The leader., 1897-06-02
A BOYS ADVENTURE.
BY w. S. BATES.

"Wen, Charles, my boy, I'm afraid
there's nothing for it but to sell old
Blaize."
So spoke, with a doleful shake of his
gray beard, Pierre Giraud, as he sat at
his cottage door-his usual post, just
then. thanks to the rheumatism, which
racked his poor old joints SO cruelty
and looked out upon the small, green
meadow, which, with the old horse that
was grazing upon it, formed his entire
possessions.
What! Part with our old horse, IA
Their? Oh, don't do that! The field
would look quite strange without him,
and I'm sure | shouldn't have any APP
petite for breakfast if | didn't see him
come up to the door for his bit of
bread"
"Well, l shall miss him sorely my
self; but what's to be done? The rents
due on Saturday, and l can't possibly
make it up without selling old Blaize.
Everything seems to have gone i'll with
us, somehow, since your poor mother
died; but we must just take what for
tune sends There's fair at the town
tomorrow, so you'd better take Blaize
there and see what you can get for
him.
Next morning, accordingly, away
went Charles, with a very rueful face
riding for the last time upon his old
friend, who seemed to know that there
was something wrong, and, instead of
going along at his usual brisk amble,
hung his head and moved as slowly and
sclcmnly as if he were drawing a
hearse
Charles himself was not much hap
pier. The thought of losing his IA
yorite, who used to eat out of his hand
md follow him about like a dog, quite
took away the pleasure Of the bright
sunshine and the green fields and the
fresh flowers, which he would have en-
Joyed very much at any other time.
And, by the time he got to the town,
he felt so low that he hardly cared to
cat the bread and cheese which his
careful father had put in his pocket.
However, the stir and hustle of the
fair, with its long lines of tents and
waving flags, and jingling bells, and
u"'"'NN pOONhSs iiSdBSA WIN Wy anu
cakes, and gayly-dressed acrobats and
Jugglers, frightened him up a little;
and he was glad to find that old BlaiZe
fetched a good price, and to see that
the man who bought him seemed to be
good-natured fellow.
My names Blaize, too" said he, as
he took the bride from Charles hand;
so I'm bound to take good care of my
namesake. l live on the CroiX-Rouge
farm, not far from here, and if you
ever want him back again you'll know
Where to find him."
And now came the paying of the
money, which Charles slowed away in
the breast of his jacket with no small
satisfaction.
But, unluckily, Farmer Blaize had
bought so many things ahead that day
Gay that he found himself rather short
ei gold and silver money, and had to
make up the amount with a leathern
Dag full OF copper pieces, which Charles
found very unhandy' thing to carry.
You will have poor chance, my
iad' on lonely road at nightfall, with
,hat bag of money chinking in your
hands, said the keeper of little inn
al the corner of the market place, who
knew him well. Better remain here
ior the night than be robbed on the way
nome FL give you a nights lodging.
and welcome"
But Charles thought of his father. sit
ang waiting for him alone, and so he
declined. with thanks" and tramped
mahiully out of the town. bag and all.
but he found walking much slower
"ork than riding, especially with such
"eight TO carry, and, hasten as he
nhsht, darkness overlook him when he
was stun good way from home.
ana now the innkeeper's warning be-
gan 10 come back to him unpleasantly
enough, as we'll it might, for in those
uays the roads of France were not by
any means as safe as they are now, and
me great war which had just ended
nao Hooded all the highways with
armed ruffians, who had followed the
saue OF plundering too long while
shung was going on to think of Civ
ing II up now, and who, provided they
, ,, get hold OF heavy purse, cared
.i'ue whether 1t was taken from a coun-
lyman or from a foreigner.
Just at this point the road dipped
1own INTO dark, narrow gully, over
lung on one side by thick. high bushes,
"hiie on the other, broad. rapid
ueam went dashing and foaming
uong the huge, black powders.
- better place for robbers-or a
mVise one for any man who wished to
1'u them-could hardly be imagined;
ala. IN fact. the spot was SO famous for
, issuance of this kind that The coun-
~ people had niclxnamed it ia Souri,
s'ere c@The Mouse Trap").
snaries, feeling more and more I'M
t s; as he descended into il, was
s an 70 try and keep up his tagging
spirits PIT with a song:
fields, 'u '''s ieAi' s'ee'
Eb.ren spring is bright in the sky.
v,s me hawthorn blossom its fragrance