Connecticut western news., 1895-09-26
A PIECE OF SOAP.

month of December The day was cloudy and dull, and the wind was roaring among the oak trees. I was going to dine with Maitre le Bitouze, who in those days lived on the Haut Putois farm on the farther side of the Nehon moorlands.
 The dinner was to be served at o'clock. As left the forest of Belle Garde and took the little cross path that led to Monroe heard the church bells in the valley striking 4.
 AS went along the idea came to me to get shaved It was quite natural idea, for my beard was hurting me-the cold wind seems to bite an unshaved skin. My beard was eight days old, and there were to be other people at dinner, SO should he more presentable if shaved
 At the entrance of the village on the right hand side stood a picturesque it- tie inn. The wind was rattling the leaves of the holly trees that stood in front of it. Inside could hear the sound of loud voices. Iwent in, and ordering glass of wine asked the host if there was a barber in the village.
 "Parbleu oui p cried an old peasant who was sitting with his feet in the stove and lighting his pipe with a fire- brand "There is old Bridevent, who shaved the whole camp of Nehon during the war. If he is at home-and he ought to be, for as passed tho church just now saw his dog Ronfot running down the street-he will do tho trick for you first rate, and very quickly toor'
 ''And this Bridevent," said another peasant, who was stirring his cup of cof fee at the end of the table, "evidently means to live and die here. I thought he went away to his vegetables and his cabbages in the country when the camp left Monroe He comes from the neigh borhood of Piron, doesn't hep'
 ''So he always says, yet he never goes much farther from his little shop than a rabbit does from it's burrow.
 "And how does he live? A little dressing beard are not enough to fill the pot. Yet he does nothing else, so far as I can see.
 "Bridevent is @ sly one, Maitre le Hodey, and has put aside little money. He used to keep a cantine, and has done other things than shave chins. "
 Satisfied with what l had heard, I asked the proprietor to show me Bride vents house and left the inn I found it, as he had described, a low, pictur- esque cottage, standing alone far back from the road, with it's broad, sloping roof giving to it somewhat lugubrious appearance, not lessened by it's lonely situation.
 When I was within few feet of the porch, which was partly concealed by low bushes, the door suddenly opened and figure appeared
 It was that of a small man, very small man, squat, dark, thickset, with long arms and tremendously bowed legs. The enormous head, which did not set straight on the massive shoulders, was covered with unkempt black hair. The neck was short and thick, and there was scarcely any forehead to be seen.
 Add to this feature that had the ap- pearance of having been crushed large mouth with thick lips that dropped at one corner and two large gleaming black eyes, and you may have some idea of this singular individual
 My first thought on seeing this hideous apparition was to turn and retrace my steps or to go straight on past the house. But a second glance at the person show ed me that he was properly dressed, and that it was his deformity chiefly that thus inspired the sensation of repug- nance. So, suppressing my surprise, addressed him in voice that was all most gay:
 Eh bien, my friend, at this time of day, and with this kind of weather, I suppose trade with you is not booming Do you think you can shave me before it gets too dark?''
 "Come in, monsieur" he said sim ply. ''I will do the best can.' He went in first, to make room for me to pass, and pointed to chair beside the fireplace. The interior of the cottage was very modest. Everything was clean and in its place. A high, old fashioned bedstead stood in one corner, and in an other cupboard with deep shelves and several dozen plates with blue patterns | painted on them.
 A tall kitchen clock, mirror, table, | several chairs and a meading trough composed the rest of the furniture in the room. Two or three dingy looking pie | lures hung on the smoke stained walls | From the rafters hung smoked hams, dried plants and sausages, long and | black In the corners stood fishing rods and fowhng pieces, and two guns rested their long yleaming barrels against the ! maptelshelf
 | "A little bit of fire is not SO bad in | this weather hein. Is it, monsieur? I'll see to the stove while your water is boil ing. 1t won't take long," | And as he stopped to throw bundle of fagots into the stove I was amazed at
 the breadth of his shoulders and the enormous size of his hands Without doubt this strange fellow was possessed of tremendous strength. He rose from i his stepping position and went into 8 neighboring room, shutting the doo1 carefully behind him. When he returned few moments later, heard stealthy step going down the passage.
 "Warm yourself, monsieur, he said
 to me again, placing little stone ia
 filled with water, preparatory to shay
 ing. Don't fear to burn the wood
 Wood is not expensive in the country
 It only costs the trouble of gathering it.
 Then he opened cabinet and took ou
 a pair of razors, which he began to stro
 conscientiously.
 Famous razors these, monsieur. Thi
 one especially is an English razor, which
 if properly ground, could cut your nec
 through without spilling 8 drop C bloodr' eks
 | This n1easanfrv had often heard h<