Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-24
BARBANCE vs.. POPIE.
Courier.


In a pretty little Gascony village in
Nalience d Agen, about the year 1922.
The restoration forgot him and the
nephew permitted, without bothering
himself, his uncle's old soldier to con-
tinue where he was. In Batifol-TaiI-
landon the soldier lived before every
thing, and before lzneeling to pray to
his Maker for him self he always re-
pembered to pray for the emperor and
to thinn of the day when his wounds
were rewarded by a comfortable arm
chair full of repose and joy. Batifol-
Taillandon's intimates divided him in
two, like his name Batifol drank
straight, and Taillandon judged firmly.
Aggressive in the morning, peaceful
Ia the evening, Batifol was the sol
der, Taillandon the lawyer Beneath
the Taillandon of the judgments the
Batifol of the battles always existed,
but the double character made one
e I'd man who was sometimes called
'.Alonsieur le Judge, - somtimes Mon
sieur L Oficer;" in the same way he
was sometimes Batifol, at others Tail
landOn.
One fine day in May M. Taillandon
repaired to the court AS he entered
the Sheriff cried:
Hats off! Here is the Justice!"
and all heads were at 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:
'Barbance, so-called Old Merle
versus Popie. Come forward BOTH"
They advanced together to the bar.
They seemed to have reached fabul-
Gus age, pair of ancient ruins odd
Merle" wore look Of Indignation on
his age-wOrn face, that seemed as
though it were covered by the MOSES
and lichens of years. While, as for
Popie, he looked as though some terri
ple internal earthquake had shaken
him up and had completely ruined his
every bone and joint.
What do you wantP" said the Judge
to Barbance.
II will tell you whined the old tel-
low. Il have two little plots of
ground in the valley, in which I have
planted vines in order to drink glass
ht the feast of St, John. But Popie
has thrown a spell over them.
"Over whatp'
''My plants and FRUITS
How"
This is how, your honor Popie
has beast, cursed beast of which
the entire district is afraid. Popie lets
bis beast loose-and every evening
A-n
At this Popie, who had not yet spok-
en- interrupted:
"Sacre Dieu! will you behave your
selfP'
1t Is thy dirty beast!" cried Bar
bance
'Is it my fault?" cried Popie
Order! Order!" exclaimed the
Judge. ''Will you tell your story? And
quickly"
But the two old mon were not to be
silenced, and the one kept on accusing
the other in vehement terms At this
the Judge, suddenly becoming the SOL
der, cried:
Order. Tell me your history or
III give you the cat as we did in the
dragoonsm
He has torn up my vines. your
Honor!"
''WhoP"
The Emperor your Houor, the
Emperor"
At this there was total silence be-
tween the three men. Batifol-
cit cd
Barbance frightened at his own temer-
ity; Popie alone calm, chin in hand.
Don't you recognize me9' he said
''Silencem cried the Sheriff, observ-
Ing his master.
Don't you recognize me2" repeated
Popie.
who has-spoken them
--pe-ror?" asked Taillandon, at last
Il have, said Bar ,ance.
just son' replied Popie. If he
black guards my dog, it is an offense
against the country. Such a good an
imal, who made the campaign in Prus-
sia who has carried in his mouth two
dispatches to the grand cousin OF the
soldiers
Taillandon nearly jumped from his
chair.
Who do you call by that nameP'
Popie lifted his hat.
'Ney, marshal of France, duke,
prince, half king Monseigneur de
fElchinqen, decorated with every
cross and order in the worldr' and
coming suddenly to attention, Pres
ent"' cried Popie.
Advanced" cried the Judge, and
tell me who you are!" And covering
the old man with his eyes he said, 81
do not remember"
Then l will remind you We met
in Italy on the night of Castiglione-n
'Mitraille de Dieu! Is it thou.
PopieP"
And the two men rushed into each
others arms
"And we were through Germany. ,
cried Batifol
"And Egypt with Lannes and Kle
berr'
And little Dessaixn'
And Murat Cravache"
An inexpressibly deep JOY filled the
whole figure of the Judge; remlnis-
going back to the day when they had
made their debuts as conscripts to-
rether.