The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-31
THE TWO INNS.
BY Alphonse Daudet.

gardens of olive trees and dwarf oo,s
under the great fiat silver sun which
filled all the sky.
There was not n spot of shade NOT n
breath of air.
There was nothing but the vibrating
heat and the shrilI cry of the grass
hoppers-a foolish. deafening music to
quick time which seemed the express
sion of the great luminous vjbrotjon.
had been walking in this open desert
two hours when a cluster of white
houses arose suddenly out of the dusty
road before me.
1t was what Is called the relay of st.
Vincent.
There We're five or six houses with
long, low, red-roofed barns: an empty
watering trough I'm q clump of straggl-
ing fig trees. and at the end of the place
stood two large inns.
One was a large, new building, full of
life anu noise, all the doors We're open:
the diligence was standing in front
from which they were unhitching the
steaming horses-the passengers were
climbing down to get hasty drink
in the short shadow thrown by the
walls. The court was filled with mules,
loaded carts and the drivers lying under
the sheds awaiting fresh relays.
From the inside could be heard cries,
oaths. the pounding of fists on the
tables. the exploding corks of lemonade
bottles, the clinking of glasses. the
noise of billiards. and dominating all
this tumult a joyous. ringing voice,
singing in manner calculated to make
the glasses tremble.
The inn, opposite. on the contrary.
was as silent as If abandoned. Weeds
grew about the entrance, the blinds
We're broken, upon the door n small
branch of withered holly hung like an
old plume The doorsteps We're propped
up with stones from the road. All was
so poor. so pitiful, that 1t seemed
real charity to stop there for a glass Of
something.
/ entered. There was a long, de-
serted, mournful room, which the
dazzling light from three great cur
tainless windows made more deserted
and mournful still.
Some limping tables, on which We're
scattered few dusty glasses; yell
low sofa, an old counter. broken
down billiard table. slept there in a
heavy. deathly heat.
And flies! flies! Never had l seen so
many; on the ceiling, in the glasses. in
punches, When opened the door there
was a buzzing and agitation of wings
as If had entered beehive.
At the end of the room, in a window.
woman stood with a face towards
the glass looking intently outside
I called twice:
'He. hostess"
She turned slowly and let me see
poor PEASANTS face, wrinkled. hollow,
of the color of dirt, framed in a scarf of
red lace, such as old women wear in
villages with u.s. Nevertheless, she was
not an old woman. Tears had faded
her.
"What do you want?" she asked, wip-
ing her eyes.
II want to sit down a moment and
have something to drink
She looked at me very much as
tonishcd, without moving, as If she had
not understood.
This is not an inn, then?"
The woman sighed.
"Yes. 1t Is an inn II you like--but
why have you not gone opposite, like
the others? 1t Is much gayer-"
'It Is too gay for me. | prefer to stay
at your house"
And without waiting her response I
seated myself before q table.
When she was very sure was speak
ing she began to go and come with a
bustling air. opening drawers, moving
bottles, wiping glasses, disturbing the
fiies--one felt that to wait upon this
traveller was an event.
Now and then the unhappy woman
would clasp her hands to her head as
though she despaired of keeping on her
feet.
Then she went into an adjoining
room. ! could hear her there rattling
great keys, turning the locks, fumbling
in the bread box. gasping. dusting.
washing glasses.
From time to time there was a great
sigh, a half-choked sob.
After n quarter of an hour of house,
keeping I had before me a plate of
dried grapes. an old loaf of bread. hard
as slate. and n bottle of wine.
"You are served" said the strange
creature. and she turned nuicklv 10
take her place Mt the window. While
drinking I tried IN make her talk
"peonle do mot come here often do
thew nv good woman9'
"Oh. no. monsieur. nevcr anvone
Whom ye had The onlv inn baro a. ,ya.
o,,,et Iifrarent We had the .to%o
coach game dinners IN The wild Jme,,
.ea son and teamstera aII The vaor
round mt since orr neinbbnrs have
come and esta biished tbanaeives we
rather go ~ tSa onno.;to .;Io ,rhav
and II too duil here % The fact ,s I the
hn,,. nu n, ~ " ,na,aent IN n. ,,,,t' 10 ,ue
no"se ~ nua p,easan.. a ILL., i. am M no, ueau.,,
little I'M ones are dc" dead V Over the there % on the the
n..,e . os .a IRE Iau Cer ~, a., .nere. ., on .ne
coh'1aIy. 1a,S. .mey 'ausn ~ % .me timei IL u
an aI hrIe s'eune ,.,I WHO Sesps .hs I'M
..an husone ,.n wonln s MI Wno % Wars ,ace dmm nn
% nacE S Ths driver so,S os % the d,iipence % 'i IL
neck; me .,i. urver vi 'ne uhisence 10
her her lover YER With M that there are , sew,
% sha bas s vnad '",o stnaTv natroron ' ne, 't, sha