The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-05-06
Just Like a Woman

~ n. r. oETHEN.

!
"The rail from Bayonne was not
then laid. but the drive by diligence
was sufficiently enjoyable. My aunt
Lady Jane) and ! reached st. Jean
Pied de Port late Apue evening. and
that little town seemed wrapped in
slumber. On the following morning
4 am going TO take you over the Py-
renees into Spain, assorted my aunt.
Really and truly? remember ex-
claiming.
Yes; / know all about Il; we've
only to get to Bourgette, and then it's
quite easy. she said confidently
A carriage was secured, the morn
ing was lovely, and the French from
tier was soon passed, for we had
very little luggage, and nothing on
which to pay duty A few miles fur
ther, at lonely kind OF an inn, the
coachman insisted on our descending
from the carriage and paying his fee.
Having no choice, we consented, and
then entered into the lonely little inn
in search of breakfast After eating
with good appetites some well-cooked
food. we discovered thar the carriage
had been replaced by a couple of
rough ponies, with even rougher at
tendants of the boy tribe The road
beyond was considered too steep for
vehicles, so we mounted in silence.
please, our bags" pleaded ], feel
ing disturbed by our landlords smil-
ing detention of our light luggage.
"Ie says they must be sent on by
the mule train,' exclaimed Lady
Jane.
The straps of her pony's saddle
broke before we had gone mile and
had to be mended with a fragment OF
string. and a good deal OF language,
which we fortunately could not com
prehend. was leveled at the four
legged members of the party. Then
our little cavalcade proceeded onward
and upward, passing by many wayside
crosses. and encountering Withholding
harmless peasants with trains Of.
mules. and then again we noticed
more of the rough crosses.
what in the world makes the peo-
! ple put up so many wooden crossesy
asked Lady Jane at last looking rath-
or nervous. You must know that, al
though she was our own aunt, we gen.
orally called her Lady Jane. She was
very kind. but rather odd
The boy managed to make us under
stand that the crosses were erected
to mark spots where murders had
been committed, but Of course, we
didn't know II this was true
Higher and higher we wound, zig
tagging through the glorious forest.
and sleeper and sleeper grew the
road. The boys walked on silent and
sullen. and the sun began to quite
scorch our skins. Suddenly the ponies
stopped at the summit of the noun
tain, and the boys pointed to some far
distant buildings Without word
they lifted us from our saddles, de-
rnanded the promised fees, which
Lady Jane at once gave. and set forth
on their return journey before We had
gathered courage TO protest. The
houses were there certainly, across
wide plain, and it was weary
: walk
At last we arrived at the village
which appeared to possess but one
street We We're courteousis wei
coined by the innkeeper. A Spanish
dinner was shortly served, and we
were glad to retire to rest soon after
wards.
Il wish we were safe az home.
calculated Lady Iarr. There is nc
bolt 10 the door, she cried, when W.
found ourselves in q bedroom con
tanning two beds. So she insisted OF
q piling the somewhat scanty furniture
/ against the door. "in case anyone
! should try to rob u.s. she said, fearful
ly. The heavy bedsteads were immoy
able, but the other things made
n formidable barrlcade. Wearied ant
/, feverish from the unusual heat. w
S soon got into our beds
Q i've put the water jug ready Z
o throw at any intruder" said Lad,
+ Jane, who appeared brave now sh
was under the bedclothes, and Iy
Q hidden my purse in the toe OF m
y = shoe"
! At last we both slept, and the las
sound we heard was the wind wailin
Z round the thick stone walls.