The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-04-23

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show you for three francs"
"Well, where is Noiraud?"
"Asleep in the sun in the garden.
This morning he took some English
men to the Caldron. I'll call him,
shan't I?''
"1es, please"
Noiraud! Noiraud!''
He came bounding through the Win
dow. He was poor black specimen,
with tumbled, curly, black hair. His
appearance was not prepossessing, but
he had nevertheless certain air of
gravity, decision, Importance. lie
looked first at me. His glance was
quick and comprehensive, taking me
iii rapidly from head to foot look
which clearly said: "Yo ou are travel
ler; you want to see the Caldron.'
had missed one train that day and
that was enough for me. l detcrmin-
ed not to risk it again. So l explained
to the good woman that had only
three hours in which to get to the Cal
dron and back.
"Oh, yes, l understand" she said,
"you want to catch the four o'clock
train. You need not be afraid. Moi
raud will bring you back in time.
Now, Noiraud, go along, old fellow, go
along"
But Noiraud did not seem at all in
clined to go. He stood perfectly still,
watching his mistress with evident
| agitation.
"Oh, how stupid l ami said the old
woman, 81 forgot the sugar"
She went to drawer and brought
out four Jumps of sugar, which she
gave to me, saying: This is why he
would not 60, you did not have the
sugar. Now go on, doggie. To the
| Caldron, to the Caldron, to the Cal
dron."
She repeated the words three times
slowly and distinctly, while watched
Noiraud attentively. He answered his
mistress's words by emphatically wag-
ging his head, and finally becoming
impatient and cross One could thus
interpret the wagging: Eyes, yes, to
the Caldron; l understand. The gen
tleman has the sugar, and We are to go
to the Caldron; | understand. Doyou
think l am dunce?"
And, without waiting to hear the
last word, Noiraud, evidently hurt at
Madame Simon's treatment, turned his
back upon her, and, standing in front
of me, glanced towards the door, say
ing as distinctly as dog could say it:
'Well, are you coming?' l followed
meekly, he leading the way, and thus
We went through the village. Wemet
some children playing in the streets.
They recognized my guide, and called:
"Hello. Noiraud!' They wanted to
play with him, but the dog turned his
head away disdainfully, with the air
of dog who has no time to play, but
who is doing his duty and earning
thirty SOUS One of the children cried:
''Let him alone; he is taking the gen
tleman to the Caldron. How do you
do, sir?" and they all laughed, and re-
peated: "How do you do?" strove
to smile, but with bad grace l know.
| felt embarrassed, even humiliated.
| was slave, as it were, to this dog.
For the moment he was my master.
He knew where he was going, and l
did not l wished | were out of the
village, alone with Noiraud, among the
beauties of nature which he was to
show me.
To begin with, these beauties con-
sisted Of a frightfully hot, dusty road,
on which the suns rays fell relentless
ly. The dog trotted along at an easy
pace, but began to grow very tired.
| tried to moderate his pace "Noi-
raud,' | said, ''Noiraud. old boy, not
so fast but Noiraud turned deaf
car, and went his own sweet way, with
ont paying me the least attention, and
o ice, when | sat down for minute in
the corner of a field under the slender
shade ola tree, he was really furious.
He barked in loud voice, looking at
me angrily. Evidently l was acting
contrary to rules, and the yelping be-
came so sharp and strident that rose.
Noiraud became calm at once, and con.
tinued to trot gayly before me. had
understood him, and that was enough
for him. Shortly afterwards we came
upon a beautiful path, shady, fresh
with the odor of blossoms, and cool
with ripping streams. All at once
Noiraud glided under the branches and
disappeared within narrow path. l
followed, somewhat out of breath |
had hardly gone hundred steps be-
fore | came upon him, waiting for me,
with raised head and shining eyes, in
a sort of green drawing room, which
resounded with the splash of tiny
waterfall. There was a rustic seat
there, and Noiraud glanced from it to
me and back again impatiently. was
| beginning to comprehend the dogs