Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-15

allowed himself to take little nap In
the saddle on Sunday, when returning
from the vineyardshe always appeared
to first make this mental observation,
"lf find myself, on waking, up there
on the platform" The mule noticed
this, and it caused her pain, although
she said nothing; only when anyone
pronounced the name of TIstet Vedine
IN her presence her long ears shook,
and, with q little laugh, she whetted
her iron shoes on the pavement.
Seven years passed thus. Then at
the end of these years Tistet Vedine re-
turned from the court of Naples. His
term had net yet expired there, but he
had learned the first mustard maker to
the pope had died suddenly at Avig-
non, and, as the position seemed to
hILn good. he came in great haste to
put himself in the ranks.
When this intrlguer, Vedine, entered
the hall of the palace, the holy father
hardly recognized him, for he had
grown so much taller and stouter. /
should also say that the good pope was
getting old, too, and that he did not
see we'll without his spectacles. But
Tistet was not dismayed. "How, grand
Saint Perel You do not recognize me?
1t is /, Tistet Vedine."
"Vedine?"
"Why, yes; you know me well; him
who used to carry the wine a la trar
caise to your mule"
"Ahl yes, yes. L recall him-a good
little fellow, this Tistet Vedine. And
now what does he wish of us?"
"Not much, grand saint Pere, l come
to ask you-apropos, have you your
mule yet? And Is she very we'll? Ahl
so much the betterl 1 came to ask you
for the place of the first mustard maker,
who has just died"
"First mustard-maker thoul But
thou art too youngl How old art thou
now?"
Twenty years and two months illus
trious pontiff-just five years older
than your mule. Ahl paine de Dieu!
The brave beastl If you knew how l
love her, that mule, how l languished
for her in Italy. Will you not let me
see her?"
'If, my child, thou wish to see her, ="
said the good pope. very much moved,
land then thou lowest her so much, the
brave beast. L only wish that thou
couldst no longer live away from her.
From this day l attach thee to my per-
son in quality of the first mustard
maker. My cardinals will object but
so much the worsei l am accust Jmed
to it. Come to see us tomorrow after
vespers and we will give to thee insig-
MIA of thy rank in the presence of our
chapter, and then 1 shall lead thee to
see the mnle, and thou shalt go to the
vineyard with us too. Ha, hal 4Uons
"a"
If Tistet was happy on leaving the
grand hall of state, with what impa-
tience he awaited the ceremonies of the
morrow L need not take the trouble to
tell you. However, there was some
one in the palace still more happy and
more impatient than he. L. was the
mule. From the time of Vedine's re-
turn until vespers the next day the in
furiated beast did not cease stuffiing
herself with oats, and to sharpen her
hind hoofs against the wall. She also
was preparing for the ceremony.
And then the next day, when vespers
were over, Tistet Vedine entered the
great court of the papal palace. All
the higher clergy were there-the car
dinals in red robes, the devils advocates
in black velvet, the abbes of the convent
with their little mitres, the wardens
of Saint Agricol, the violet csssocks of
the bishops, the lower clergy also, the
soldiers of the pope in their best uni
forms, the three brotherhoods of peni-
tents, the hermits of Mount Ventoux
with their bashful faces, the little
acolyte who went behind carrying a
bell, the scourging brothers nude to
the waist, the sacristans decked out in
magistrates robes-all, all, until at
last those who sprlnkled the holy water
and those who liz 9hted and extlnguished
the candles. Not one was missing.
Ali what beautiful ordination. The
bells, the petards, the sunlight, the
music, and always the sound of those
maddening tambourines that led the
dance below on the bridge of Avignon.
When Vedine appeared before the as
sembly with his fine carriage and hand
some face, a murmur of admiration
arose. He was magnificent proven
cal, but of the blonde type. with
mass of curly hair and little beard,
which seemed to be made from fine
metal shavings fallen from the graver
of his father, the sculptor in gold.
The rumor ran that the fingers of
Queen Jane had sometimes played in
that blonde beard, and Vedine had IN
deed that glorious and absent-minded
way of men whom queens have loved.
This day, in honor of his country he
had replaced his Neapolitan robes by q
jacket bordered in pink a Ia proUen-
cafe, and on his hat waved a large
plume of the ibis of Camargne.
Upon entering, the first mustard
maker bowed with a gallant air, then
turned toward the high flight of steps
where the pope awaited him in order
to betow upon him the insignia of his
rank-the spoon of yellow lockwood and
the saffron robe.
The mule was at the foot of the
stairs all harness ed and ready to start
out for the vineya ard.
When he passed near her, Tiste'
Vedine smiled sweetly, and stopped TO
give her.two or three little friendly taps
on the watching, the while,
from the corner of his eye to see if the
pope noticed it.
The position was good.
The mule prepared for the attack.
''Stopl Now you've got it, villaini
And I've kept it for you seven long
years."
And she gave HIM kick of her heels
so terrible, so terrible that at Pampe-
lun even they saw the smoke, a wLirl-
wind of blonde smoke with an ibis
plume fiuttering about it-all that re-
mained of the unfortunate Tistet Ve-
dine.
The kick of mule is not ordinarily
as terrible as this one was, but this
mule was papal mule, and then, Just
think she had kept it FOR seven years.
-SDrinQfetd Republican.
HIGHLY UNNATURAL--Walker-'1
had most unnatural dream last night,
Fadman. I dreamt Binks borrowed
So of me for week"
Fadman-"Unnaturall Why, that's
Binks all overl'
Walker-"Yes, but 1 went on dream