The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-10-12

upon my collar. In al, ny life had
never saw a hat so big. Through the
break in Il / could see a farmhouse.
In jiny the horse had cleared
fence. and was running, with the feet
Of terror. in dusty road. l grew an
CRY at myself as we tore along-I
knew not why. Il was a rage of dis
comfort. fancy. for somehow. never
felt so bounded and cluttered, so up Ia
the air and out OF place in my body.
The saber vas working loose and
hammering ny knee; the big hat was
rubbing my nose. the straw chatting
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 II It were the
jewel of my soul. | wondered why.
and what Il might be. In a moment
the big hole Of my hat came into con-
junction with my right eye. On my
word, II was the stake. How IL came
there I have never known, but, for
some reason held to Il. / looked
neither 10 right nor left, but sat erect.
one hand on the hilt of my saber, the
other in the name of the horse. know
ing full well ! was the most hideous-
looking creature in the world II
had come to the gate of heaven be-
lieve St. Peter would have dropped
his keys. The straw worked up, and
great wad of II hung under my chin
like bushy beard | would have Civ
en- anything for a sight OF myself. and
- to hfv1H Of q ala rnh
ing a deadly peril as knew. But |
was young and had no fear In me
those days. Would that a man could
have his youth on his death-bed! IL
was a leap in the dark. but | was
ready to take my chances.
Evidently I 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 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 a start OF fear. AS 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 NE. yelping as he ieaped over =
stone wall Geese and turkeys few In
the air as I nearod them. The people
had seemed to take me for some VII
lage youth on masquerade. We
flashed into the open country befors
the sound Of cheering had died away
On we went over a long strip Of hard
son. between fields, and OF in the
shade OF a thick forest Ny horse be-
gan TO tire. I tried 10 calm
him by gentle words. but
could give him no confidence In me
He kept on. laboring hard and
breathing heavily, as II were a tons
weight. We came 20 another clearing
and fields OF corn. A little out OF thu
woods. and near the road. was a log
house white-washed from earth 10
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 on my head; the
straw had fallen away. Awoman came
running out of the open door She had
bare feet, a plump and CHEEKY face.
"Tonnerrel" said she. Quest oe cue
cela2"
MY countrywoman." said I. In
French. feeling in my under-trousers
for a bit Of silver, and tossing II 70
her. Il am hungry"
"And I have no food to SELF said
she, tossing II back. You should know
am OF France and not OF England.
Come, you shall have enough, and for
no price but the eating. You have a
tired horse. Take him 20 the stable.
and | will make you a meal"
ITO Be Continued