Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1908-12-24
GRlsETTES
MIN TIL LIFE
A Little Tale of Normandy and
Hard-Hearted Artist

ner away no less than six times.
Thrice to the forester's wife, a careless
one, she, who let's her come back al
ways to me again Thrice to Maitre
Perrin up in the village yonder. All,
the miser! One could not blame
Grisette for not stopping longer in
house where there was no meat, not
even on a feast day. And once lost
her, pardieu! 1t was in the hills the
time when l went to make the little
visit with my daughter. Grisette
awaited me on the doorstep when
returned. La, la, she sat there lick
ing her paws with the air of one who
was always welcome Once again she
lost herself. All, but ATTENDED, mes
s1eurs, she really found herself again.
OF that you may be sure. 1t is i'm
possible really to lose Grisette, she
who eats more of my food than man,
who expects always the BONES bouch-
es of my table. Oui, oui, messieurs,
this time it is impossible that Grisette
comes back. | will no longer furnish
her with comforts. If she were a dog
~ Dut q DSctSG VI Il Cat, non, III Is
impossible"
Jack Tilton and l had run across
Mere Barbizon on one of our painting
trips through Normandy in early MAY
and now it was late June, and we still
fingered under her clean, but other
wise uninviting roof, held to the place
by the fascination that this particular
part of Normandy always has and al
ways will have for painter folk.
Nor were we partial to Grisette. the
huge gray cat, that had-so she
averred-become the bane of Mere
Barbizon's existence. Once she had
whisked her tail across study of
coast, which l thought particularly
hne, and which l had some idea of
sending to the salon, and once she had
played havoc with Jacks brushes. No
we would have no reason to regret
Grisette, but we wanted to see fair
play. Your French peasant has a
heart OF flint at times, and Mere Bar
blZon was no exception, as we had
found out on more than one occasion.
Jack, who was lazily cleaning his
brushes, looked over his shoulder at
this point, and said between the teeth
That held his pipe: See here, Mere
Barbizon. I'll get rid of that fat ras
cal for you. This very night. after
dark, Ell? And it shan't cost YOU a
SOU"
ITEMS, Monsieur Teelton, what
would you do with the cat, eh?" asked
the old woman, anXiously.
ooh, I'd drown her. answered Jack
carelessly. "a good big bag, a little
coaxing, and We'll have her fast
enough. Then we'll row out to the
nets, you and I, and drop her over
board. Adieu, Grsette. Seer"
"Bien!" muttered Mere Barbizon.
81 go at once to find the bag"
1t was growing dark when Jack
carefully carrying the bag over his
shoulder and followed by Mere Bar
bizon and myself, an amused onlook-
err, marched down to the beach and
manned a little skiff with his motley
crew. "Sit there" he called to Mere
Barbizon, where you can watch to
see that Grisette plays no more tricks
on you"
Silently we pulled out upon the ST.
lent water, gray now as a doves wing
and growing grayer with the adyanc-
ing dark. Now and then sigh broke
from Mere Barbizon, but whether, at
the beauty of the night or as prelimi,
nary to the sad rite about to be per-
formed, it was impossible to tell. Her
wrinkled chin was huddled in her
hands, her eyes were fixed on the
bag at her feet. If she had not been
ashamed to show emotion over a crea-
ture that she herself had condemned
to death ! think she would have given
poor Grisette at least farewell pat.
Presently Jack stopped rowing and
pulled in his oars. The time and
the place" he said, solemnly uncover
ing. "If you have words to say to the
about-to-be-departed, Mere Barbizon,
say them now"
ITEMS! What have l to say?" MUIR
INJURED Mere Barbizon. HAS she not
always had the best? I have no re.
proaches. /, for one who has eaten
the very roof from my head, the floor
from my feet. Mechanic! Let her go,
messieurs. I shall not weep" But
her voice broke nevertheless, for at
the last words Jack was standing up
with the bag in his hands. He
dropped it heavily over the boats side
and it slid from sight in a moment
1t was quite dark when we beached
the boat and turned up the narrow lit
tie paved way that led to the cottage;
but not too dark to see even a darker
shadow rise from the step, stretch
to the very tip of it's inky tail and
walk majestically down to meet us.
Mere de Dieu" cried the old wom-
an, crossing herself I'VE have
drowned her, and behold, she resur-
reefs herself!'
Eight times she has been lost,
given away, killed off" broke in Jack,
sadly. Eight times. Mere Barbizon,
it is plain to see that Grisette is now
entering upon her nints and last life"
UAJara da Diau''' cbattare,l ,1,o old