Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-06-11

Francois, who was more than a COM
mon student, opportunities. Francois
should go to the college at Deles-
monies. No other man in the place
was SO comfortable, and because of
his genial and simple soul he was not
envied. LIE Francois was a popular
person, and it vas 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 D~elesmontes, a league
bought as calves for almost nothing
from poor stock out Of a farm leagues
away. He had fed and trained and
cared for them till now they were we'll
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
playing in the garden. and left the
little place so full of hopeful life. with
contentment in his heart. He planned,
as he swung along the road whistling,
what he would do with the money
which he would bring back-S00 francs,
he believed 1t would be. Not a clearer
head or lighter heart passed that day
along the Roman road to Delesnontes.
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 300
francs for them, which delayed the
sale. Eight hundred he might have
had easily, but the other vas 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 1t came to be, by h time his
bargain was closed. 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. and he had had no dinner.
With tho coftla off hio hands oy,1 tho
money in his pocket he felt a sense Of
leisure and Of wealth. Hungry as a
wolf he felt also. and he urned into
the inn of D~eleSmontes, where the sign
Of a huge bear, cut out of tin and paint
ed black. swung before the door.
1t was pleasant inside in the great
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 num-
Der Of men sat on benches, bottles and
glasses before them, and pulled at their
pipes. and the clouds of smoke rose to
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 We're open, and through
them one saw harvest fields lying gold
in sunlight. As Francois sat down he
faced a window through which, down
lll6 SlOW SlOpG IIOIl OSl6SIIlOuLeS p6TcI-
ing or the mountain, beyond a stretch
OF tranquil country, lifted, three miles
away. a bunch Of roofs, red tiled and
brown shingled. and the red spire of a
church with a newly gilded ball. his viii
lage of Vicques. He sighed hungrily
and happily. In half IN 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 and 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 h room;
he was a man who inspired friendli-
ness. In the big hall, in all Deles-
monies. in all the country was no one
happier or more satisfied with life than
Francois Beaupre when he entered the
Inn of the Bear at 3 o'clock on that
sunshiny afternoon of September 8. Be-
fore 6 he rose up to leave it a man
ruined and broken hearted.
A waitress approached him-a SOM
m~elliere-trim in her short calico skirt
and white apron. her hair done in the
| picturesque fashion of the place
braided and turned around the head
in the back. in the front parted and
laid in two great puffs with a wide
blue ribbon between to hold it. The girl
Il VIVA AAo SANSA , AAAA Ao 49, 4 W
go a man just coming in knocked
against her. and a~pologizing with many
words. caught sight Of Francois.
Good day!" he saluted him heartily.
Good day, Monsieur Reaupre." and
Francois. friendly always, answered,
Good day" but with a reserve, for he
did not recall the man. You don't re-
member me? That is natural. for we
met but once. Yet I have o for
gotten you. 1t was at the house of
my cousin, Paul Noirjean of Devillier-
he who also deals in oxen, though not
SO fortunately as you. perhaps. We
met there. / saw You only a few min
my cousin also speaks very often OF
Francois Beaupre. He has a great opin-
ion Of your Judgment"
Now Paul Noirjean was an old ac-
qu~aintance and a solid man, and though
Beaupre did not see 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 te
share his meal.
Not at all, not at ALL" the other an.
swered. yet we must have a bottle
Of Wine together. but 1t shall be my
bottle
Francois objected; the man insisted
At length: See, we will play cards
for that bottle" the unknown man sug
gested. and the cards were brought
and a game Of Ia rams-euchre-was IL
progress In two minutes.
Meanwhile the wine had come. anG
Francois. a touch more generous anC
nor cordial for 1t, was genially sorr,
when he won and the stranger mus
pay.
'Tiens! We viii play again for an.
other bottle" he announced with a bi
OF swagger. He was conscious Of !
right. to spend silver In treating hi,
friends. with that fat purse in hi:
pocket.
NO" spoke the stranger-Duplessis
9 had said his name was. mo.
have drunk enough. However. if yo,
feel sensitive at taking the small sun
OF money at my handsEit is a 200,
game-La rams-1et us play for III
franc which the bottle would cost. Isl
bienl"
Francois certainly could not refus
], that: they played, NJ again he gained
Again theyNNplayed. this time doubiiny
the amount, n again Francois 9aineG
] and again and again, till he Eel
ashamed In carrying away All iii
, money OF a. lew acquaintance, and q
III the same time q cOck-sureness that &
|, lucky q devil ~ Beaupre rniRlsS we;
lose Z little d stop at the righ
i amount. Re insisted that the gam