Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-06-10
Dors called this good Judgment.

bought n raised and sold them, and
only his wife knew what chances he
often took in buying young beeves. 1t
was q simple solid form of speculation.
yet it was that. 1t had given him the
custom of taking chances and Of con-
fidence in his "luck"-all of which is
perhaps no bad thing. yet it prepared
q bad think for Francois Beaupre. Up
to this time he had been fortunate to a
miracle n his bargains were SO lucky
that he stood highest among his neigh
bOrs for keenness and for caution. His
house was the largest. his table the
most generous. his wife the best
dressed of the village; he planned to
Francois, who was more than a cons
mon student, opportunities. Francois
should go to the college at Deles-
monies. No other man In the place
was SO comfortable. n because of
his genial and simple soul he was not
person. and 1t was a pride to the VIII
lage that his name and his prosperity
were known about the countryside.
On a day in September he left Vic
ques early in the morning to drive to
the market in Delesmontes, a league
distant, two pairs Of oxen which he had
bought al calves for almost nothing
away. He had fed and trained and
cared for them till now they were well
set up and powerful and smooth work.
ing-ready to sell for a good price.
Francois kissed his wife and the baby,
and called goodby to the children
little place SO full of hopeful life. with
~contentment in his heart. He planned,
as he swung along he road whistling,
what he would do with the raoney
which he would bring back-800 francs,
he believed it would be. Not a clearer
lhood or 1fohfA~ hoo~k ~oooo1 that don,
along the Roman road to Delesinontes.
At the market he found that there
were few oxen to be disposed of. none
which compared to his. and his ideas
of value went up-he would get 900
francs for them. which delayed the
had easily. but the other was a large
price, even for the best. However.
Francois was cheerful and obstinate
and confident, and such qualities ac-
complish things-he got his price.
But it came to be. by the time his
bargain was closed. 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. and he had had no dinner.
With the cattle off his hands and the
money in his pocket he felt a sense of
leisure and Of wealth. Hungry as a
wolf he felt also. and he turned into
the inn of Delesmontes. where'th sign
of a huge e cut out of tin and paint
ed black. swung before the door.
~ was R4O000kXS xSx0 III IIl0 EICaL
clean hall OF the inn. 20 feet wide by
40 long. Bars of yellow afternoon sun
light patterned the white scrubbed
floor; at the tables Of black oak a mum
Der OF men sat on benches. bottles and
glasses before them. and pulled at their
the dark wood ceiling. BLUSH already
with much smoking; against the white
washed walls hung ~engravings of bat
ties framed In red cherry wood. Doors
and windows were open. and through
them n saw harvest fields lying gold
In sunlight. As Francois sat down he
faced a window through which, down
the slow slope from Delesmontes perch
Ing on the mountain, beyond a stretch
OF tranquil country. lifted. three miles
away. a bunch OF roofs. red tiled and
brown singled. and the red spire Of a
lage OF vicques. He sighed hungrily
and happily. In half an hour. after a
glass OF wine and a little bread and
meat. he would be on his way there
with that comfortable purse Of 900
francs In his pocket, eager to tell his
good comrade ana dear wife Of the
days success.
He was alone at this table. but three
or four men who he knew slightly, nod
ded with friendliness across the room;
he was a mar who inspired friendli-.
ness. In the big hall. in all Deles-
montes. In all the country was no n
happier or more satisfied with life than
Francois Beaupre when he entered the
Inn OF the Bear at 3 o'clock on that
sunshtny afternoon of September 8. Be-
fore 9 he rose up to leave It a man
ruined n broken hearted.
meliiere-trim In her short calico skirt
and white apron. her hair done in the
picturesque fashion of the place
braided n turned around the head
In the back. in the front parted and
laid in w great. puffs with a wide
took his order: and as h turned to
go a man just coming in knocked
against her. and apologizing with many
words. caught sight Of Francois.
Good day." he saluted him heartily.
Good day. Monsieur Beaupre." and
Francois. friendly always. answered.
Good day" but with q reserve, for he
did not recall the man. you don't re-
member me? What Is natural. for we
met but nee. Yet / have not for
gotten you. It was at the house of
my cousin. Paul Noirjean Of Devillier-
he who also deals In oxen. though not.
so fortunately rs you, perhaps. We
met there. / say you only a few min
utes. u l have not forgotten you.a and
my cousin also speaks very often Of
Francois Beaupr3 He has q great opin-
lon OF your Judgment"
NOW Paul Notsjean was an old ac-
Quaintance and q solid man, and though
Beaupre did not zee him often, living
SIX leagues away, he respected him
highly. A cousin Of his was to be con-
sidered. and Francois was embarrassed
that his memory could not focus on the
meeting. He tried to cover this with
cordially. and invited the stranger to
share his meal. e
mo at all. not At ALL = the Other an
swered. Yet We must have q bottle
o. wine together. but it shall be my
Erancnis nh4arAnA. Ah> ~.. snA.