Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02

IOr tne f1gnt tnlng TO 10, but l
ing on. The big hat shook down
on my collar. In ali my life had
ver saw a hat so big. Through Che
PAX in it could see farmhouse.
jffy the horse had cleared
hce. and was running. with the feet
terror. In dusty road. grew an
y at myself as we tore along--I
ew not why. 1t was a rage of dis
mfort. I fancy, for somehow. l never
t so bounded and cluttered, so up in
cir and out of place in my body
lie saber was working loose and
mmering my knee; the big hat was
bbing my nose, the straw chatting
chin. had something under my
m that would sway and whack the
be Of the horse every leap he made.
bore upon it hard as If it were the
Mel of my soul. wondered why,
d what it might be. In moment
e big hole of my hat came into con-
notion with my right eye. On my
brd, it was the stake. How 1t came
ere have never known, but. for
me reason I held to It. looked
ither to right nor left, but sat erect,
e hand on the hilt of my saber. the
her in the name of the horse. know
r full we'll I was the most hdeous-
bking creature in the world. If
d come to the gate of heaven / be-
Fve st. Peter would have dropned
keys. The straw worked up, and
great wad of it hung under my chin
Re bushy beard. would have Civ
anything for sight of myself, and
ughed to think of it, although fac
e deadly peril. as knew. But
hs young and had no fear in me
ose days. Would that a man could
I've his youth on his death-bed. 1t
as lean in the dark. but was
ady to take my chances.
Evidently I was nearing village.
Foups of men were in the shady
|oroughfare; children thronged the
boryards. There was every sign of
bliday. AS we neared them I caught
y saber under my knee, and drew
" hands into the long sleeves and
hved them wildly. whooping like an
dian. They ran back to the fences
it'll a star. of fear. AS passed them
ley cheered loudly, waving their hats
bd roaring with laughter An old
brse. standing before an inn, broke
S halter and crashed over a fence.
scared dog ran for his life in front
me. yelpng as he leaped over a
one wall. Geese and turkeys flew in
e air rs I neared them. The people
bd seemed 10 take me for some vii
ge youth on masquerade. We
hshed into the open country before
be sound Of cheering had died away.
b We went over long strip of hard
pill. between fields. and off in the
hade of a thick forest. My horse be-
hn to tire. I tried to calm
i'm by gentle words, but
build give him no confidence in me.
lie kept on. laboring hard and
Feathing heavily. as if were a toms
eight. We came to another clearing
nd fields of corn. A little out of the
oods. and near the road, was log
puse white-washed from earth TO
Rves. BY the gate my horse went
bwn. / tumbled heavily in the road,
nd turning. caught him by the bits.
ne big hat had shot off my head; the
raw had fallen away. A woman came
Inning out Of the open door. She had
are feet. plump and CHEEKY face.
"Tonnerre!" said she. "Qu'est ce que
ela?"
"My countrywoman," said I, in
french. feeling in my under-trousers
pr bit of silver. and tossing it to
err, II am hungry"
"And I have no food to SELL" said
he, tossing it back. you should know
am of France and not of England.
Tome. you shall have enough, and for
10 price but the eating. You have a
bred horse. Take him to the stable,
Ind I will make you meal"
. led my horse to the stable scraped
bim Of lather and dirt. give him a
wallow of water. and took the same
Myself, for | had a mighty thirst in
be. When came in, she had eggs and
bctatoes and bacon over the fire. and
Eas filling the tea-kettle.
con my soul" said she. frankly. you
IRE the oddest-looking man l ever saw.
Fell me, why do you carry that long
Elub?"
looked down. There it was under
my arm. 1t surprised me more than
hnything l ever found myself doing.
Madame. it is because am fool
said as | flung it out of the door.
at is strange" said she. "Your
flothes-they are not your own; they
pre- as il they were hung up to dry.
And you have saber and spurs"
"Of that the less said the better"
pulling out the saber. "Un-
tess-unless, madame, you would like
me to die young"
mon Dieu!" she whispered. "A
Yankee SOLDIER"
with good French blood in him." !
added, "whO was never SO hungry in all
his life
| Went out of the door as ] spoke
and showed my saber under the house
II have a daughter on the other side
of the lake" said she. married to a
Yankee, and her husband Is fighting
N. British with the rest of YOU"
God help him!" said |.
Amen" said She bringing my food
TO the table. '"rhe great Napoleon he
will teach them a lesson"
She was widow. as she told me. liv-
lpu tboro olcpo with twO vo,IpU danoh