Meade County news., 1917-04-19
is the tale as it was told
by M. lie Capitaine Stack Of the
Gando rnnaria d'Hoiti conond

Gendarmerie d'Haiti, second
lieutenant, U. S. NJ. c., con-
cerning lie cheval noir, un bette fameux
ou infame, according to the point of
view, which he did not ride at the
grand review in honor Of the flOtte de
Slerre ameficaine. His language was
mixture of United States, table-dhote
French, and Creole, with which last
named dialect am less familiar than
could wish, this being my first visit to
Haiti, but it was eloquent with grief,
and moved sympathetic audience al
most to tears.
Some four hundred feet up the side
of mountain to the south and east
Of Port au Prince, M. lie President
Simon, Of fragrant memory, had build
ed himself country house, and had
planted about it citrus fruits, coconuts,
tamarinds, pomegranates, oleanders,
roses, ferns, and Towering shrubs and
vines of great and varied beauty; and
on the broad piazza was q merry CON-
pany, slipping, since your curiosity must
be completely satisfied, limonade avec
un tick, and admiring the wonderful
sight in the harbor, for every ship was
blaze Of light, and two-score Of
searchlights were dancing ragtime in
the skies. Capitaine Stack alone was
depressed, and refused to be comforted
by kind words and innocent beverage.
He was a profoundly disappointed
man. He seemed to place the blame
on Louis, his orderly, but on his de-
parture we resolved ourselves into d
committees of the whole, and absolved
Louis OF all responsibility, holding,
however, that all rope-makers selling
their wares in this island should be
compelled to denaturize their material.
BeguiIed by Louis Smiles.
"Je ne comprendre pas" said Capt.
taine Stack, "why I selected Louis as
my orderly except that. he is a beau
garcon, always smiling, and smiles
were at premium about that time,
while now the rate of exchange is on
fixed basis like the currency-five
g0urdes to the dollar. One day, while
he was busy pottering about the camp
doing nothing, called him over and
said: Louis, you my orderly, SAWYER
'Parfaitement, mon Capitaine,' hea re-
piled, 'merci beaucoup,' and that was
the last l saw of him for several days.
/ got rather accustomed to doing for
myself out West many years ago, and
managed the best / could but really
intended to speak severely to Louis
when he returned. He came IN smil-
ing, and I hadn't the heart to do it.
Me go find un fine gros chien for
watch dog, Louis explained, and while
l didn't see what use q watch dog
would be In camp, and there was moth
Ing about the animal to prepossess
one In his favor, accepted the dog
and the explanation for what they
were worth, and told Louis to rub
down my horse.
ever NAL cheval,' said Louis next
morning, after chow. NO suit mon
Capltaine. Me cOnnais cheval noir,
magalfique bette pour la milltaire. Me
60 get Fact is. my mount was a
sorry-looklng wretch, although the best
1 could get for the allowance made by
headquarters, and having q little
money ahead, / was willing to invest
In something that would look decent
In town. This time Louis was gone
n,-arly week, but when he did turn
Up, he had with him a good black
horse, net, broken to the saddle, and
showing too much Of his ribs, but I've
seen many good animal built up BY
sound food and decent treatment, and
I'was willing to take chance. (Non,
madame, Louis didn't have a bilI of
sale for the horse, but l didn't think
to askfhiu any questf6hs.) With all
his faults Louis is honest. At least
he has never taken anything of mine
without asking, except perhaps tobac-
TO-, or handkerchief, or socks, or
something like that. And always he
returned the dry goods, having first
sent it to the wash.
Lively Night in the Corral.
lsRevenir amon monton--I mean
my cheval noir--I told Louis to see |
that he had enough to eat, to turn
him loose In the corral, and to give him
a good rubbing next morning, and to
see that he was fattened up bit be-
sOre we tried him with the saddle.
That night ] couldn't sleep a wink.
Every time got into a doze there
could 'e an outbreak of some kind