The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-06-10
A BOYS ADVENTURE.
BY w. S. BATES.

well. Charles, my boy, I'm afraid
there's nothing for it but to sell old
Blaze"
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 l shouldn't have any APP
petite for breakfast if l didn't see him
come up to the door for his bit o.
bread"
well, I 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 Ill with
us. somehow, since your poor mother
died; but we must lust take what for
tune sends. There's a 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
solemnly as il he were drawing n
hearse.
Charles himself was not much hap
pier. The thought Of losing his ia
vorite. who used to eat out of his hand
and 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 it's long lines OF tents and
waving flags. and jingling bells, and
painted booths. henped with toys and
cakes, and gayly-dressed acrobats and
jugglers, frightened him up a little;
and he wa glad to find that old Blaize
fetched a good price, and to see that
the man who bought him seemed to be
a g%ood-natured fellow.
my names Blaize, too" said he, as
he took the bride from Charles hand;
$50 Tin bound to take good care Of my
namesake. l live on the Croix-Rouge
farm. not far from here, and II 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
day that he found himself rather short
Of gold and silver money, and had to
make up the amount with a leathern
bag full Of copper pieces, which Charles
found q very unhandy thing to carry.
"You will have a poor chance, m
lad, on n lonely road at nightfall, with
that bag Of money thinking in your
hands," said the keeper Of a little inn
at the corner Of the market place, who
knew him well. Better remain her.
for the night than be robbed on the way
home. I'll give you a nights lodging.
and welcome"
But Charles thought Of his father, sit
ting waiting for him alone, and so he
declined, with thanks" and tramped
m~anfully out Of the town. bag and all.
But he found walking much slower
work than riding, especially with such
a weight to carry, and, hasten as he
might, darkness overlook him when he
was still o good way from home.
And now the i~nnkeeper's warning be-
gan to come back to him unplcasantly
enough, as well it might. for in those
days the roads Of France were not by
any means as safe as they are now. and
the great war which had just ended
had flooded all the highways with
armed rufians. who had followed the
trade Of plundering too long while
fighting was going on to think OF CIV.
ing 1t up now, and who, provided they
could get Hold Of a heavy purse. cared
little whether It wns taken from q u
tryman or from a foreigner.
Just at this point the road dipped
down into ozark. narrow gully. over
hung on one side by thick. high bushes,
while on the other, . broad, rapid