Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-07-06
RIQUET.


ant entered and gave my host a very
thick letter.
"Pardon me-" said my friend, 81 see
this comes from the prison and must
read it at once"
When he had finished he seemed quite
depressed for one who had seen many
human beings sentenced to death with
out showing the least emotion.
"Read it," he said, passing me the
large missive.
Here are the contents:
Your HoNoR-My trial is set for to-
morrow. l have endeavored to explain
my case to the young lawyer who de-
tends me, but from his manner think
my history only amuses him. I am
afraid to speak of it to you, and for that
reason write. Pardon the liberty. Be-
Heve me, sir, am an honest man and
not genuine thief.
l havenot always been the poor wretch
| am now. In times past 1 was quite
well off. was by no means the richest
man in Sorgas when married Dilonne,
but l was certainly the one most in love.
She was so pretty! More than one gen.
tleman envied me on our wedding day.
We were very happy. Every evening
when came home, tired with the day S
work, just to see her smile seemed to
rest me. A little girl, beautiful as the
angels, came to crown our happiness.
Employment was not lacking, and l
worked with u good will. fear my
letter will be very long, but must give
you all the details.
By and by, finding ourselves better
off, Dilonne confded to me her ambition.
She wanted to own a donkey She sold
butter and eggs in the town, and the
distance was long on foot. ''With a
donkey" she said, Il can easily go to
market and take Solange with me-" We
laid aside six five franc pieces for the
purchase of our little beast, and one
beautiful spring morning we started at
5 o'clock to be first on the field at the
county fair. We walked along gayly
under the fresh green foliage, and l can
still recall how merrily the money
clinked in my pocket. After walking
for an hour and half we arrived at
the grounds. We had taken turns carry
ing little Solange. She was four years
old and solid on her tiny feet, but not
able to walk such distance.
There were at least thirty donkeys for
sale. l chose one, but Dilonne said it
had wicked look. At last, by careful
search, we found very small one. He
was young and had a playful little air
as he paved the ground impatiently
with his small hoofs. He had handsome
dark eyes and wagged his long ears at
every sound. We knew he must be
gentle, for, Solange having slipped away
to get nearer to him, he patiently allowed
her to pat him.
The owner, seeing that the beast
suited us, asked forty francs for him. l
offered twenty-five. After an hour
spent in bargaining we agreed upon
thirty. Toward evening we started for
home, the good little animal following
us very willingly with Solange on his
back. The installation of our new pos
session was quite an affair, but he ap-
peared to appreciate it all, for from
that time l think he really loved us.
We named him "Riquet." Every morn
ing at breakfast time he used to come
for his bit of bread to the window; his
pretty head framed in sweet peas and
morning glories, he would rub our hands
gently with his nose to express his
thanks.
Just as we had planned, twice a week
Dilonne went to town with her butter,
eggs and fresh vegetables in one basket
and Solange in the other for counter
balance. l could watch them from a
long distance as they approached our
home, always a little tired.
But there came q day, after three
years of continued happiness, when
Dilonne could not leave her bed My
poor darling She had the typhoid fever.
Doctors came from town. They cut off
her beautiful black hair; they put ice
on her head, but nothing could save her.
She died while attempting to sing q lit
tie song. l could have wished to die
Solange was left. She was growing
very fast and looked exactly'like her
mother
On Sundays we two-Solango and /
would go to the cemetery which sur
rounded our little church and stay there
by the grave until afternoon, when we
used to take a walk, the little one
mounted on Riquet. Thus we would
ramble on for long distance, gathering
great punches of grass for the.donkey's
supper.
One afternoon-it was during the olive
harvest-thare were signs Of a storm,
and the master made US work until day
break to finish the picking. Icould not
go home that day or the next, but the
following evening 1 started, happy in
the thought Of oncemore seeing Solange.
To my great surprise she did not come
to meet me, and on getting nearer ouI
cottage could seemo light in the win
dows. Trembling with fear entered
the house. l saw my cherished little
girl lying on the bed all dressed. The
door was open, and RiqDet stood at the
sill watching her, but only his head was
stretched into the room. She was in q
burning fever, having caught cold the
night before while watching SO late for
me to come.
Forgive me, your honor, for telling
you all my troubles; but when 1 saw the
poor child so i'll 1 nearly lost my senses.
The fever never left her. She had a
thousand fancies. Sometimessshe grew
pale, her great eyes shining very bright
ly. Dilonne was the only friend who
could make her SMILE She often had a
hard cough, which exhausted her COM
pletely and brought two brilliant red
spots to her cheeks. She grew weaGzer
and weaker. Nothing seemed to give
her any strength. The doctor said very
little. but ordered medNines wilicheost