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

"Papa," implored Yanette, don't do thasi
Wa can come to some understanding
perhaps"
"Howi'
"It-if-this donkey came TO live with
us"--
"You know very well that he would not
stay here"
"Oh-but-but-if,n stanmered Yanette,
lowering her eyes, and growing as red az
ripening cherry, "ohl but If, papa, he would
remain, if-it was her turn To cough now
if-one of his masters should come TO I'VE
here, alsof'
The miller laid down his gun. Great
heavens! he thought, what an idea 10
marry Hercules!
Labarthc was at once sounded, But he
stood on his dignity. Give up his donkeyf
Never, Not even if his son should marry
princcsS. He reflected, however. ianctte
was worth having. Castagnet would give
her a dover of 1900 francs Labarthe had
only To- give Hercules to the young husband.
"IIumw thought the miller of the Lower
Mill. and he smiled rs though he hada bright
idea Of his own to work out. Then he sent
for hi, son Augu,tc, aud said to him, Would
Won like to marry Yanette, and go and live
AZ the Upper MIit
ayes, indeed" replied the handsome Au-
gustc, curling his mustachc ON his finger
So the question of marriage was quickly
settled But Nanette turned slightly pale
when they passed her the marriage contract
TO sign.
But, papa" she cried, gently, as soon as
she saw Augustc at the side of the notary.
"What is the matter What is the matter!'
they all asked Of each other.
But she made no answer. The notary
stared at her over his glasses, and she was
frightened, scared and said not another word.
She had deceived herself, perhaps Growing
paler and paler she heard the conditions OF
the marriage; dover 1000 francs on one side,
Hercules on the other; and in fact the mag
pificent donkey was there, making to the
notary the bow usually reserved for tho
schoolmaster, and was handed over on the
spot to Castagnet.
~ hnve him, stammered the miller in his
heard. And he held on To the halter with
both hands.
They signed the contract Auguste made
n fine flourish. But Yanette, whose distracted
heart was beating fast almost tainted wheh
they gave her the pen.
yes, tnOUbnJ size, INV Nclt paw
must have deceived myself.
But suddenly her face lightened She ven
turcd To say to Labarthe, You know tho
donkey must remain with U.S. If not
"Nothing else shall be- That is under
stood" insisted Castagnet with energy.
"That is understood replied the puzzling
Labarthe
$50 soon. Well there is a practical bride
for YOU thought the neghbors
And Yanette signed.
On the morrow Hercules went back to the
Lower Mill Castagnet went after him. lie
had his labor for his pains, for on the next
day Hercules got away all the same.
ooh, he will become used to the place"
said Iabarthe to Castagnet. After the we'd
ding, when Auguste win live with you, he
will not go away again"
Waiting for the wedding, the donkey ran
away every day. To tell the whole story at
once, he had his reasons As soon rs he was
in the stable at the Upper Mill Hercules
heard distant whistle which caused him to
prick up his ears. 1t was Cadeton, who was
very sad since the contract was signed, and
who made to him this despairing appeal.
Now. when this well understood whistle
Hercules. He broke through everything, and
went to rcjoin his friend, singing the MAR
, seilaise.N
"Wellw growled Castagnet to Labarthe
IF the donkey escapes again-only once
more-goodby to the wedding"
| Then Labarthe took his son Cadeton and
gave him a strong sermon.
~ have mind to pinch you, you scamp,
for calling Hercules! II you do 1t again
will pull you by the ears around the common
after vespers! SO, you understand, one whis-
tie more and look out for yourself"' Then,
I'm a softer voice to console him a little,
"After the wedding you can do as you please
You understand mel Hush, then"
! Cadeton fell sick. He called Hercules no
more. Why should he have called him at
all, "Yanette does not think of me, he said
to himself And the days passed by, and
| Hercules did not return. They gave him all
his bran at the Upper Mill.
| And Cadeton thought that he should surely
die He loved Yanette with all his miserable
soul. All he acknowledged it to nobody; he
knew how to keep matters to himself. He
saw her in his memory, the Yanette OF old
days, the pretty Yanette, with her well
rounded forehead and her big eyes, and
whose innocent smile had sent so much sun
shine about himl Ali in those days she was
quite willing to be Mrs. General In those
days it was not Augusta whom she loved.
Cadeton at mass prayed to St. Laurent, the
patron of Salignacq, for Hercules to escape
from the Upper Mill. But st. Laurent was
as inexorable as Yanette And the victor
ious Auguste rubbed up his mustache with
frenzy. The days rolled by and Hercules
never came back. And on the eve of the
marriage Cadcton went out, though still suf
ferng, and he walked along tho winding
stream which supplied the two mills. He die
not weep They do not weep for love In Sal
ignacq. But whom night came he seated
himself on a dccaying oak, which served a!
a boundary mark between the lands of the
two mills, and he remained there for long
time with his eyes fastened on the patti
which led to Hercules stable. Ten o'clock
II, midnight. Oh! the ungrateful donkey
would never come. And Cadeton thought, a
he tore out his hair, that on the next day
Ut was too much He stood up. He did no
try to drown himself, because this way o
settling problem is not liked in Salignacq
He simply cried, after being assured that no
body could see him. And while he wept h
| rI N St npiSp tho pOiSa