The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1895-06-21
NOIRAUD.
By LUDOvIC HALEyY.

Don't be alarmed, monsieur, you
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"
NO 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 it
has not been fifteen minutes late"
This day, however, the rule did not
hold good. The train was on time and
l 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 thing" and taking all
the porters as witnesses he said: WAS
it ever heard of before? do not wish
to be at fault in this gentleman's eyes.
A train on time! Tell him for me that
this is the very first time it ever hap
pened."
There was a general chorus Of 20,
yes; always late, always!"
So l only had three long hours to
pass in this very melancholy village of
the Canton of Vaud, fianked by two
melancholy mountains, with each q
little patch of snow on it's summit.
How kill these three hours? I in
turn spoke for assistance, and there
was general cry of go and see the
Chaudron, the only thing worth seeing
in these parts"
And where was the Chaudron?
ION 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, l would
find 1.-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.
as Father Simon in?"
HE lives here-is it to go to the
Chaudron?"
"Yes; to go to the Chaudron.
swell, he hasn't been himself since
this morning; his legs trouble him; he
can't get abouta But don't be dis
turbed, we have some one to replace
him, Noiraud, only l must warn you
that Noiraud is not person"
Not person."
mo; he is our dog. He is used to it,
and will guide you very well, as well
as NV husband"
"As well as your husband?"
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 l; he only needs to
talk, but it is not necessary for him to
talk in this case If it were to show a
monument and know history dates and
q speech it 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 as much for
the franc and half as my husband
would for the three"
Very well. Where is Noiraud?"
'He is resting in the garden. He
has already taken some English up to
the Chaudron this morning. Noiraud!
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 a certain air OF
gravity, decision and Importance. he
first gave me a precise, clear, sharp
glance which enveloped me rapidly
from head 70 foot and seemed clearly
to say: ''It is traveller; he wishes to
see the Chaudron."
Beng left once was enough for that
day, so 1 was essentially careful not to
expose myself to a second such misad-
venture. I explained to the woman