Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-20
POOR ROGER.
BY KATHARINE s. MACQUOID.
1.-TWO FRIENDS.

BY KATHARINE s. MACQUoID.
1.-TWO FRIENDS.
1t was market-day In gray old Breton town.
full OF quaint stone houses. The narrow streets
were thronged with people, and so was the
market-place in the upper town, near the
church, for the towns-people had all turned out
to see the fun and gossip with their neighbors
and country-folk from all the villages round
about. in varied and picturesque costumes had
brought In live and dead wares to sell at the
market OF Quimperle. Some OF the women wore
snowy white muslin caps with pointed crowns
and broad, wing-like ears, black jackets and
bodices embroidered with many-colored silks,
and blue or brown, or even emerald green, pet
ticoats One girl, fast asleep in the church
porch, with basket OF butter beside her, wore
black skirt and close white linen cap shaped
like square sugar bag; while In the market
itself woman with rusty black velvet hood.
ending In cape on her shoulder, was buying
babyS cap made of velvet and satin embrOid-
cred with gold thread and brilliant spangles.
The woman in the hood wore no stockings; her
bare brown feet were stuffed into rough wooden
shoes; but she was, for all that a farmers wife
from far-oh village, and she was buying
present for her first grsndchila
While she stood haggling over the price, she
Kept sharp lookout over her shoulder lest the
COW she had left in charge OF little boy should
escape from his guardian.
She had been too busy to notice the loud
sound OF drum above the grunts and squealing
Of the pigs. But as she had paid her money
she looked again, and this time she gave loud
cutlery.
"Oh, my COW, oh. my Kerloc! Oh, you good
for-nothing Mathurin. you shall have beating,
safe and sure"
She hurried across the market and ragged lit
tie Mathurin had Disappeared; but the pretty
small black COW stood where he had left #, and
Madame Groom, tucktng Its head under her arm,
looked about for the runaway.
She soon saw him In a crowd Of other children
at the entrance OF the pig market; but she saw
mouth opened so widely, and in such surprise.
that she had nearly let the COW slip its head
free again.
The pigs were still grunting in their CARTS
but there was no longer the same noisy squeal-
ing; their owners no longer pulled them out By
the tail to exhibit them to possible buyers.
Some OF them were grunting In the crowd itself,
curious to see what was happening. All the
men and women seemed to have collected in the
crowd, quite as intent as the children on what
was going on in the circle marked out within
A man in the blouse and cap OF French peas
ant In marked contrast to the long jackets,
baggy breeches. and broad black hats of the
the flute. and to this danced, With awkward,
thick pole.
He was such comicaLfaced bear. He had
little Sits of eyes, and he peeped slyly out OF
them, as much as to say, AHA! my fine fellows,
this is how we Frenchmen dance; peg above
you, / fancy"
But Madame Groom did not laugh; she looked
round her with a face full of terror.
He can't be bear" she said 'he Is en-
chanted; and who knows, he may eat us all up,
and begin with my poor Keriocn And at this
thought she Rugged her cows head closer than
ever. She looked at the man.
He left of playing when the bear stopped
dancing, and patted his brown coat Good
Roger" he said, affectionately, .'you are tired
aren't you, my child-you shall try now
whether these good folks care for your dan
cling"
He took out of his pocket little tin plate, and
put it in the bears mouth.
Roger shook himself, and then, dropping the
pole On the ground and letting himself down on
four paws, he began to walk quietly round the
circle, pausing now and then with his still
empty tin plate.
The good people OF Quimperld had never seen
such sight before, and they drew back with
one accord. 1t was one thing to see bear on
his hind legs occupied with dancing steps, but
to see the huge brown monster close beside
them-ready, the women and children thought
to eat them up at a mouthful-this was more
than they could bear.
They ran away as fast as they could, Shrek
Roger turned round and looked at his master
he was doing his part all right the poor bear
thought Generally the sous and centimes
came rafting into his little plate, and now IL
was empty. Just at that moment it came into
Madame Crozon's head that probably tie bear
had the power OF casting evil-eyed Chances and
that it would be wise to propitiate him. ''Who
knows" she said, THAT he may not bewitch our
man should never have crooked legs" She mad
not got so far Off as the other women had-her
cow had been in the way of haSte-so she turned
back, went up TO the bear, and brayely put out
sou In the battered tin plate.
lit is because OF Loto,h she said. earnestly.
"You will not now wish him to have crooked
legs"
Roger made her low bow; bat this ONLY
added to her ALARM aud she retreated to a safe
distance. But her example was followed; sou
after sou dropped into Rogers plate as he went
slowly round that part OF the crowd where the
men stood. a few OF the richer class who were
looking on gave him silver. and so did an artist
eyes blinked still more as the tray grew heavier;
and at last he turned from the crowd and laid
the money at his masters feet.
There was an uproarious shout from the
crowd, and the f1ute-player bent down and
kissed him on the forehead.
"Thanks, good Roger" he said. .These are
for the little boy at home. Eli? How glad he
will be to see thee once more!"
Rogers eyes blinked, and he gave low con-
tented growl; but the poor bear was very tired
and foot-sore. He and his master had been
travelling for days, and often part OF the nights
as wen, and since they had entered Brittany
there had been weeks OF heavy rain, and they
mad missed the comfortable barns and shelter
ing t-buildings OF the Norman farm-houses.
The Bears master, Joseph Lebas, had been al
ways Hospitality welcomed; but the farmers and
cottagers had shrunk back at the sight of griz-
ely brown bear. No one would admit Door Roger
Into the one stable where COW and pigs and
often horse as well, herded together the same
roof as their owners; so the poor bear had been
forced to sleep on the black oozy mud In front OF
the house itself, with seldom bit of straw un-
der him. And 1t was on this account that Jo-
seph had Travelled so much at nights; for he
III.
it had better be In day light, when there was
just chance OF sunshine.
Joseph fastened chain to the bears collar,
and then he begged one OF the pig-ownerS to
give him little straw; but the man was churl-
fsh-he did not understand French, and Joseph
Gould not speak Breton; and although the flute
players gestures plainly told his meaning the
farmer shrugged his shoulders, and reering out
Of his narrow black eyes through the long hair
that nearly reached his waist. he gave the bear
such piercing glance OF dislike that Joseph
turned away and went sorrowfully back to the
path beside the river where he had rested lit
tie the night before.
my poor RogerI" he said; "if these foolish
people only knew thee and thy good, Hid
temper, they would welcome thee at once, and
give thee seat beside the hearth in their rough
dwellings Never mind, old friend! Our wan
derings here win soon be done, and then we wifi
20 back to the good wife and to Pierrot and
rest on" ~ ~ -A ~
The bear moved his head from side to side.
ana again he gave a low, satisfied proWl: the
1ame flerrot had evidently some special charm
<f mm; put MS pace grew sl0Wet and slower,