The Opelousas courier., 1892-09-17

medicines which cost much money.
stayed all day by the side. of my little in.
valid. Soon she could not leave her
bed, and then she had many fantastic
wishes; she longed for expensive fruit,
for toys and flowers. I had no money!
and not knowing what to do, I was
forced to borrow. How could I refuse
my darling7
A neighbor lent me the money, for
which he made me sign a note. Iwould
have signed away my hope of a place id
Paradise to make Solange happy, to
watch her smile, or see a ray of return.
ing health. One afternoon in spring
she said to me in the little coaxing voice
which I could never resist, HDeai
father, ] feel well! I want to see the
flowers. Will you bring Riquet and put
me on him and take me out a little
way2"
! wrapped her up warmly. She was
as light as a feather. Riquet seemed
pleased enough when he felt this tiny
burden, and held his ears erect as if I'd
show his good intentions. solange cried
out with joy, she was so glad to be in
the fresh air and bright sunshine. Her
small hands, which were almost trans
parent, scarcely held the reins, B but
Riquet stopped of his RsseUord at all
the best places fer e. her to gather wild
| roses and sprigs of the hawthorne, which
shed its white petals like snow on my
little darling.
aOh, it is so nice here, is it not papa7"
As the poor child said this her head
dropped. She had a sort of %convulsion
and fell back or my arm which was
| about her. She was dead.
The doctor told me he had expected
it. They took her &som me and / was
alone.
As I had not paid back the money I
borrowed, and had signed a note for it,
they came to my house and seized every
thing. The Sheriff locked all the clos
cts, fumbled in the bureau drawers,
stable, and finally on All Saints day
they held the sale. The auctioneer stood
on our large table. From a distance
could see him take each article in his
hand and hold it up to view-our china
and glass, the clock, nay clothes, the
baby's cradle-everything wa sold.
Hidden in a little ~vine-covered arbor, !
watched ii all, and | felt my heart
breaking as one thing after another went
under the hammer. Finally, raising his
voice, The auctioneer said, There is
also q young donkey good for work. Is
there q buyer for forty francs2'
No one spoke. .
Cat thirtya"
Not a word.
ttTwenty-fyean
Then he said, ssGentlenaen, he Is worth
more than that
They went TO fetch Riquet. He came
very slowly, prieking up his long ears,
and looking defiance from his eyes. He
seemed to realize that he was to be sold,
and that for him also happiness was at
an end.
"This donkey is offered for fifteen
francs, gentlemen u
aTwefeyin said one.
aTwenty-onen said another.
stNo one bids higher? Gone!" and q
burly, red-haired, red-faced farmer
claimed him.
Poor Riquet, who had always been so
gentls, tried to kick, but his new master
struck HIM with a heavy stick, and
dragged him away. / suppose It was
very foolish, your honor, but when ]
saw that / ran OFF sobbing.
Ihad to live, so / went to a farmer in
the neighborhood, who hired me by the
day. ! worked like q brute, and that
tired me so completely that it kept me
from thinking of my grief. At night
slept soundly, but the awakening was
terrible, as / realized more and more
each day my burden of sorrow.
AT the end of a year the farmers
daughter was married, and there was q
grand fete at the house; but the sound
Of the wedding music was q d~eath-knell
in my heart. Ifelt that / must get away
from 1T all.
Quite alone, I walked across the
country, and, In spite of myself, I took
the road to Sorgas. I swear to you, sir,
/ had no evil intention in my mind. |
went along in a half -dazed manner, feel
ing that I had grown very old. Life is
hard for the poor. Finding myself near
the cemetery, ] thought / would visit
the graves OF my wife and child. Not
wishing to be recognized, I took a short
cut across the fields. The corn-harvest
was over, and as / walked / heard the
stubble ereaking under my feet. All at
once, on the other side of q ditch, I saw
a donkey, and heard a loud and pro-
longed bray. Coming closer, ! saw it
was Riquet, who had recognized me.
He stretched his neck as far as his cord
permitted, aud looked at me with his
beautiful eyes wide open. He stopped
cropping the grass, and when i was near
enough he took my coat very gently be-
tween his teeth and shook his head sew
eral times / caressed him and sat down
to look him we'll over. / found him
much abused. On his back were sores
made by wearingtoo heavy a saddle. His
legs were covered with bloody scratches,
and his coat, formerly 10 glossy, was
now all rough and rusty. Poor Riqueti
He laid his pretty head on my knees at the
same time LOCKING behind mi to see, il
by chance, ! had a morsel Of bread hidden
away from him-an old trick of his. n
was the meeting of old friends after 3
long absence, but as evening approached
we were forced to part. Taking Riques
By the head, ! said good-by, turning
back onc for d farewell look. had