The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-06-11

SSSNNO
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, n 1t was a pride to the VIII
lage hat his name n his prosperity
were Known about the countryside.
on a day in September he left Vic
cues early in the morning to drive to
the market in Delesmontes, q league
distant, two pairs of oxen which he had
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 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
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-S0O francs,
he believed it would be. Not a clearer
head or lighter heart passed that day
along the Roman roa to D~elesmontes.
AT the market he found hat there
We're few oxen to be disposed of, none
which compared to his, ana his ideas
of value went up-he would get 900
francs for them, which delayed the
sale. Eight hundred he might have
had easily, but the other was a large
price, even for the best. However,
Francois was cheerful and obstinate
and confident, sue qualities ac-
complish things-he got his price.
But it came to be, by the time his
bargain was closed. 8 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 the sign
Of a huge bear, u 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 smok rose to
tho uark wood ceiling, blush already
with much smoking; against the white
washed walls hung ~engravings Of bat
ties framed in red cherry wood. Doors
and were open, and through
them one saw harvest fields lying gold
in sunlight. As Francois sat CLOWN he
faced a window though whicf Gavin
the slow slope from Delesmontes perch
ing on the mountain, beyond a stretch
OF tranquil country, lifted, three miles
1 away. a bunch Of roofs. red tiled and
brown shingled, and the red spire of q
church with a newly gilded ball. his VIII
lage of Vicques. He sighed hungrily
and happily. In half an hour, after a
glass of wine n q 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.
a tn ura1 o1~-o , = %Lta. =. Y 49, 49,
or four men who he knew slightly, nod
ded with friendliness across the 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
Inn OF the Bear at 3 o'clock on that
sunshiny afternoon of September 8. Be-
fore 6 he rose up to leave 1t a man
ruined and broken hearted.
A waitress approached him-a SOM
melliere-trim in her short calico skirt
and white apron. her hair done in the
picturesque fashion of the place
In the back. in the front parted and
laid in two great puffs with a wide
blue ribbon between to hold it. The girl
took his order; and as she turned to
go a man just coming in knocked
against her, and a~pologizing with many
! WINS, NooSiS Siblk VI idICOlS.
Good day!" he saiuted him heartily,
Good day, Monsieur Beaupre," 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 not 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. l saw you only a few min
utes. but | have not forgotten you, and
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-
q~uaintance and a solid man, and though
Beaupre did not see him often, LIVING
six leagues away, he respected hin
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 it shall be M,
bottle -
Francois objected; the man insisted
At length: See. we will play card.
for that bottle" the unknown man s,s.
Egested. and the cards were brought
and a game of la rams-euchre-was ii
progress in two minutes.
Meanwhile the wine had come, ane
Francois, a touch more generous ane
more cordial for it. was genially sorr,
when he won n the stranger mus
pay.
ITEMS! We will 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
he had said his name was. mo.
have drunk enough. However, If yol
feel sensitive at taking the small sur
of money at my hands-it is a goo,
garne-La ~raIns--let us play for tn
franc which he bottle would cost. f,
biefsl'
francois certainly could not refus
that; they played. ard again he gained
Lsa'r they played, this time doublini
tn ags1aygYf, ana again Francois gained
and ealin asid again, TIL he fel
ashamed in carrying away all thi
money Of q new acquaintance, and a
the same time a cock-sureness that. S
4 1,rrfyxy - 1NyvtI 80 .@..s.L#G----