River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-06-19
A FRENCH HORSE FAIR.

EhENNU NURSE fAIhs
] was looking o. day at a print of a
comtry-man selling horse, which was
hung up in the cafe of small auberge
where was seated in company with an
intelligent young man, who said to me,
"1hat print reminds me of the inter
esting story connected with tit hap
pened at a fair in this place few
years ago"
pressed him to relate it to me. and
ordered in IA 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; 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
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'ssuffering coun-
tenance few seconds. "Gt is time
it is the Angelus.
She started in her turn.
Eh what, already ?" said she.
And both again relapsed into that
silent thoughtfulness. The neighing
of horse was heard. The woman
gave conyulsiye movement, sighed
heavily, and placed her handkerchief
before her eyes.
Poor Bretonne !" said she, and
burst into tears. "Poor Bretonne We
must separate, and never see her
more"
Yes, 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 become the property
of that Norman horse-dealer
mo, by heaven he shall not have
thee yet, said he, sorrowfully 10 his
wife; "What am to do? must pay
him. / believe in my soul that the old
sorcerer has cast a spell over me Out
of the eight fine horses that bought
from the fair, six are dead from the
epidemic; | was compelled to sell the
other two for less than ] gave for them,
10 meet my engagements. Poor Bre-
tonne alone remains to pay my debt to
the old miser, who laughs mt my feel
ings. Oh, | hate him T.
The man put on his large felt hat,
lighted his pipe, and proceeded to the
stable.
The mare, at the sight Of her master,
Weighed, and turned round as if 10 ca
ress him. He saddled her in silence,
tied wisp Of straw to her tail, and
putting ON the bride, led her out of
the stable, endeayoring 81 move off
without being noticed but his wife
and children were nj the door they
wcpt over the poor beast, who seemed
Ia recognize and return their foudness-
es. The father, with his hand resting
on her name, silently contemplated the
touching scene In moment he ex-
claimed " Away, children, be orr
and mounted the mare and like man
who had suddenly taken desperate
resolution. set of ut gallop.
lie came to the high road when
long string of horses passed. tel 10y
Pierre Marcel. who, when he perceived
the other unhappy horse-healer. said,
IN "A hooking tone, Ha, Jerome has
brought me old Bretomc, tosdupre our
accounts.
No, old robber, would rather give
her for nothing TO some other person.
Very we'll. then. thou hast brought
me thine own body have warrant
against thee. and the mare or thyself
I this day ! am determined to have.
Neither one nor the other, | hope.
ami Jerome passed the old horse-dealer.
WHO chuckled aud cracked his whip
most maliciously.
Horses arrived at the fair i'm great
numbers. jerome stood at the head of
/ his mare, awaiting the inspection of the
u kuewiug-luoking buyers who PASSED
\ between the rows If horses that were
\ drawn up IA close array hut AN PASSED
old Bretoune with indifference Tor the