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

minute-put his hands to his ewes. and
wept like a child
He had walked about an hour. when
the trotting of horse reused him from
his revery. He listened sit singu-
lar" said he TO himself, II should saw
that that was the trot of Bretonne.H
He heard nightingale stopped
turned round-the animal approached.
What was his surprise 1T was Bre-
tonne, mounted by the old Pierre. He
stood stupefied. "Ah! what !" said
he my mare with thee !"
My dear Jerome" said Pierre,
laughing loudly at seeing the astonish-
ment of poor jerome "did / 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 Hest, old fool, " said Jerome /:
"the major never said such a thing of
the beast that served so well under his
own eyes"
Glow happens it them" replied
iCtt tillt nc Nus gwen ntf 10 me
Jerome made gesture of impotence.
Pierre continued in raillery but Je-
rome did not say word, his features
were contracted with rage, and from
time to time long, doleful signs es-
capped from his breast.
The night was dark the rain fell.
the road was distinguished with diff
Guilty. They arrived at spot where
road crossed from it leading to Je-
romes home. Deep ravines were on
the right and left. Pierre stopped.
Come said he, addressing himself
to the mare and Jerome, make your
adleuX to one another Poor beast,
take leave of thine old MASTER
The malicious wretch y cried Je-
rome, in voice of thunder, as he
raised his whip over the head of the
old horse jockey, who, terrified, refined
the mare backward, crying out, "Je-
rome -Bretonne-
suddenly the mare slipped, she was
ON the brink of the ravine. jerome
darted forward, seized the bride.
Pierre tried to keep his seat. but he
fell, rolled into the ravine, crying, "Je-
rome Jerome pardon-the mare"
The voice became more distant, and
then was heard no more. Jerome stood
there ON the brink, pale, immovable,
listening to the accents of that dying
voice, that re-echoed on his troubled
mind. Ahorrible silence then pervaded
the glen and he listened again. A
short time after no voice was heard
he shuddered, and an icy GOODNESS ran
through his veins in agony he clasped
has hands ; he then pressed them to
his forehead.
Miserable wretch that [ am = ex-
claimed he in a mournful voice q
shall be taken as murderer! Pierre
Pierre y but he called in vain.
At that moment he heard the sound
of the feet of many horses. He started
across the fields, cleared the hedges
the ditches He ran a long way with
ont any definite object in view ut
length, exhausted, he fell half dead
near a hayrick, horrible spasms affected
his limbs, for the word " murderer"
sounded in his ears, and the image of \
scaflold was before him.
The story is just concluded. Pierre
had only received some Commissions in
his fall, and from these the reader no
doubt reioices athis suffering. Though
stunned at first, he at last got up, and
went to Jeromes house, where the mare
had arrived before him. The family,
at first dreadfully frightened, were con
soled 10y Pierre. Then, at twilight,
Jerome ventured to steal to his hut,
and Joy succeeded to 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 horse. dealer