolution, set off at gallop.
He came to the high road, when a
long string of horses passed, led by
Pierre Marcel, who, when he perceived
the other unhappy householder, said,
in hooking tone, Ha, jerome has
brought me old Bretonne, to square our
accounts.
"No, old robber, would rather give
her for nothing to some other person:
every well, then, thou hast brought
me thine own body [ have a warrant
against thee, and the mare or myself
this day am determined to have.
Neither one nor the other, [ hope,
and Jerome passed the old householder,
who chuckled and cracked his whip
most maliciously.
Horses arrived at the fair in great
numbers. Jerome stood at the head of
his mare, awaiting the inspection of the
knowing looking buyers who passed
between the rows Of horses that were
drawn up in close array but all passed
old Bretonne with indifference for the
moor beast had a dIHl eve and altOoeth-