The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-11-03
TIE PIGEON PIE.


charm. In some parts OF France they ceie-
brate Whitsuntide by eating with evident
relish at the family table fine pigeon stew
or pie, which they piously sprinkle with the
contents of bottles long under SEAL Very
fattering to the memory Of the apostles, this
culinary homage, but doubtless less agreeA-
Bile TO the pigeons But that Is not the point
of this sketch, which concerns . story, or
rather real adventure, which l witnessed
in my boyhood.
In her pretty villa on tho banks OF the
Loire. the Baroness Alice de Maiheury, an
adorable widow OF twenty springs, had
on Whitsunday quiet. social dinner party,
at which was to figure, with honors, pigeon
pie prepared by her own delicate hands
Chief among her invited quests was the
young Capt. do Sabresac, called by the ladies
the handsome Roland. He was counting,
openly and conspicuously, the pretty widow,
OF whom he was at once the sutton and tho
friend. Handsome ~ Mars. straight as q
lance, solidly nodded as gun. brave and
loyal as his sword, the captain had but one
fault. perhaps, that Of having been born in
castle on the margin OF the Garonns. He
made others conscious OF his Artagnan pecu-
liarities, and had somewhat boastful cour-
age, with true Gascon valor. Alice, who
suffered from his exaggerations, though! his
stories were told in all sincerity, was vexed
at these braggings, always amusing and often
witty, which she conld not correct. This
great rogue of handsome captain had as 1t
were a Gascon mirage in his brain.
Dinner is announced, Roland offers his arm
TO the baroness They seat themselves at the
table. Immediately after tho soup my cap
tain begins to relate his feats Of prowess with
all his we'll known energy. Alice contracts
her beautiful and finely arched eyebrows and
bites her rosy lips.
"So,my dear captain, you have never known
what fear was in your LIEF
"Never, baroness! except the fear Of dis
pleasing you. Otherwise l have always re-
manned as mpassi ye as this salt cellar"
"By the way" asks with curiosity the
blonde Aliette de Toisac, what is that story
about the woiff'
"Oh! very simple affair. was fifteen
driven from his den by snow aud hunger,
came one fine day into the court yard OF the
castle Armed with pitchforks and clubs tho
servants ran In, but at the sight OF his grin
ming jaws, ornamented with formidable
tusks, his quivering tail and his wild eyes
which burned like live Goals, no Que dares to
10 near him. Then I come forward a.
though about to pick strawberry, and
fssten q saucepan to the VOLTS tall, then
stepping back clap my hands sharply. At
the noise tho game sets of dragging his tia-
war;, and he Is still running"
"3ravol" exclaimed the gracious Julia
d'Artinsec, land your wild boar. 1t seems,
captain, that you almost missed him"
"Come now, had left the military school
at Saint Cyr to spend my vacation In the
Ardennes with my cousin, Bernard do Hsute-
futail One morning went into the woods
to gather bouquet Of honeysuckls for my
cousin Bertha. who has the prettiest foot In
the world Suddenly caught sight Of q
boar asleep in his lair. To tell the truth
was only a youngster, solid enough other
wise, particularly in mathematics and love
making. l throw a stone and 1t falls d.
rectly on the recluse. Making bound he
charges on me with unheard Of fury. For
arms sword cane-that is all. The boar is
dead. A gamekeeper comes and We cut up
the monster A few hours later | offered my
cousin Bertha the head Of my victim, bear
ing 10 its horrible jaws delicious bouquet
OF honeysuckle"
Have you not also story OF goat which
ia very dramaticr asks the fascinating
Countess OF Beausoleil.
THAT is a story Of another sort. | was
second lieutenant in garrison ut Tarbes.
While gathering some herbs on the mountain
encountered flock Of goats guarded by
an enormous buck with gigantic horns.
stroke him gently down the back This IA
I'D In LA
off a few steps, strikes the ground with his
bronze foot, lowers his big head and pounces
down on me with the mpetuosity Of an ava
lanche The goats take flight and the goat
herd cries out that am dead BY spring,
skilifully calculated, avoid the shock Of the
creature, leap on his back, seize him by his
beard, throw him over, blind him with the
dust Of the road and strangle him with my
handkerchief. A rattle sounds In his throat,
he chokes, he Is dead. The goatherd comes.
/ indemnify him for the loss OF the beast,
which leave there, ressrving for myself
only the horns"
''As for me-" cries the lively Renee de
Puyfera, IL want my bear. l demand my
bear"
"lssrvs him TO you, madame. WAS In
Switzerland, climbing q wild mountain In
merry company Soon find myself quite .
distance from my companion climbers, being
belatsd by my task Of gathering roses"
Doubtless for your cousin Bertha" inter
yupted the baroness
''No madame, for my mother, who was
kept OF the hotel by slight illness. l con-
tinus my story. Suddenly hear fright
full growing. l turn and see a magnificent
bear about to eat some Strawberries l call
him by bis name. Good morning, Martin,
look smart, my friend. Come, Martin. sup
poss you dance the bourrss little while for
mol Wounded In his feelings. perhaps, ct
being taken for an Auvergns bear when he
was Swiss, friend Martin rises on his hind
pawn and comes straight toward me, his
arms stretched out like an old comrade who
IL coming to embrace you. At the moment
when he is about TO press me against his
shaggy breast, skillfully bury little dag
ger In his hearth The next day invited my
friends TO breakfast on my adversary. Ths
stakes, ladies, were excellent"
"So,n continued the baroness, "you have
nsver in your life experienced even q sus-
picion Of fearl ! regret it, captain. ] have
little liking for these perfectly valiant men.
these immovsbly courageous fellows, thess
souls that are invariably heroic, who have
the air of being regulated In their movements