Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-12-08
CHAPTER V.
GOOD DEED COMES HOME TIC
ROoST.

Gt1<A1 LIN v.
GOOD DEED COMES HOME TO
ROoST.
We dashed through the streets of BIZ
ache, arousing the village dogs, asleep
the yellow sunlight, to a chorus of
depreciation. About dozen sought
S revenge their disturbed slumbers,
Ind, following the horses, snapped
hGously at their heels; but we soon
iistanced them, and, fiinging curse or
% after us in dog language, they gave
81 ID the pursuit and returned to blink
way the afternoon. 1t was my inten-
ion to keep to the right of Ivry, and,
dter crossing the Eure, head straight
ts Paris. which l would enter either
" way of Versailles or ST. Germans, It
battered little what road. and there
vas plenty of time to decide.
For league or so we galloped along
he undulating ground which sloped to-
YARD the ford near Ely; but as we be-
pn TO approach the river, the country.
tudded with apple orchards and trim
With hedgerows of holly and hawthorn,
hoke into a wild and rugged moorland,
ntersected by ravines, whose depths
we're concealed by tall underground
+ d Christ's thorn and hornbeam, whilst
kyond this, in russell, in sombergreens,
md grays that faded into absolute blue,
&rretched the forests and woods of Anet
md th-Sorel.
As we slid, rather than rode, down
one of these banks, my horse cast
hoe, and this pat a stop to any fur
Aer hard riding. until the mishap could
~ repaired.
There is smith at Ely, monsieur
bid Jacques, where we can get what
he want done, and then push on to
Amvres, where there is good accom-
nodation at the Grand Cert"
In this manner we logged along, max
ing but slow progress, and the sun was
|etting when we came into view OF the
banks of the Eure and en-
|ered the walnut groves of the outlying
|orest in which Ely lay. As we APP
preached we saw that the village was
three parts deserted, and the ruined or
chards and smokeless chimneys tod
heir own tale. Turning bend of the
srass-grown road we came upon few
children shaking walnuts from tree,
shout 200 PAGES from us, whilst man
and a woman stood hard by observing
them. At the sight of us the woman
turned to the man with an alarmed ges-
ture. and he half drew sword-we saw
the white fiash--and then, changing his
mind, ran off into the forest. The chill
dren followed suit, sliding down the
trunk of the tree and fleeing into the
kushwood, looking for all the world
like little brown rabbits as they dashed
into the gaps in the thorn.
As for the woman, she turned slowly,
and began to walk toward the village.
"They arev very bashful here, jacques"
l said, quickening my pace.
Except the lady, monsieur and then
We trotted up alongside her.
Refining in, asked If she could direct
me TO the blacksmith's, for there
seemed no sign of forage abont. She
made no answer, but stopped and stared
at us through her hair, which fell in
thick masses over her forehead and
neck. AS she did this l saw that she
appeared to be of the superior peasant
class, but evidently sunk in poverty.
She was young and her features were
80 correct shat, with circumstances
little altered, she would have been
more than ordinarily good looking.
At present, Lo1ever, the face was wan
with privation, and there was fright
ened look in her eyes. repeated my
question in as gentle tone as l could
command, and she found tongue.
Monsieur-pardon-I will gmoe
ysu."
"Ol That is all very WE'LL" began
jacques, but l interrupted him, won
dering little to myself what TINS
meant.
Very well, and thanks"
e cropped courtesy, a
asked, with a timid eagerness;
Monsieur does not come from the
Baisois?"
Ma fol! MOL This is hardly the
way from the Orleannois-but lead on
Please, it grows late"
She glanced up again. a suspicion IN
aer eyes, and then without another
word went on before us. We followed
AH down the winding, grass-gro"n
hne, past few struggling cottages
where not soul was visible, and up
through the narrow street. where sne
sght Of us drove the few wretched IN
saoitants into their tumble-down
aeuses, as If we had the plague itself az
,@ saddle bows. Finally we stopped
eeiore cottage of some pretensions 70
We, but decayed and worn, as all else
as in this village. which seemed put
All alive. Over the entrance to the
stage hung faded signboard. marx
@s that it was the local hosiery. and 10