The Van Buren press., 1895-07-13
NOIRAUD.
BY LUDOvIC HALEvY.

nx AUDOVIC HALEvY.
Don't be alarmed, monsieur, Won
won't miss your train. I've taken pas
sengers to the station for fifteen years
and no one ever missed . train, sir.
never"
"But-"
mo use looking at your watch, sir,
there Is something you don't know and
which your watch can't tell you-the
train Is always fifteen minutes late,
there never was an occasion when Il
has not been fifteen minutes late"
This day, however, the rule did not
hold good. The train was on time and
! missed it. My driver was enraged.
You ought to announce that the
trains leave on time all at once" he
cried to the stationmaster. II never
heard OF such thingl'' and taking all
the porters as witnesses he said. WAS
1t ever heard OF before? do not wish
to be at fault In this gentleman's eyes
train on timel Tell him for me that
this is the very Arst time II ever hap
pened."
There was . general chorus Of 20,
yes; always late, always!"
so ! only had three long hours to
pass In this very melancholy village OF
the Canton Of Vaud, fanked by two
melancholy mountsinA with each .
little patch Of snow on its summit
How kill these three hours9 I In
turn spoke for assistance, and there
was q general cry Of "Go and see the
Chaudron, the only thing worth seeing
In these parts"
And where was the Chaudron?
"on the mountain to the right, half
way up, but the path Is little compli-
Gated" l was advised TO take guide,
and over there, way over there in the
white house with green blinds, would
find "the best guide in the country, a
fine guide, Father Simon"
went over to the little house and
knocked at the door. An old woman
opened it.
"Is Father Simon in?"
"He lives here-is II TO 60 to the
Chaudron?"
Eyes; to 20 to the Chaudron."
well, he hasn't been himself since
this morning; his legs trouble him; he
can't get about. But don't be dis.
turbed, we have some one to replace
him, Noiraud, only I must warn you
that Noiraud Is not person."
"Not person?"
mo; he is our dog. He Is used to 1t,
and will guide you very well, as well
as my husband"
AS well as your husband9'
Certainly. For years and years
Father Simon has taken him along. so
he has learned the places, and now he
does the business alone. He has often
taken travellers before, and we have
always had compliments for him. As
for intelligence, don't be afraid, he has
as much as you and I, he only needs to
talk, but 1t Is not necessary for him to
talk In this case. II 1t were to show q
monument and know history dates and
. speech 1t would be different Here
are only the beauties of nature. Take
Noiraud. And then, monsieur, he is
cheaper. My husband is three francs
and Noiraud is but franc and half,
and he will show you ss much for
the franc and half as my husband
would for the three"
"Very we'll. Where is Noiraud?"
He Is resting in the garden. He
has already taken some English up to
the Chaudron this morning. Noirsudl
Noiraud"
He came in through the window
with one bound. He was an ugly
enough little black dog, with long
curly, ,woolly hair, his looks did not
speak for much, but In his whole per-
sonality there was . certain air OF
gravity, decision and Importance. He
first gave me q precise, clear, sharp
glance which enveloped me rapidly
from head to foot and seemed clearly
to say: ut is . traveller; he wishes to
see the Chaudron."
Being left once was enough for that
day, so was essentially careful not to
expose myself to second such misad-
venture. explained to the woman
that I had but three hours for the
walk to the Chaudron.
"Oh, yes," said she; "you wish to
take the four o'clock train. Don't be
afraid. Noiraud will bring you back
IN time. Come, Noiraud; start along
my boy; start along"
But Noiraud did not appear to feel at
all disposed to start along. Hesat mo
tionless. gazing at his mistress with
agitation. =,
"Ah. how stupid ! am" said the old
woman. II forgot--I had forgotten
the sugar"
She took four Jumps Of sugar from @
drawer and gave them to me.
"That is why he did not want to
start; you hadn't the sugar. Start up,
my boy, to the Chaudron, the Chaudron,
the Chaudropl"
She repeated these words three
times, speaking slowly and very dis
tinctly, and meanwhile examined
Noiraud with attention. He answered
her with little mods, which at the end
showed q little impatience and III tenn
per. They could be interpreted: yes
-ves-to the ChaudrOn-l understood
the gentleman has the sugar-and
we are going to Chaudron. Do you
tal.e me for an idiot?" And without
waiting for the third "Chaudron" OF
Nine. Simon, Noiraud. evidently
wounded, turned his heels and
placed himself in front OF me, show
mo me the door by look and saying
as distinctly as It is permitted dogs:
"Well, will you Gomez"
followed him meekly. He kept on
ahead and we passed through the VII
lare thus. The children romping III