Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-28

rode quietly into the place at evening.
RI was alone and had ridden all day in
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:
1t might be for that reason, or because
had no great taste for the task before
me-the task now 80 imminent. In good
faith, It was not gentleman's work,
look at 1t how you might.
But beggars must not be choosers,
and knew that this feeling would pass
away. At the inn, in the presence of
others, under the spur of necessity,
or In the excitement Of the chase, were
that once begun, should lose the feel
ing. When man is young, he seeks
solitude: when he Is middle-aged he
flies it and his thoughts. I made with
out ado for the Green Pillar, little Inn
in the village street, to which I had
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 howell doors in the
street-which was mean, poor place,
not worthy Of the name-men and
women looked out at me suspiciously.
But affected to ignore them; and at
last the host came. He was a fair
haired man, half Basque, half French
man, and had scanned me we'll, l was
sure, through some window or peep
hole; for, when he came out, he be-
trayed no surprise at the sight Of a
well-dressed stranger-a portent in that
out-of-the-way village-but eyed me
with kind of sullen reserve.
II can lie here tonight, suppose?"
said, dropping the reins on the sor-
rels neck. The horse hung its head.
II 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 it not?" said.
| Eyes," he answered slowly; ut is an
inn. But"
"But you are full, or you are out OF
food, or your wife Is i'll, or something
else is amiss," answered peevishly.
"All 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 lis head, looking at me
with an ugly glitter in his eyes. But
he said nothing, and l dismounted.
"Where can stable my horse?"
asked.
ssI'll put it up" he answered sullen-
ly, stepping forward and taking the
reins in his hands.
Every WELL" said; "but 1 go with
you. A merciful man is merciful to his
beast, and wherever go I see my
horse fed"
at 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" answered, "the horse in
| the STALL.
| As he saw 1t was no good, he turned
the sorrel slowly round and began to
lead 1t across the village street. There
was a shed behind the inn, which
had already marked and taken for the
stable and was surprised when ]
found he was not going there. But
made no remark and In few min
utes saw the horse we'll stabbed in q
howell which seemed to belong to a
peighbor.
/ This done, the man led the way back
to the inn,t carrying my valise.
"You have no other guests?" said
with casual air. I knew he was
watching me closely.
mo" he answered
This is not much in the way to
anywhere, suppose?"
mo"
That was evident; more retired
place never saw. The hanging woods
rising steeply to a great height. SO
shut the valley In that l was puzzled
to think how man could leave 1t
save by the road l had come. The
cottages. which were no more than
| mean, small huts, ran in struggling
double line, with many gaps-through
fallen trees and ill-cleared meadows.
Among them noisy brook ran in and
out. And the Inhabitants charcoal.
burners. or swineherds, or poor PEG.
pie OF the like class, were no better
than their dwellings. 1 looked in vain
for the Chateau. 1t was not to be
seen. and dared not ask for 1t.
| The man led me into the common
room of the tavern-a low-roofed, poor
place, lacking chimney or glazed
windows, and grimy with smoke and
USE. The fire-a great half burnt tree
smouldered on stone hearth, raised
foot from the floor. A huge black
pot simmered over it, and beside one
window lounged country fellow talk.
ing with the goodwife. In the dusk
could. not see his face, but 1 gave
the woman word, and sat down to
wait for my supper.
She seemed more silent than the
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