The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-02-22
CHAPTER II.
VIII III II
AT THE GREEN PILLAR

deep. leafy bottoms. and hills clothed
with forest Ridge and valley, glen
and knoll. the woodland. sparsely peo-
pied and more sparsely titled. stretches
away TO the great snow mountains that
here limit France. II swarms with
game-with wolves and bears. deer and
bears. To the end OF his life 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 OF
South Bearn. From the terraced steps
Of Aueh 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 and
love the smell Of the salt wind. have
seen few sights that Guido this.
II was the second week in October
when came 10 Cocheforet, and. drop
ping down from the last wooded brow,
rode quietly into the place at evening.
was alone and had ridden all day in
a glory Of ruddy beech-leaves. through
the silence OF forest roads. across clear
brooks and glades still green l 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. or because
I had no great taste for the task befors
me-the task now so imminent In good
faith. II 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. I should lose the feel
ing When a man is young. he seeks
solitude: when he is middle-aged he
flies II and his thoughts. made with.
out ado for the Green Pillar. little inn
In the village street. 10 which ! ha0
been directed at Auch. and. thunderins
on the door with the knob Of my rid
ing-switcb, rallied at the man for keep
ing me waiting.
Here and there at howell doors In the
street-which wGs a mean. poor place,
not worthy Of the name-men and
women looked out at me suspici0usly.
But I affected 20 ignore them; and az
last the host came. lie was a fair
haired man, half Basque, half French
man. and had scanned me well. I was
sure, through some window or peep
hole; for. when he came out. he be-
tTayed no surprise at the sight OF a
well-dressed stranger-a portent in that
out-of-the-way village-but eyed me
with q kind Of suilen reserve
II can lie here tonight, ! suppOse?"
I said. dropping the reins on the sor-
rel's neck. The horse hung its head.
Il don't know" he answered stupid
ly.
pointed 20 the green bough which
topped a post that stood opposite the
door
This Is an inn, Is Il not7" said.
YES" he answered slowly: 1T Is an
inn. But"
"But you are full. or you are out OF
food, or your wife is III. OF something
else Is amiss," answered peevishly.
"All the same. am going 70 lie here.
So you must make the best OF it and
your wife too-if you have one"
He scratched his head. looking az me
with an ugly glitter in his eyes. But
he said nothing. and I dismounted.
Where can stable my horse?" ]
asked.
'Tu put IL up" he answered sullen-
ly. stepping forward and taking the
reIns in bis hands.
VERY WELL" I said; "but 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 10 go into the
house. 1.-THE wife is in there" he
continued. looking at me stEbbornly.
"Imprimis-if you understand Latin.
my friend" answered. "the horse in
the STALL
As he saw It was no good. he turned
the sorrel slowly round and began 20
lead II across the village street. There
was a shed behind the Inn, which
had already marked and taken for the
stable and l WIS surprised when
found he was not going there. But
made no remark and in a few min
utes saw the horse well stabbed in q
howell which seemed TO belong to q
peighbor.
This done. the man led the way back
to the inn, carrying my vaiise.
''You have no other guests?" I said
with a casual air. knew he was
watching me closely.
NO" he answered.
This is not much in the way to
anywhere, | suppose?"
mo"
] That was evident; a more retired