Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-11

and whether it was a pretty girl lin
| gering behind a troop OF gypsies. or a
| pair of stro1lers from ValeEcia-iong-
leurs they still called sing
ing in the old dialect of Provence, or
| Norman horse dealer with his string
of cattle tied head and tail, or the Puy
de Dome to the eastward over the
Auvergne hills, or tattered old soldier
wounded in the wars-fghting for
either side. according as their lord
ships inclined-we were pleased with
all.
Yet we never forgot our Grand We
never, 1 think, rose in the morning
too often stiff and sore-withoutt think
ing: To-day or tomorrow or the next
day"-as the case might be-''we
shall make all right for Xiii" For
Kit! Perhaps it was the purest en-
thuSiasm we We're ever to feel the least
selfish aim we were ever to pursue
For Kit!
on the road. Half the nobility of
France were still in Paris enjoying the
festivities which were being held to
mark the royal marriage. We OBJ
tanned horses where we needed them
had heard much of the dangers of the
way, infested as it was said to be by
disbanded troopers, we were not once
stopped or annoyed.
But it is not my intention to chron-
icle all the events of this my first jour
ney, though dwell on them with pleas
ure; or to say what / thought of the
towns, all new and strange TO me,
through which we passed. Enough
that we went by way of Limoges,
Chateauroux and Orleans, and that at
ChateaurouX we learned the failure of
one hope we had formed. We had
thought that Beers when Joined there
by his troopers would not be able to get
relays; and that on this account we
might by travelling post overtake him;
and possibly slip by him between that
place and Paris. But we learned at
ChateaurouX that his troop had re-
ceived fresh orders to go to Orleans
and await him there, the result being
that he was able to push forward with
relays so Ear. He was evidently in hot
haste. For leaving there with his
horses fresh he passed through Anger
vile, 40 miles short of Paris, at noon,
whereas we reached it on the evening
of the same day-the sixth after leav-
ing Caylus.
We rode into the yard of the lima
large place, seeming larger in the dusk
so tired that we could scarcely slip
from oTlr saddles. Jean, our servant,
took the four horses, and led them |
across to the stables, the poor beasts |
hanging their heads and following
We stood a moment stamp |
ing our feet and stretching our legs. |
The place seemed in u hustle, the clat- |
ter of pans and dishes proceeding from
the windows over the entrance, with a |
glow of light and the sound of feet hur-
ryirg in the passages. There were |
men, too, half a dozen or so, standing |
at the door of the stables. while others
leaned from the windows. One or two
lanthorns just kindled glimmered here
and there in the semi-darkness, and in
a corner two smiths were Shoeing a
horse.
We were turning from all this to &C
in, when we heard jeans voice raised
in alteration. and thinking our rustic
servant had fallen into trouble, we
walked across to the stables near which
he and the horses were still lingering
well, what is it?' said, sharply.
''They say that there is no room fo1
the horses" Jean answered, querulous
ly, scratching his head; half sullen
half cowed, a country servant all over
''And there is not!" cried the fore
most of the gang about the door, hasten
ing to confront US in turn. His tone
was insolent. and it needed but half an
Eye to see that the fellows were in.
clined to back him up. He stuck his
arms alkimbo and faced us with an i'm
pudent smile. A lanthorn on the
ground beside him throwing an uncer-
tain light on the group, 1 saw that they
Ill wore the same badge.
Come" I said, sternly, ''the stables
ire large, and your horses cannot fill
them. Some room must be found for
mine''
ITO be sure! Make way for the
xing!" he retorted. While one ieered
'Vive lie roll" and the rest laughed.
Not good-humoredly. but with touch
IF spitefulness.
Quarrels between gentlemen's serv-
ants were as common then as they are
to-day. But the masters seldom con-
descended to interfere. LET the fell
ows fight it out" was the general SEN
,inent. Here, however. poor Jean was
and we had no choice but
70 see to it ourselves.