Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-02
CHAPTER IT.
AT THE GREEN PILLAR.


 deep, leafy bottoms, and hills clothed with forest. Ridge and valley, gler and knoll, the woodland. sparsely peo. pied and more sparsely titled, stretches away to the great snow mountains that here limit France, It swarms with game--with wolves and bears, deer and boars. To the end of his life I have heard that the great king loved this district, and would sigh. when years and state fell heavily on him, for the beech-groves and box-covered hills ol South Bearn. From the terraced steps of Auch you can sec the forest roll away in light and shadow, vale and upland, to the base of the snow-peaks; and, though come from Brittany an6 love the smell of the salt wind, have seen few sights that outdo this.
 It was the second week in October when I came to Cocheforet, and, drop ping down from the last wooded brow rode quietly into the place at evening was alone and had ridden all day ir a glory of ruddy beech-leaves, through the silence of forest roads, across clear brooks and glades still green. had seen more of the quiet and peace of the country than had been my share since boyhood, and felt little melancholy; it might be for that reason, oF because I had no great taste for the task before me-the task now so imminent. In good faith, it was not gentleman's work look at it how you might.
 But beggars must not be choosers and knew that this feeling would pass away. At the inn, in the presence oi others, under the spur of necessity or in the excitement of the chase, were that once begun, should lose the feel ing. When a man is young, he seeks solitude: when he is middle-aged he . flies 1t and his thoughts. made with out ado for the Green Pillar, q little lnr in the village street, to which I haf been directed at Auch, and, laundering on the door with the knob of my rid. ing-switch, rallied at the man for keep ing me waiting.
 Here, and there at hoyel doors in the street-which was mean, poor place not worthy of the name-men and women looked out at me suspiciously But I affected to ignore them; and al last the host came. He was a fair haired man, half Basque, half French man, and had scanned me well, was sure, through some window or peep hole; for. when he came out. he be- trayed no surprise at the sight of well-dressed stranger-a portent in that out-of-the-way village-but eyed me with a kind of sullen reserve.
 q can lie here tonight, supposeg said, dropping the reins on the sor' rel's neck. The horse hung its head.
 T don't know" he answered stupid ly.
 I pointed to the green bough which topped a post that stood opposite the door,
 This is an inn, is 1t not?" I said.
 "Yes," he answered slowly; ''it is an inn. But"
 But you are full, or you are out oi food. or your wife is i'll, or something else is amiss," answered peevishly "AIl the same, am going to lie here So you must make the best of it and your wife too-if you have one"
 He scratched hIs head, looking at me with an ugly glitter in his eyes But he said nothing, and dismounted.
 Where can I stable my horse?" asked.
 TTl put it up," he answered sullen' ly, stepping forward and taking the reins in his hands.
 Very we'll" said; ''but I go with you. A merciful man Is merciful to his beast, and wherever go see my horse fed"
 "It will be fed" he said shortly. And then he waited for me to go into the house. ''The wife is in there" he continued. looking at me stubbornly.
 "Imprimis-if you understand Latin my friend" I answered. "the horse in the stall"
 As he saw 1t was no good. he turned the sorrel slowly round and began to lead it across the village street There was a shed behind the inn. which had already marked and taken for the stable and I was surprised when found he was not going there But I made no remark and in few min utes saw the horse well stabied in 6 hovel which seemed to belong 10 2 neighbor.
 This done. the man led the way back to the inn, carrying my valise.
 You have 10 other guests7 I said with a casual air. knew he vss watching me closely.
 NO" he answered
 This Is not much in the way to anywhere. I supposel"
 "No.T
 That was evident; a more retired plses never sar. The hanging woods rising stseply to a great height. go shut the valley h fhaf I was puzzisd to think how a man could leave | save by the road ! had ccme The cosfszss. which were no more tksr -zn s-15f ruf<. r.n Ia o e<rrzEfir1 q