Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-31
THE GUARD.

1Aty "tIC iii =
and adventure after dinner. An old
friend Of ours, NJ. Boniface, a mighty
Nimrod and great drinker Of wine, a
gay, robust man full Of spirit, of wit,
Of philosophy, a hooking, resigned phil
osophy that manifested itself in cutting
witticisms but never in sadness, said
suddenly: Il know a hunting story, or
rather a hunting drama Strange
enough, 1t Is not at all like the general
run of such stories. / have never re-
lated it, thinking that 1t would mot be
amusing. 1t Is not a sympathetic story,
you understand. That is, it has not
that interest that stirs one or charms
OF touches one"
Here is the story:
When this occurred I was about
thirty-fye years old and a furious hun
ter. | owned at that time a very iso-
lated farm in the envirOns Of Jumieges,
surrounded by forests and well stocked
with hares and rabbits. l passed only
three Of four days in the year there,
and always alone, because the arrange
ment Of the place did not provide ac-
cOmmOdation for a friend. / had placed
there as a guard an old retired gend-
arme, a brave, rather violent man, q
terror 10 p~oachers, strict in his dis
cipline and afraid Of nothing. He lived
alone, far from the village, in q little
house or rather hovel consisting Of
two rooms below, a kitchen and cell
lar, and two rooms above. One or
them, which was nothing but a box,
just big enough for a bed, a cupboard
and chair, was reserved for me.
Father Cavalier occupied the other.
When 1 said he lived alone In the
lodge, I did not express myself clearly.
He had taken his nephew to live with
him. He was a worthless fellow OF
some fourteen years, who vent err
rands to the village, three kilometers
distant, and helped his uncle In mis-
daily cares.
The ~scapegrace, tall and crooked,
had yellow hair-so light that ii look
ed like the down on a ducks breast
SO thin that he looked as though he
were bald. He had enormous feet aud
giant hands, the hands Of a colossus.
He squinted a little, and never looked
any one square in the eye. He SEEM
ed to me to hold the same place in the
human race that poisonous beasts do
in the animal kingdom. The fellow
was a human fox or polecat. He
slept in a cub5y-hole ut the head OF
the stairs that led TO the chambers.
During my short visits at the "Pavll-
ion"-I called this hut the Pavilion
Marius gave up his niche TO an old
woman from E~corcheville. Celeste
came to look after the cooking, the
| efforts of Pere Cavilier In that line be-
ing insufficient.
|, Now you know the place and charac-
ters, let us proceed to the adventure.
1t was on Oct. Is, 1854. l remember
the date distinctly, and I shall never
forget it. I went to Rouen on horse
back, followed by my dog. Book, a
great DaImatian hound, broad chested,
with massive jaws. He beat the bushes
! for game Ike a spaniel from Pout An
demer. I carried my traveling-bag on
the crupper, my gun slung over my
shoulder. 1t was a cold day, with
| great, gloomy clouds fitting across the
sky and a strong wind blowing.
As | climbed M Cantelere. I looked
| away over the vast valley through
which the Seine wound like a serpent.
The towers of Rouen touched the sky
to the left. and far of IN the right
| stretched the wood-covered fields. For
ten years at that same time | had pre-
scented myself in the same fashion and
the same words from the same lips
had greeted me:
"Good-day. monsieur. Is your health
| satisfactory" Cavalier had not chang
ed.
The old woman. a devoted soul, al
ways seemed moved when she saw me
and every time l left would say: Il
think this may be the last time, u
dear master"
This desolate, timid farewell Of the
| poor old servant, this enforced resigna-
ton and expectation Of her approach.
Ing death. always touched my heart.
I got off my horse. Cavalier, after
shaking my hand warmly, led the horse
away to the little building that served
rs a stable. and followed Celeste into
the kitchen, that was also used as 4
dining room. There the keeper joined
me.
I saw at once that he did not look as
usual. He seemed ~preoccupied, i'll at
ease, anxious. I said: well Cavalier,
does everything go to please your lie
muttered:
Yes ana no. Ihere Is something l.
do not like"
I asked: what is it, my good fell
iowf' But he shook his head.
Not yet, sir. i don't want to trouble
you till it Is necessary"
] insisted, but he absolutely refused
to enlighten me before dinner. l I'M
derstood it must be a serious affair.
Thinking Of nothing else to say, l re-
marked:
rs there plenty of gamer"
"Oh," he replied, "tha game is plenty.
You will find all you wish. Thank
heaven! / can keep my eye on that"
He said this with so much gravity,
so much grief. 1t was nearly comical.
His heavy gray mustache dropped
m~ournfully over his lips.
Suddenly l bethought myelf I had
not yet seen his nephew. Where Is
Marius? Why does he not show HIM
self?' The guard jumped, and looked
me suddenly in the face.
well. monsieur, / had rather tell
you that after awhile; yes, / had rateh-
er. 1t Is on his account / am worried"
"Ahl We'll where is hp?"