The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-02-16


grass-grown road we came upon n few
children shaking walnuts from tree,
about 900 PAGES from us, whilst a man
and woman stood hard by observing
them. AZ the sight of US the woman
turned TO the man with an alarmed gcs.
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
brushwood, 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 are very hashful here, Jacques"
I said. quickening my pace.
Except the lady, monsieur" and then
we trotted up alongside her
Refining in, l asked IL she could direct
me to the blacksmith's, for there
seemed no sign of forage about. 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 | saw that she
appeared TO he of the superior peasant
class, but evidently sunk in poverty.
She was young and her features were
so correct that, with circumstances a
little altered, she would have been
more than ordinarily good looking.
At present, however, the face was wan
with privation, and there was fright
cned look in her eyes. I repeated my
question in as gentle tone as | could
command. and she found tongue.
neutrality-suspicious. will guide
you"
"Ol That is all very WELL" began
Jacques, but l interrupted him, won.
dering little TO myself what this
meant.
every well, and thanks"
She dropped courtesy, and then
asked, with timid eagerpess:
Monsieur does not come from the
Blaisois?"
"Ma fol! No! This is hardly the
way from the Orleaunois-but lead on,
please, il grows late"
She glanced up again. n suspicion in
her eyes, and then without another
|
her down the winding, grass-grown
lane, past a few struggling cottages
where not a soul was visible, and up
through the narrow street, where the
sight of us drove the few wretched in.
habitants into their tumbe-down
houses, as If we had the plague itself AT
our saddle bows. Finally we stopped
before n cottage of some pretensions to
size, but decayed and worn, as all else
was in this village. which seemed but
half alive. Over the entrance to the
cottage hung faded signboard, mark
ing that il was the local hostelry, and tc
the right was n small shed, apparently
used as a workshop, and here the smith
was, seated on a rough bench, gazing
into space.
He rose Mt our approach and made al
il he would be off; but his daughter, n,
the young woman turned out TO be
gave him sign To stay, and he haltec
muttering something could not catch
and as / looked at the gloomy figure o
the man, and the musty inn, said on
loud: "Morbleu! But il is well W,
have time to mend our trouble ant
make Rouvres-thanlls, my girl" an,
bending from the saddle, offered on
guide a coin. She fairly snatched nt II
and then, coloring up, turned and RAJ
into the inn. | threw another coin {,
the smith, and bade him set about shoe
ing the horse.
He shuffled this way and that and an
swered duly that he would do the jol
willingly, but it would take time-tw
hours.
But it will be night by then" ex
postulated, "and have to go on-I can
not stay here"
"As monsieur chooses" answered tn
clod; but you see-I have nothin,
ready-and ! am slow now-I canno
help it,"
This is devil of place." eS
claimed, resigning myself to circum
stances, and dismounting. handed tn
reins to jacques. AS did so hear
voices from the inn, one APPARENT
that of a girl, aud the other that of
man, and it would seem that she wa
urging something; but what IL was
: could not catch, nor was curious as 3
the point of discussion; but il struc
me that as we had to wait here tw
hours it would be well to inquire IL
could get some refreshments for oul
selves, and feed for the beasts. Fo
answer to my question got gruff "g
. and ask my daughter" from the smitl
$ who turned as he spoke and began t
!. tumble with his tools. felt my ten
per rising hotly, but stayed my arm
and bidding Jacques keep an eye on III
horses stepped toward the door of tn
inn. AS put my hand on it to press
open, some one from within made a
, effort to keep it shut; but was in n
mood to be trif1ed with further, ant
pushing back the door without furtht
n ceremony, stepped in. In doing SO
= thrust some one back yard or SO. an
T found that ii was the girl, who was tr.
ing to bar me out. Ashamed of the Y
4 olence had shown | began to apo
n ogize, whilst she stood before II
r rubbing her elbow, and her faC
o flushed and red. The room WI
x bare and drear beyond description
+ There were a couple of rough tables,
chair or so, an iron pot simmering ov,
[ a fire of green wood, whose pungent ode
r filed the chamber. In a corner a ms
[ lay apparently asleep, tattered cloa
e drawn over his features, so as to entir
ly conceal them. ! felt in a momel
o that this was the stranger who had n,
y on our approach and that he was pla