Frostburg mining journal., 1895-07-13
A PIECE OF SOAP.

ulIolB tllO Odh tIctS. L was going 10
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 8
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 T.
AS went along the idea came to me
to get shavSl 1t was quite natural
idea, for my beard was hurting me-the
cold wind seems to bite an unshaved
skin. My hoard was eight days old, and
there were to be other people at dinner,
so should be more presentable if shaved
AT the entrance of the village on the
right hand side stood picturesque lit
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. went in, and ordering a glass
of wine asked the host if there was a
barber in the village
'Parbleu oui ~ cried an old peasant
who was sitting with his feet In the
stove and lighting his pipe with fire.
brand. ''There is old Bridevent, who
shaved the whole camp of Nehon during
the war. If he is at homeland he ought
to be, for as passed the church just
now saw his dog Ronflot running down
the street.-the will do the trick for you
first rate, and very quickly too!'
"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 i'll the country when the camp
left Monroe. He comes from the neigh
borhood of Piron, doesn't he?"
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
poaching on the sly and occasionally
dressing a beard are not enough to fill the
pot. Yet he does nothing else, SO far as
l can see.
"Bridevent is sly one, Maitre le
Hodey, and has put aside little money
He used to keep cantine, and has done
other things than shave chins.
Satisfied with what I had heard, l
asked the proprietor to show me Bride
vents house and left the inn. 1 found
it, as he had described, 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 its lonely
situation.
When was within few feet of the
porch, which was partly concealed by
low bushes, the door suddenly opened
and figure appeared.
1t was that of 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 cleaning
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 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 al
most gay:
"Eh bien, my friend, at this time of
day, and with this kind of weather,
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. II will do the best 1 can. -
He went i'll 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 i'll 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 kneading trough
composed the rest of the furniture in the
room. Two Or three dingy looking pic
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 fowling pieces and two guns rested
their long cleaning barrels against the
mantelshelf
ga little bit of fire is not SO bad in
this weather, helm. 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 a bundle
of fagots into the stove 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
his STOPPING position and went into
neighboring room, shutting the door
carefully behind him. When he returned
few moments later, heard a stealthy
step going down the passage.
''Warm yourself, monsieur" he said
to me again, placing q little stone jai
filled with water, preparatory to shay
ing. Don't fear to burn the wood.
Wood Is not expensive in the country.
1t only costs the trouble of gathering it."
Then he opened cabinet and took out
pair of razors, which he began to strop
conscientiously.
Famous razors these, monsieur. This
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