Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-20

and when his master stopped beside the river,
he lay down at once. quite exhausted.
This grassy nook beside the river was shut In
by long low hedge and gate from the high
road.
Joseph did not venture to leave his faithful
friend lille he slept, lest he should be teaSei OF
frrttated by some OF the barefooted children of
Quimperle. SO he leaned against the gate and
smoked his pipe All at once Roger snorted and
then he coughed and awoke. Joseph had never
heard his bear cough before, and he felt alarmed.
He went back TO Roger and felt his nose; It was
dry and burning, and his poor swollen feet felt
hot as Goals.
Joseph went to the brink of the river bordered
here by rushes and tall king-ferns with full
brown tassels Of blossom, and filling his tin
plate with water, he knelt down and bathed
Rogers feet. But the bear drew them away,
and began TO Shiver violently.
Joseph threw himself beside him and put both
arms round the creatures neck.
..Come, old comrade," he cried, 10 not fall Ill
before we set out on our home journey; think
how much better Liline will nurse thee than
can and Pierrot-why, Roger, Pierrot will not
forgive thee for being sick away from him"
smile showed in his blinking eyes at the name
OF his little friend.
IA WEARY JOURNEY.
Weeks have gone by, but Jose III and Roger
have not yet reached the cottage beside the
Isere-the pretty home that Joseph dreams
about, with its vinc-covered hills ami olive
groves, and orchards, and the river that washes
The feet OF castle-crowned rocks.
Roger seemed to get better, and so Joseph
went on from town 10 town. playing his Hate
and showing Off his bears wonderful antics.
And nav they were everywhere welcomed.
Rogers fame had preceded him, and the tin
plate was heavily filled more than once IA day
some times giving dance before the windows OF
some retired country house; and here little chill
dren would come out and pat Rogers grizzly
sides In mid ", n Ter. Buj when night came it
was the old story-no one would shelter a be r.
JoSt phi did not often desert his friend but still
he was glad to get nights lodging now and
then. But they Travelled slowly for Roger was
so often foot-Sore now.
Sometimes master and bear would travel all
Though the short summer night, and when day
light came they would rest ali day. sometimes
on wild heath strewn with granite rocks of
all shapes and sizes, sometimes on a pleasant
grassy bank beside sparkling river, where
Joseph would catch fish enough for two days
One morning they reached charming spot.
They had been making a long round, it and SEEM
ed to Joseph that they could not be very far from
by bridge; on one side rose up dark hills COW
cred with trees; on the other we've pleasant
one-storied houses, dotted here and there be-
tween the spreading fan-ltke branches Of Spanish
cheStnut-treeS. The sun was burning hot,
though it was yet early, and the leafy shade
which the huge trees flung in masses beneath
them, fecked here and there with gold as some
inquisitive sunbeams peeped down between the
leaves, was delightful to our tired travellers.
There was surfeited, sleepy air about the vii
lage, too, which was in itself restful. Women
stood spinning from distaf under the round
low-browed doorways, cocks and hens crowed
and CLICKED as they picked up the grain In front
of farmhouse, where day before corn had
been threshed by hand. A little way up the
scattered street of houses was an opening, and
here stood a tall stone cross and behind it, some
little way down the Sloping path, was the vii
lage church.
But the sight Of Roger had scared some Of the
leisure from the peaceful scene. The little cali
co-capped children opened their large bright
brown eyes widely when they saw Joseph COM
ing slowly along, and smiled at him. But all at
once came strange sound, something between
groan and growl. At this the children fled
and hid their faces in their mothers skirts with
sh1fll outcries OF fear, which grew louder when,
peeping out, they saw that the quiet-looking
Frenchman was followed by monstrous shaggy
beast. shaking his sides and coughing as he
walked, and glartng hungrtly out Of his red
little eyes. The mother gave an cutlery, and
behind them, after the manner OF hen with
her chickens at sight OF hawk. Joseph sighed;
he was tired and thirsty. He had let Roger
get draught OF buttermiik at one OF the cot
tages; but he knew it was useless now, so he
turned aside by the cross and went slowly down
"Ah, the monster!" cried the woman in the
nearest cottage, as she peeped tim1dly from the
window. HE is going to stable his wild beast
in the church. Was ever such a v1llain!"
But poor Joseph never dreamed OF such
thing; and when presently he saw the cure
coming along, with his open breviary in his
TedulHS DIS NE walked along In Cne pleasant
shade Of the chestnut-trees, Joseph thought
. Here Is good man, am sure, and he will tell
me the day OF the month, and advise me about
Roger"
Joseph could play music, and could initiate
wonderfully any tune he heard for the first time
but this was all the knowledge the poor fellow
had. He could not read or write, and he had
lost count Of time since he had grown anxious
about Roger. For lately he had been very anxi-
GUS 1t seemed to him that 1t must be more than
two weeks now since the poor beast had been
nnh thnNr .InIn
snail pace noW-not more than an hour at
time, with long rests between-and all day they
lay q quiet in the snuggest place they could find.
The cure had reached them by this time, and
he stopped when he saw Roger.
Joseph pulled of his hat and made low bow.
~ ask pardon, reverend Sir,' he said, 'but
month it is, and also what is the best medicine
for the cough Of bear? Do not fear my Roger,
Monsieur lie Cur6"-ror the cure had shrunk
back; '.Roger is an excellent beast who will
harm no one-see how he SUFFERS"
AT this moment the poor bear had so violent
Mt OF coughing that he sank down and lay pant
trg on the ground.
The cure looked compassionate; he had mild,
pink face, his hair was snow white, but his eyes
were blue and full of tenderness.
+, Poor beas asst had quite forgotten his fear
you far from homer"
Yes, yes monsieur said Joseph; 81 do not
know how many leagues away. Our home is on
the banks OF the ISere."
The good priest lifted up his hands In wonder.
'And have you come all that way afoot-in
such hot weather, too?' He took OFF his hat and
wiped his face with large blue checked pocket
handkerchief.
''Ah, sir, we must travel afoot. No driver
would carry Roger. can get no shelter for him -
And poor Joseph had to wipe away his tears
with the sleeves of his blouse: then, seeing that
the cure was still listening, he went On. "But it
is long since we left our country, Sir. think it
was in March, for we found snow on the ground
as we came horthward, though in our country
we had only seen it on the mountain-tops. We
have wandered in Auvergne and In Burgundy
in Touraine and in Normandy. All, Sir, we
Jared better everywhere than In this country,
where 1t always rains. But for my poor Rogers
illness we had begun our journey home"
The old cure shook his head. '.Your poor bear
can not travel" he said. Il fear his JOURNEYS
are over, poor fellow. Is 1t possible that you
have been travelling on foot from March till now?
Why, we are in September, my poor man. How
homeSfck you must BET"
Joseph wiped his eyes again, for the cures
Kind words called up wildly the memory OF his
wife, Liine and his dear little boy, Pierrot. All!
should he ever see them again. and how could
he go back to them without Roger? He forgot
the cuTe-everything but his dear dumb suffer-
ing friend-and fingtng himself on the ground
beside Roger, he flung both arms round him and
SoDbed aloud.
Roger raised one paw and laid 1t gently on his
master, and then he feebly tried to lick the
sleeve OF his coat.
The cure took out his handkerchief again and
yrffr Nv hi hi