The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-10-03
BARBANCE VS.. POPIE.


justice OF the peace on his retirement
in "a pretty little Gascony village in
Valience d Agen about the year 1922.
The restoration forgot him and the
nephew permitted. without bothering
himself, his uncle's old soldier 10 con-
tlnue whore he was. In Batifol-Tail-
landOn the soldier lived before every
thing. and before kneeling 10 pray TO
his Maker FOR himself he always re-
membered 10 pray for the emperor and
10 thin6 OF the day when his wounds
were rewarded by comfortable arm
chair full OF repose and JOY. Baiifol-
Taillandon's intimates divided him In
two, like his name. Batifol drank
straight and Taillandon judged firmly.
Aggressive in the morning, peaceful
In the evening. Batifol was the sol
der, Taillandon the lawyer Beneath
the Taillnndon OF the judgments the
Batifol OF tho battles always existed
but the double character made one
good man who was sometimes called
''Monsieurle Judge. somtimos Mon
sieur J. Officer" in the same way he
was sometimes Batiiol AZ others Tail
,andon.
One fine dry in May NJ Taillandon
repaired % the court. A. he entered
the Sheriff cried.
Hats on, Here il the .Iusticen
and all heads were al once barred. The
Judge seated himself. the sheriff on
the left six or seven people in front
and two old men in blouses waited his
pleasure. A voice cried;
Barbancc so-callcd Old Merle.
versus Popie. Come forward bothl'
They advanced together TO the bar.
They seemed 20 have reached u fabul-
Gus age. pair Of ancient ruins. Old
Merle wore n look OF Indignation on
his age-worn face that seemed as
though IL were covered BY the mosses
and lichens OF years While. as for
Popie, he looked AS though some terri
BILE internal earthquake had shaken
him mp and had completely ruined his
every bone and joint
What do you want?n said the Judge
10 Barbance
Il will tell you whined the old lei
low. IL have two little plots OF
ground in the valley, in which have
planted vines in order 10 drink glass
a, tho feast OF ST. John. But Popic |
has thrown n spell over them.
Over what?n
My plants and fruits.
"HcwPn
"lnis is how. your honor Popie (
has beast cursed beast OF which /
the entire district is afraid. Popie lets
his beast loose-and every evening
n
At this Popie, who had not yet spols-
en- interrupted;
selfPr
It's thy dirty beastln cried Bar
6anco.
is IL my faultp' cried Popie.
"Orderl Order!" exclaimed the
Judge win you tell your story2 And
quicklyw
But the two old men were not % be
silenced, and the one kept on accusing /
the other In vehement terms. At this /
the Judge, suddenly becoming the sol
der cried
"Orderl Tell me your history or
III give you the eat as We did in the
dragoonsw
lie has torn up my vines, your
llonor!n
'WhoPn
The Emperor your Honor the
Emperor
AZ this there was total silence be-
tween the three men. Batifol-Taillan.
don sitting erect wounded. voiceless;
Barbauce frightened at his own temer-
ny; Popie alone calm. chin In hand.
Don't you recognize me?' he said.
"SilencoW cried the Sheriff, observ-
ing his master
Don't you recognize mcP' repeated
Popie.
Who spoken -of-the-Em
asked 1aillundon. at last.
have said Bar vance.
just soi replied Popic. IN he
hlack-guards my dog, IL Is an offense
against the country. Such q good an
imal who made the campaign In Prus-
fia who has carried In his mouth two
dispatches 10 the grand cousin Of the
soldiers"
TaIlIandon nearly jumped from his
chair
Who do you call by that nameP"
Popie lifted his hat
''Ney. marshal OF France. duke
prince half king Monscigneur de
fE chingen. decorated with every
cross and order In the worldr' and
coming suddenly 20 attention. Pres
ent" cried Pople.
Advanced" cried the Judge. and