Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1899-01-26
"ihere Is a smi.s at Ezy. monsieur

III TINS nldhHti VT IpRRtu dlbilS, max
ing but slow progress. and the sun was
setting when we came into view of the
willowlined banks of the Eurc and en-.
tered the walnut groves of the outlying
forest in which E/y lay. As we ap-
preached we saw thar the village was
three parts deserted. and the ruined or
chards and smokcless chimnrys told
their own tale. Turning bend of the
grass grown road we came upon n few
children shaking walnuts from n tree,
about 200 PAGES from MS. whilst a man
and woman stood hard by observing
them. At the sight Of us the woman
turned Ia IN" man with an alarmed gcS-
turr. and he half drew n sword we saw
the white ilash-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 arevery hashfulhere. Jacques"
I said, quickening my pace.
Except the lady. monsieur. and then
We trottcd up alongside her.
Refining in, asked IL she could direct
me to the blacksmith's. for there
seemed no sign of a forage about. She
made no answer. but stopped and stared
nj ms through her hair, which fell in
thick masses over her forehead and
neck. As she did this saw that she
appeared Ia he of the superior peasant
class. but evidently sunk in poverty.
She was Young and her features were
so correct that, with circumstances n
little altered. she would have been
more than ordinarily good looking.
st present. however, the face was wan
with priyation. and there was fright
cned look in her eyes. repeated my
question in As gentle a tone rs could
command. and She found tongue.
Monsieur pardon-I will guide
you"
20. That is all very we'll" began
Jacques. but | interrupted him, won
dering n little To myself what this
meant.
Very we'll. and thanks"
She dropped courtesy, and then
asked. with a timid eagcrncss:
Monsieur does not come from the
Blaisoiss"
"Ma fol, No, This is hardly the
way from the Orleannois-but lead on,
please. il grows late"
She glanced up again. a suspicion in
her eyes, and then without another
word went on before us. We followed
her down the winding, grass-grown
lane. past a few struggling cottages
where not soul was visible. and up
through the narrow street, where the
sight of us drove the few wretched in
habitants into their tumble-down
houses. as if we had the plague itself at
our saddle bows. Finally we stopped
before "A 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 a faded signboard, mark
ing that il was the local hostelry. and ia
the right was n small shed, apparently
used As workshop. and here the smith
was. seated on a rough bench, gazing
into space.
He rose Mt orr approach and made as
IL he would be of; but his daughter, aS
the Young woman turned out 10 he
| gave him a sign 10 stay, and he halted
and as l looked at the gloomy figure of
the man. and the musty inn. said out
loud: "Morbleu, But il is well we
have time 10 mend our trouble and
make Rouvres-thanks, my girl" am
bending from the saddle, | offered ON
guide a coin. She fairly snatched at It.
and then. coloring up, turned and ran
into the inn. | threw another coin to
the smith, and babe him set about shoe.
ing the horse.
He shuffled this way and that and an.
swered duly that he would do the job
willingly, but it would take time-two
hours.
But IL will be night by then" ex.
postulated, land have TO go on can
not stay here"
AS monsieur chooses" answered the
clod: but you see-I have nothing
rcady-and I am slow now-I canno,
help it,"
This is a devil of a place." | ex
claimed. resigning myself TO circum.
stances. and dismounting, handed tho
reins TO Jacques. As did so heard
voices from the inn, one apparently
that of n girl, and the other that of a
man, and it would seem that she was
urging something: but what il was
could not catch, nor was curious as to
me that as we had to wait here two
hours il would be well to inquire il
could get some refreshments for our
selves, and a feed for the beasts. Fol-
answer to my question got a gruff go
and ask my daughter" from the smith
who turned as he spoke and began to
tumble with his tools. l felt my TEN
per rising holly. but stayed my arm
and bidding Jacques keep an eye on the
horses stepped toward the door of the
inn. AS put my hand on it to press il
open, some one from within made an
effort to keep it shut: but I was in M
mood TO he trifled with further, and
pushing back the door without furthe,
ceremony, stepped in. In doing SO
thrust some one back yard OF. so. and
found that il was the girl, who was try
ing to bar me out. Ashamed of the vi
olence had shown I began to apol
ogize. whilst she stood before m,
rubbing her elbow, and her fac,
flushed and red. The room wa.
bare and drear beyond description
There were n couple of rough tables, :
chair or so. an iron pot simmering ovel
a fire ofgreen wood, whose pungent odol
filed the chamber. In corner MAJ
lay apparently asleep. tattered cloal
drawn over his features. so as to entire
~ conceal them. l felt in n moment
that this was the stranger who had fec
on our approach and that he was play
| inc fox Guessinp there WINS more he