The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-21
A GASC0N ROMANCE.

All the inhabitants of Salgnacq, in Gas
cony. well knew what a hateful rivalry there
was between the two millers of the com
mune-C astagnet, the owner of the Upper
Mil, and Labarthe, the proprietor Of the
Lower Mill. Castagnet of the Upper Mill was
rich: I.abarthc Of the Lower Mill was poor.
The Upper Min had the prettiest maid Of the
mill in the canton; but the Lower Mill pos
sessed the handSomcst donkey in the district.
The maid Of the mill was the daughter OF
Castagnet, and was called Yanette; the don
key was born on Labarthes estate, and was
named Hercules. Now, il must he regretfully
admitted, the handsome Hercules competed
with the pretty Yanette advantageously, and,
thanks TO him, the poor Lower Mill was
making ready to ruin the rich Upper Mill
Let us hasten to say that Hercules was not
an ordinary donkey. Hercules was as big as
a horse hence his prestige; strong as two
mules, hence his Nance and as learned as
several college graduates hence his triumph.
His master, the beaming 1.abarthe, had two
sons The elder, elegantly named Auguste,
was handsome fellow of -, provided with
a thick mustachc and accomplished in the
art of stealing the ducks of the customers at
the mill, IA speciality of the Gascon millers
All Salignacq admired him. The other son.
sneeringly named Cadeton, was feeble
youth of % afflicted with beardless face,
and never able to cheat friend out of the
smallest little chick. And the young girls
made fun of him. IL was this fellow, disin-
herited by nature, who was the teacher of
Hercules. And what donkey he made Of
him
To begin with, Hercules was well endowed.
While very young he carried two sacks Of
-four, and his master atop, with the ease Of n
horse taking a young girl to ride. Taught
by Cadeton, Hercules learned to go down on
his knees when he was scolded, TO dance when
the peasant girls patted his nose, to ring his
bell when he passed before the church door,
to salute the schoolmaster, whom he honored,
with a respectful shake of the head, wagging
his ears the while; to count up to nine with
his hoof, for which he was rewarded with an
extra dish of bran; to-ah, well, let us con-
fine ourselves to saying that he made the en-
tire commune wonder over his learning
glory comes quickly in Gascony-so that in
the little evening gatherings they talked OF
nothing but the exploits Of Hercules, the
illustrious donkey of the Lower Mill The
Upper Mill got into terrible rage over it;
every day it lost customers All the country
round about, dazzled by the wonderful deeds
Of Hercules, sent its grain to Labarthe.
Hercules charmed all the farmers, and had
the sympathy of all the housekecpers. The
four donkeys Of the Upper Mill could not
compete with him. And Yanette, the maid
Of the mill, who was prudent as we'll as
pretty, was not SO honored as tho famous in
hnbitant Of the rival mill.
Castagnet, not entirely discouraged, con
suited fortune tellers in high repute and
paid them roundIy to throw a spell over the
cursed donkey. But Hercules was perhaps
as much Of witch as they; at any rate,
nothing worked against him. And the
wheel of the Upper Mill turned only when
there was grain to be ground for the family.
Castagnet would have bought the wonderful
donkey from his enemy he would certainly
have given 100 crowns for him, and you can
get ten donkeys for that money at the fair in
Peyhourade. But Hercules would not have
consented to the sale, and 1t was necessary to
reckon with the beast. His reputation had
passed the bounds of the commune and ST..
perb offers had come TO I.abarthe who had
accepted them But Hercules always came
back home on the morrow of the SALE and
Labarthe had to refund the money to the
buyer From PouIlon, distant three leagues
from Habas, over fifteen miles away; even
from Bidachc which was at the farther end
Of the next department, Hercules had thus
returned. And each time, with very hum.
BILE movements Of his ears, he had gone
down on his knees before his teacher, Cado
ton But Cadcton never had TO be careful
not to scold him: indeed not! IIe loved his
pupil too muchl He was so proud Of him
Thanks to the donkey, they had little con
sideration for the miller in Salignacq.
And BESIDES there were certain bonds unit
ing Hercules and Cadeton unknown to tn,
world. In former days, when each was too
young to carry sacks of flour, they botl
amused themselves ON the red leaths of til,
country. Cadcton rode on Hercules back
and, disregarding the fact that he had IL,
mustache, he played soldier, was n general
and charged on his boyish enemies. And il
these games Yanette took part, the prett,
Yanette of the Upper Mill, who did not We
know that she ought to hate Cadeton of TIN
Lower Mill. Cadeton was then ii and Yanctt
Is. She was already very pretty, with he
wellrounded forehead, her big eyes, her daint
chin, and all her face, so timid and so lively
where shone constantly an ingenious smil,
Then Gen. Cadeton dared to call her "Mrs
General" And Yanette liked well to hea
herself called so. But since then Cadeto
had become serious Despite his energeti
razor his mustache persisted in remaining b,
meath the skin. He had no right to look q
young girls, He 10 longer looked at Yar
cite, and he gave her very low salute whe
he met her; and, il he blushed before her, /
coughed at once to make believe that he ha
swallowed something the wrong wa,
Cadeton, in fact, looked only at Hercules
The good donkey soon filed all his life. I'll
beast grew more and more intelligent II
initiated the voices Of other animals
One day Hercules and Cadeton went
Bayonne, where there was grand music
competition. The streets were filled with u
blare Of brass instruments. When he r
turned TO Salignacq the donkey began
bray, and in his song Cadeton recognized
fragment Of the Marseillaise Thereupon the
was fine scandal in the commune. II
town council was republican. The assistal
mayor, however, protested. But il the
was public indignation, there was mo
writing in the household; and Hercule
after this adventure drew away the 10