Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-04-14
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
D'ri and | left the chateau that aft
ernoon, putting up in the red tavern
at Morristown about dusk.
My companion rode away proudly,
the medal dangling at his waistcoat
lapel.
"Jerushy janet" said he. presently,
as he pulled rein. Amt a-goin' t hev
tibet hoppin' there so-meks me feel
LUX a bird. Don't seem nohow nat'ral.
Wha' d We s'pose he gin me tibet air
thing fer?"
He was putting it away carefully in
his wallet
"As a token of respect for your
bravery" said 1.
His laughter roared in the still
woods, making my horse lift and snort
a little. 1t was never an easy job to
break any horse to D'ri's laughter.
ITS reedic'lous," said he, thought
fully, in a moment.
"Why?'
"Cause fer the reason why they
don't no nan deserve nuthin' fer dom
what he d orter," he answered, with
r serious and determined look.
you did WELL" said l, and deserve
anything you can get"
Done my damdestl" said he. But
| did MT do nuthin' but git licked. Got
shot an tore an slammed all over
tibet air deck, an could MT do no harm
{ nobody. Jes LUX a boss tied n the
stall, an a lot O. men whalin' i'm, an
a lot more tryin' t scare i'm t DEATH
"Wha d. ye s'pose tibet air things
made uv%" he inquired, after a little
silence.
SILVER" said L.
Pure silver"
Undoubtedly was my answer.
Judas PRIEST said he, taking out
his wallet again, to look at the trophy.
Tibet air mus be with suthin,."
More than a years salary" said l.
He looked up at me with a sharp
whistle of surprise.
Ain no great hand fer sech funny
diddles," said he, as he put the medal
away.
IT'S a badge of honor" said L.
ut shows you re a brave man."
Got 'nough on EN-" said D'ri.
"This ere rip n the forehead's bout
all the badge l need"
ITS from the emperor-the great
Napoleon" l said. at s a mark of his
pleasure"
wall, by Judas Priest!" said D'ri,
"T would MT jump over a stump or
a stun WALT please no emp'ror, an
I would MT cut off my leetle finger fer
a hull bushel basket O them air. l
hain't a-fightin' fer no honor"
What them" said I.
His face turned very sober. He
pursed his lips, and spat across the
ditch; then gave his mouth a wipe.
and glanced thoughtfully at the sky.
Fer liberty" said he, with decision.
Same thing my father died fer"
Not to this day have I forgotten it,
the answer of old D'ri, or the look Of
him as he spoke. was only a reckless
youth fighting for the love of peril and
adventure, and with too little thought
Of the high purposes of my country.
The causes Of the war were familiar to
me; that proclamation Of Mr.. Madi-
son had been discussed freely in our
home, and I had felt some share in
the indignation of D'ri and my father.
This feeling had not been allayed by
the bloody scenes in which I had had
a part. Now l began to feel the great
passion of the people, and was put to
shame for a moment
"Liberty-that is a grand thing To
fight for" said I. after a brief pause.
Swap my blood any time fer tibet
air." said D'ri. II can fight sassy, but
not fer no king but God Almighty,
Don't pay t. git all tore up less it s
fer suthin' purity middlin' vallyble
My life amt with much, but, we see
hain't nuthin' else"
We rode awhile in sober thought
hearing only a sough of the wind above
and the rustling hoof-beat of oul
horses in the rich harvest of the au-
tumn woods. We were walking slow
ly over a stretch of bare moss when, al
a sharp turn, we came suddenly In
sight of a huge bear that sat facins
us. l drew my pistol as we pulled rein
firing quickly. The bear ran away
into the brush as l fired another shot
HE S hit" said D'ri, leaping off and
bidding me hold the bit. Then, with
long stride, he ran after the fleeing
bear. l had been waiting near half al
hour when D'ri came back slowly. will
a d~ownhearted look.
"'T ain no use" said he. Can
never git tibet bear, He s got a flesh
wound high up in his him quarters, an
he s travellin' fast"
He took a fresh chew Of tobacco ant
mounted his horse.
Terrible pity" he exclaimed. shak
ing his head with some trace of linger
ing sorrow. Ray" said he, soberly
after a little silence, when ye see
bear lookin' your way, eff ye want i'm