Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-06-27
minute-put his hands to his eyes, and

wept like child.
He had walked about an hour, when
the trotting of horse reused him from
his revery. He listened. "It is singu-
lar, " said he to himself "I should say
that that was the trot of Bretonne. |"
He heard a neighing- stopped
turned round-the animal approached.
What was his surprise 1t was Bre-
tonne, mounted by the old Pierre. He
stood stupefed. "Ah what |" said
he; my mare with thee T.
MY dear JEROME" said Pierre,
laughing loudly at seeing the astonish-
ment of poor Jerome; "did I not tell
thee that she would not escape me
The dear major has had pity on me,
and after examining Bretonne well,
found that she was good for nothing
but to carry corn to the MILL"
Thou liest, old fool" said Jerome !;
the major never said such thing of
the beast that served so we'll under his
own eyes,"
"How happens it, then," replied
Pierre, "that he has given her to me p'
Jerome made a gesture of impatience,
Pierre continued in a raillery but
Jerome did not say word, his features
were contracted with rage, and from
time to time long, doleful sighs es-
capped from his breast.
The night was dark the rain fell,
the road was distinguished with diff
Guilty. They arrived at spot where q
road crossed from it leading to
Jerome's home. Deep ravines were on
the right and left. Pierre stopped.
"Come," said he, addressing himself
to the mare and Jerome, "make your
adieux to one another. Poor beast,
take leave of thine master"
"The malicious wretch % cried
Jerome, in a voice of thunder, as he
raised his whip over the head of the old
horse jockey, who, terrified, reined the
mare backward, crying out, Jerome
Bretonne-wait."
Suddenly the mare slipped, she was
on the brink of the ravlne. Jerome
darted forward, seized the bride.
Pierre tried to keep his seat, but he
fell, rolled into the ravine, crying,
"Jerome ! Jeromel Jerome! pardon
tho mare"
The voice became more distant, and
then was heard no more. Jerome stood
there, on the brink, pale, immovahle,
listening to the accents OF that dying
voice, that re-echoed on his troubled
mind. A horrible silence then per-
vaded through the glen; and he listened
again. A short time after no voice was
heard; /; he shuddered, and an icy cold
ness ran through his veins in agony he
clasped his hands he then pressed
them to his forehead.
Miserable wretch that am p ex-
claimed he in 1nournful voice CT
shall be taken as a murderer Pierre !!
Pierre |" but he called in vain.
At that moment he heard the sound
of the feet of many horses. He started
ACROSS the nelds-cleared the hedges,
the bitches. He ran long way with
out any definite object in view at
length, exhausted, he fell half-dead
near hayrick, horrible spasms affected
his limbs, for the word murderer"
sounded in his ears, and the image of a
scaffold was before him.
The story is just concluded. Pierre
had only received some contusions in
his fall, and from those the reader no
doubt rejoices at his suffering. Though
stunned at first, he at last got up, and
went to Jerome's house, where the
mare had arrived before him. The fam
lily, at first dreadfully frightened, were
consoled by Pierre. Then at twilight,
Jerome ventured to steal to his hut, and
Joy succeeded anguish when he learnt
that Pierre was still alive, and that the
mare still belonged to himself, for the
major had made him a present of her.
He embraced his family, his mare, and
even the householder.