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

CA"hiili iiAB hCl HBc, phsSeu on. Iht
day advanced, and the fair began TO be
less crowded ; anxiety, impatience, and
despair were successfully depicted OF
Jerome's face. With his eyes bent
down, and his arms folded, he Thought
ofhis unhappy family. When he raised
his head, he saw Pierre Marcel standing
before him, with smile of diabolica
expression.
All, all = said he, "it seems there
are not many connoisseurs in horse.
flesh here to-day, and the mare has q
prospect of belonging TO me.
" Not yet, said jerome, in mourn.
full voice cit is still an hour before
sunset.
" Very well, retorted Pierre, | will
return, and | know an amateurwho will
make thee sell her.
Who, then?" demanded Jerome.
" Parblewl" said Pierre, ga bailiff
With ham one is sure not to find ready
| purchaser.
Jerome, in an agony of rage, struck
the ground with the end of his whip.
Gently, Master Jerome, gently, -
replied the malignant Pierre. 81 will
return in half an hour, when / shall ex-
4 pect the mare or my money, or, if thou
likest better, thyself.
Jerome tried different parts of the
falr, but he spoke to the dealers in
vain some offered him the amount of
his debt to Pierre, others looked at the
mare, shrugged their shoulders, and
made no offer at all.
He returned to his station sad and
melancholy; n man was standing be-
fore him; it was again the Norman
horse-dealer, with his sardonic smile.
"Well, jerome, said the old man,
can We now deal? The hour is near"
Z 1t must be SO, said jerome, with
much of the fiend in his manner.
Come, come !" said Pierre; 81 am
not so bad as thou thinkest me. The
animal is good, though rather old she
has been valuable in her day.
Pnblew the best trotter in the
country, and thepearl of the regiment "
eyes, yes, said Pierre " chat was
her character fifteen years ago: since
then it IS somewhat changed. Come,
Jerome thou owest ten louis-I will
give thee twelve. Is the beast mine ?"
Twelve louis My poor mare -
said Jerome; "must / sell her for
twelve louis? The mare that carried
me through all my campaigns, and has
never belonged to. another man !
Twelve louis - said Jerome, again
striking his forehead.
mot a penny more-but we will
have drink together Come - aud
the old jocky held out his dry, wrinkled
hand.
Twelve louis p repeated Jerome,
with a mournful sigh.
Not a sou more, said Pierre,
"decide at once whether / must order
the auctioneer to sell her or not.
"Well and the soldier made an
|, effort to look unconcerned- poor
beast = said he--and he caressed Bre-
tonne. are we to separate thus?"
Come, come, Jerome = said
Pierre; do not weep; if thou pre-
ferest thy mare to thy family, keep her
| will take thy cottage"
/ Jerome turned toward Pierre, looked
at him scornfully, and raised his hand.
"Strike !" said theother, with a ban
tering air.
The arm was balanced in the air, and
ready to fall it stopped short
-" Twelve louis poor beast r repeat
ed he, In a muttering voice.
" No more, said Pierre, with great
indifference.
He was about to accept the offer.
when manly voice called out, " | will
give fifteen for her.
Jerome and Pierre looked up. A
gentleman stood near them his black
cravat, blue riding-coat, with a red
ribbon attached to the button hole, told
that he was a soldier.
Fifteen = exclaimed Pierre, no long
er smiling.
" Yes, Fifteen repeated the gentle
man with the red ribbon +; /" is it too
much for the charger Of an old soldier,
who has seen service p
What my capt-commandant p
stammered Jerome, touching his hat
lyon know Bretonne ?"
"And her rider, Jerome Kerleeof the
Fifth Chasseurs," said the gentleman.
All what T. added he, ina grave tone,
"thou thinkest, then, to part from that
pOorbeast.
II must be SO, said Jerome, hold
ing down his head, and signing. " So
noble, So brave an animal Is it not
true, my maior?' exclaimed the old
soldier, addressing the officer boldly.
"You know her-who has not known
her? Never stumbling over the balls
on the field of battle, dashing forward
in face # the lannon's mouth, crossing
rivers like fish. And so intelligent
knowing the enemy a league of, ma
neuyering under me when | was too
/ heavily pressed-good, faithful, loyin
beast When | was endorsed and left
for dead ON the field at Eylau, she re
NAMED by my side, licked my wound,
and, by kicking, kept off the wolves
and the next day, by her neighing,
I called some one to my assistance -
Jerome could not continue the idea of
their approaching separation ST ppped
him. He was silent for moment.
4" Take her, my major, take her You
know her and will take care of her
take her.
For fifteen louis p said themaior.