Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-07-15
NOIRAUD, THE GUIDE

VahlhS OidNeAcrS W the STATION, ana never
have made one miss Northumberland
monsieur neverp'
"Nevertheless'---
"Oh, you need not look at your watch.
There's one thing you must know and do
not know, and your watch will not tell
you-the train is always a quarter of an
hour late. There has never been an in
stance when it was not late by quarter
of an hour"
There was one that day. The train had
been on time and missed it, My driver
was furious
you should give notice." he cried to
the stationmaster "You should give no.
tice If your trains are all of a sudden 90
ing to leave on time. The thing has never
been known"
And calling all the bystanders to wit.
ness:
HAS it ever been knownP don't wish
TO seem in fault to monsieur. A train on
the momentl A train exactl Tell him
that this is the first time it ever han
pened." There was general cry, ayes.
yes; generally it is late" None the less,
had three long hours to pass in melan-
choly village of the canton of Vaud,
hanked by two melancholy mountains,
with little tufts of snow on their heads,
How to kill those hours? In my turn I
appealed to the bystanders and again there
was a general cry; $50 see the CaIdron
There's nothing else to see in this region
Where was the Caldron? On the noun
tain to the right, half way up, but the
road was a little complicated. was adj
vised to take a guide, and there, down
there in that little white house with the
green blinds, should find the best guide
in the country, an honest fellow, Father
Simon.
l went off to knock at the door of the
little house. An old woman opened it
for me.
Father SimonP'
This is the place, but-but if it's to go
to the Caldron"--
Eyes, it's TO 90 to the Caldron"
well, he's not been wei since morning.
Father Simon-his legs have given out.
He cannot 60 But don't be worried;
there's some one to take his place-there's
Noiraud"
VERY well, let me have NoiFaud."
"Only | ought to let you know-it isn't
person-Noiraud."
Not a person."
mo, it's our dog"
How, your dogyn
Eyes, Noiraud, and he'll guide you well, |
as well as my husband; he's used to it."
Used to it?"
Certainly; for years and years Father
Simon has taken him along, he's learned
the places, and now he manages very well
all alone He has taken up lot Of travel |
ers, and has always been complimented. |
As for intelligence, don't fear. He has as
much as you and /. He only lacks speech. !
But speech is not necessary-if there was
k.V.al 4 Il. II
know how to recite the story and give |
dates. But here there's nothing but the |
beauties Of nature. Take Noiraud. Then
its cheaper-three francs for my husband; |
Noiraud is only thirty sous, and he'll show /
you as much for his thirty sous as my hus- |
band for three francs"
well, where's Noiraudf"
Hes asleep in the sun in the garden. |
He took some English people up this morn /
ing. Shall / call himP'
Eyes. Call him."
'Noiraudl Noiraudp'
He came through the window with a |
bound. 1t was an ugly little black dog, |
with curly and tumbled coat; he was not |
pretty, but he had an air of gravity, decis- /
ion, importance. His first glance was at |
me, direct, precise, confident, which took |
me in swiftly from head to foot, and said /
plainly; TITS traveller. He wants to see
the Caldron."
One train missed was enough for one
day, and | explained to the good woman
that had absolutely only three hours for
my trip to the Caldron.
"0h, 1 know perfectly. You wish the
O'Clock train. Fear nothing. Noiraud will
get you back in time. Come, Noiraud.
Start my boy, start"
But Noir2ud showed no disposition to
start. He remained motionless, regarding
his mistress with a certain agitation.
'Oh, I'm stupid" said the old woman
81 was forgetting the sugar."
She went to drawer, took out four bits
OF sugar and giving them to me: That's
why he would not start. You had not the
sugar. You see, Noiraud, monsieur has
got the sugar. Now start, my boy. To
the Caldronl Col To the Caldronl To
the Caldron"
She repeated these words three times,
speaking very slowly and distinctly, and 1
watched Noiraud attentively. He an
swered his mistress with little movements
Of his head, more and more emphatic,
with final touch of Impotence and i'll
humor. They could be translated. Eyes,
yes, to the Caldron. | understand The
gentleman has the pieces Of sugar, and we
are going to the Caldron. That's under
stood DO you take me for dunce2"
And before the third Ito the Caidron'
was fairly uttered Noiraud, clearly hurt,
turned on his heels, planted himself in
front Of me and, with his glance on the
door, said as plainly as a dog could say it:
"Come on, come Oup'
| followed him with docility. We both
set out--he before. behind. We passed
through the village. Children playing in
the street recognized my guide. "Oh,
Noiraudl Bon jour, NoiraudP' They
wished to play with the dog, but he turned
his head dsdanfully with the air of a dog
who has no time for play; who is ON duty
and must earn his thirty sous. One of the
children cried;
Let him alone. He is taking the gen.
tleman to the Caldron Bon jour, m'sfeun