The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-06-23
CHAPTER 1.
The Trap Of Sergeant Dubosa.


my fat little host at the Beau Visage
good-by, and leaving the white streets
Of Tours behind me, crossed the little
river and turned my face southwark
on the pleasant road to Poitiers.
The morning was perfect one, soft
and warm, with the simmer OF sun
shine and the stirring of green things
over the earth, for spring haC come
again to our fair land Of Touraine, and
/ sat erect in the saddle, drinking long
uraughts of the good air and riotously,
gloriously happy. For l was young,
heart-whole, care-free, and setting
forth upon pilgrimage which would
have given my father joy, had he been
alive to know.
The way was thronged with market
women Fastening toward the town,
pushing their little carts before them,
their sabots clicking merrily upon the
hard, clean road, and their tongues
wagging more merrily still. They
looked up with smiling countenances TO
wish me good-morning and God-speed
and more than once caught a, flash OF
black eyes in q fresh and rosy face
under the white cap. which sent
. through me a pang Of regret that
could not turn back.
The broad valley of the river seemed
one continued village, so closely were
cottages and farmsteads set, but as
pushed forward into the fat country
beyond, houses became less frequent,
the road grew more and more deserted
and the fields stretched fallow and neg
lected to left and right as far as the
eye could reach. Here and there, in
deed, caught glimpse of chateau
nesting behind a screen of trees, but
the land itself seemed empty Of human
kind. There were no flocks In the pas
lures, no peasants in the fields, not a
single pillow driving furrow through
the mellow soil The empty and neg
lected land had about it something
grim and Threatening, an air Of wait
ing the accomplishment Of some catas-
trophe not to be avoided.
All of which, told myself, was the
bitter fruit of the revolution. No one
would sow harvest which there was
small likelihood OF reaping; besides, the
Canaille found more amusement In
crowding to Paris To shout for the ma
Zion and watch the guillotine at work.
When hunger gnawed, 1t was easier to
Uteal food than to- earn it. and there
was always Citizen Santerre Offering
refresmcnt to all who would shout for
him. a
thanked God that we of Touraine
mad not yet been caught in the eddies
of that maelstrom; that we had been
left to live our lives in peace and COM
parative security, undisturbed by mas
sacrec, by the worship of Reason, or by
that grim machine which toiled so
ceasclessly upon the Place dc. la Revo-.
luton. And IL our peasants ran away,
It was at least without leaving behind
them blackened wills and outraged
bodies. .r,
But as topped little rise in the
road. saw that the instruments Of
war, at least, had at last invaded even
this peaceful country. Under tree
by the roadside a group of soldiers
were sitting. and II needed no second
glance to tell me they were republi-
cans. They were lolling about, talk
ing among themselves; only their Of
0cer was on his feet. but he was
watching the road keenly, and the in
ptant his eyes met mine, he uttered
= sharp command. In n breath, his
men had sprung to arms and deploy-
bd across the road.
But I was a peaceful traveller in
tent on my own business; so. telling
myself that I had nothing to- fear
from even the. most rabid of revolu-
tionists. continued on without hesi-
Eating. 1t could not be for such a
small and inoffensive fish as / that "a
net 80 elaborate had been spread.
'Hult. citizen!" called their officer.
II must ask you to dismount," he add
Cd. as drew rein looking at me with
''Willingly" I replied, a''f one of your
men will hold my horse;" but two of
them had him by the bride before the
words were fully uttered.
snow. citizen" continued the off,
Ger, urbanely. as I sprang from the
baddle and faced him. there are. few
questions which I shall have to ask
you. But the sun Is warm, so let us
cit down together in the shade of that
tree wonder"
''Very WELL" assented, and followed
Aim TO spot where we were defended
not only from the rays OF the sun, but
also from the curious ears OF the SOL
diers of the detchment, which still held
Its position across the road
MY companion paused moment to
look at me before he began his ques-
tionihg. and gave me, in turn. the op-
p0rtunity to examine him. He was
q tall. raw-boncd man. evidently OF
enormous strength. His face was
roughtened by wind and rain and
burned to deep red by the sun. An
enormous mustache shaded, mouth
and chin and his eyes cleaned behind
their bushy brows like those Of q
beast !, in ambush. Ills hair was
streakcd with grey. but, I judged
not SO much from age-for his whole
being was instinct with fire and vigor
las from the appalling scenes In
which he had played part. He en-
bodied for me at that moment the
very spirit of the revolution, irate
implacable. but with a certain rude
sense of justice and OF honor, and 6
confused belief that Its cause was In
some way bound up with human
rights and human progress.
"Come, citizen" he began. at last
s'your namc?"
"Jeau Tavernay," I answcrod. deem.