Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-19

clung on. The big hat shook down 1 upon my collar. In all my life I had l never saw hat so big. Through the break in 1t could see g farmhouse. In a jiny the horse had cleared . fence. and was running, with the feet of terror, in dusty road. grew an 1 gry at myself as we tore along-l knew not why. It was rage of dis comfort, l fancy, for somehow, l never l felt SO bounded and cluttered, so up in the air and out of place in my body The saber was working loose and hammering my knee; the big hat was rubbing my nose, the straw chaf1ng i my chin. had something under my arm that would sway and whack the side of the horse every leap he made. bore upon it hard, as if it were the l jewel of my soul. wondered why. and what it might be. In moment the big hole of my hat came into con- junction with my right eye. On my word, it was the stake! How it came there have never known, but, for some reason held to it. I looked neither to right nor left, but sat erect, one hand on the hilt of my saber, the other in the mane of the horse. know ing full we'll was the most hideous looking creature in the world. If had come to the gate of heaven I be- Dafa this keys. The straw worked up. and a great wad of it hung under my chin like bushy beard. would have giv- en anything for sight of myself, and laughed to think of it. although fac ing a deadly peril, as knew. But I | was young and had no fear in me those days. Would that man could have his youth on his death-bed! It was leap in the dark. but I was ready to take my chances.
 Evidently was nearing a village. Groups of men were in the shady thoroughfare; children thronged the dooryards. There was every sign of a holiday. As we neared them I caught my saber under my knee. and drew my hands into the long sleeves and waved them wildly. whooping like an Indian. They ran back to the fences with start of fear. AS I passed them they cheered loudly, waving their hats and roaring with laughter. An old horse, standing before an inn, broke his halter and crashed over a fence. A scared dog ran for his life in front of me. yelping as he leaped over a stone wall. Geese and turkeys flew in the air as neared them. The people had seemed to take me for some vil- lage youth on masquerade. We flashed into the open country before the sound of cheering had died away. On We went over long strip of hard soil. between fields. and off in the shade of thick forest. My horse be- , gan to tire. tried to calm him by gentle words. but I could give him no confidence in me He kept on. laboring hard and breathing heavily. as if I-were tons weight. We came to another clearing and fields of corn. A little out of the woods, and near the road. was log house white-washed from earth to caves. By the gate my horse went down. tumbled heavily in the road, and turning, caught him by the bits. The big hat had shot off my head; the straw had fallen away. A woman came running out of the open door. She had bare feet. a plump and cheery face.
 "Tonnerre!" said she. Quest ce que cels?"
 My countrywoman." said I, in French. feeling in my under-trousers for bit of silver and tossing 1t to her, "I am hungry"
 And I have no food to sell.' said she, tossing it back. You should know I am of France and not of England Come. you shall have enough. and foI no price but the eating. You have a tired horse. Take him to the stable and will make you meal"
 I led my horse to the stable, scraped him of father and dirt, give him a swallow of water, and took the same myself. for had a mighty thirst fir me. When came in, she had eggs and potatoes and bacon over the fire. ana 1 was filling the tea-kettle
 "On my soul" said she, frankly. ''yol are the oddest-looking man I ever saw Tell me, why do you carry that lons club?"
 I looked down. There it was undel my arm. It surprised me more thar anything I ever found myself doing.
 Madame. it is because I am fool, I said as I flung it out of the door.
 "1t is strange" said she. "Youl clothes-they are not your own: the! are as if they were hung up to dry And you have a saber and spurs"
 "Of that the less said the better answered, pulling out the saber. "Un Iess-unless. madame. you would lik' me to die young"
 Mon Dieu!" she whispered. "A Yankee soldier?"
 With good French blood in him. added. who was never so hungry in al his life"
 went out of the door as l spoke ard showed my saber under the house
 "I have a daughter on the other sid of the lake" said she. married to Yankee. and her husband is flghtinl ths British with the rest of you"
 God help him." said I.
 "Amen," said she. bringing my foo' to the table. ''rhe great Napoleon h