Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-27
From the New York Mercury.
POOR NINON.

POOR NINON.
[ had been staying few days in
Digne, town in Provence-fair Pro
vence, you know, the Land of Song
and of Roses-when, learning that
some very curious relics of pre-his-
toric age had been unearthed at vii
lage some distance away, and being
something of an antiquary in my tastes,
I determined to crafty my love for old
and rare objects by journeying to this
out-of-the- way hamlet and examine
these remains. Providing myself with
a guide, one Pierre Dubourg, a groom
at the inn, [ arose one cool summers
morning, sometime before break
of day, and after hurried breakfast,
leaped into the saddle and galloped
across the inn-yard, followed closely by
Pierre, through the archway and out
into the street. We, no doubt,
greatly disturbed the sleeping towns-folk
by our untimely clatter as we thunder
ed down the rambling street, but the
freshness of the crisp morning cir, and
the thought that we had no time to
waste if we wished to reach our destina-
ton in good time made Us totally for
getful Of the feelings of others. Our
good steeds must have felt as fresh as
their riders, for we had accomplish
ed quite good distance before the first
flush of the approaching day tinted the
eastern sky.
We arrived at the village much
sooner than we had expected; but
as my inspection of the relics,
which proved to be very Curl
Gus, occupied more of my time than
1 had anticipated, it was late in the
afternoon before we started on our re-
turn to Digne. In order to shorten our
homeward ride, Pierre advised me to
take cross-country road; and as he
said he had travelled that way once or
twice before, I thought of course, that
we were not in any very great danger
of getting lost, and accordingly follow
ed his advice. found that our road
laid principally through the forest, and
we had not advanced very far when our
horses discovered that the roadway was
not near so good for fast travelling as
the one they had traversed in the morn
ing. soon saw, too, that it was grow
ing dark very rapidly, and glancing
upwards I perceived that the sky had
filed with clouds. We urged our
horses on, but all to no purpose, for
the road was in such condition that it
was next to impossible for them to go
much faster than walk. Soon the
branches above us began to rattle their
coat of leaves, and as the wind arose
the whole forest, as If resenting this
rude awakening from its peaceful day
dream, vented it's ire in a low moan,
and this gradually grew into chorus of
shrieks and crashes as the storm ad-
vanced to the zenith of it's fury. Di-
rectly We heard an ominous rumbling
at distance, which quickly rolled into
distinct though subdued peal of thun-
der. Suddenly we felt great gust
steal through the trees behind us, and
as we clapped our hands to our heads
to steady our hats, we knew that the
storm was upon us. The dim recesses
beside Us were soon lighted up by the
ightning's fash, and the noisy chatter
ing of the frightened birds was quickly
drowned in the clash of the battling
elements.
Pierre had urged his horse into a
trot, and mine, plucking up some spirit,
followed in his wake; but the mare that
Pierre rode seemed to have become pos
sessed with sudden feetness, or terror,
and before was aware of it he was out
of sight. Presently I caught a glimpse
of him swiftly advancing up the side Of
steep hill; was at the summit of the
hill behind him; took rapid glance
around, and saw that the road wound
down into the valley below, crossed a
stream by means of a rickety- looking
bridge, and then wound up the hill
that the groom was then scaling.
Determining to overtake Pierre, I
spurred my horse on, and went down
the road at mad gallop. I had hoped
to take the bridge almost at bound,
but just as I thought I had passed it,
Ely horse stumbled against one of the
loosely fastened planks, and away went
horse and rider sprawling out upon tie
bank. 80
I was stunned for while, and when
[ recovered the rain was falling in tor
rents, and through the darkness heard
Pierre ask if could get up. With his
assistance I arose, and found, beyond
few bruises, / had escaped unhurt.
Pierre placed me upon the horses back;
mine had sprained his foot slightly in
his tumble, AID Pierre thought it best
TO lead him. Pierre mad, fortunately,
been waiting for me to come up, at the
top of the hill, and so had been. able to
give immediate assistance after my mis-
hap.
We found ourselves now. to use q