THE PIECE OF STRING.

Observer, Volume XLI, Issue 13, 27 November 1920, Page 17

THE PIECE OF STRING.

(BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT.)

(Translated by Mrs. (Young New Zealanders, hoping short story writing—Poes, Kiplings, are recommended to study this story sant. The masters of the craft are simplicity—there isn't a line of Maupassant. He is even simpler in lator can make him. His art is in observing manner, and suddenly sin His success is in dramatic, often bi ALONG all the roads round Goderville peasants and their wives were coming in towards the town, for it was market day. Tho men all walked at a solid pace, throwing the whole weight of their bodies forward at each movement of their long legs; their limbs were gnarled and out of shape irom hard work, from bending over the plough, which humps the left shoulder and twists the figure — from reaping, which bows the knees in the effort to get good balance — from every kind of slow and painful field labour. Their blue smocks, starched till they shone as if varnished, and ornamented at collar and cuffs with .a little pattern in white thread, swelled out round their bony bodies like balloons ready for flight, with a head, two arms, and two feet gingSome were dragging along a cow or calf at the end of a rope. And with branches still covered with leaves, their wives would swish the animals from behind to make it go quicker. The women carried on their arms great baskets, whence issued the heads of fowls or ducks. And they walked with a shorter, brisker step than the men, with their straight, meagre figures draped in a little patterned shawl pinned over on their flat chests, their heads enveloped in white linen plastered on to the hair and surmounted by a cap. Then came a country cart, whose horse with its jerky trot was jolting two men seated side by side, and a woman at the back of the vehicle, who was holding on to both sides to diminish the severity of the bumping. . > There was a crowd in Goderville :inarket-place, a confusion of men ; and beasts. Horns of oxen, longnapped tall hats of the richer peasants, and the women's "Kead-dresses rose above the surface of the throng. Voices, bawling, sharp, and squeaky, were-mingled in barbarous neverending clamour, dominated at times l)y the mighty guffaw of some broadchested countryman having his joke, or by the long-drawn lowing of a cow tied up to the wall of a house. It all smelt of stables, milk, and manure, of hay and sweat, gave off, in fact, that terrible sour savour, human, yet bestial, characteristic of workers in the fields.

Master Hauchecoriie, of Breaute, coming in to Goderville, was making his way towards the market-place, when he perceived on the ground a short niece of string. Master Hauchecorne, thrifty like every true Norman, thought that anything was worth picking up that could be put to " any* use; so stooping painfully, for he suffered from rheumatism, he picked- up the bit of thin cord, and was carefully rolling it up when he -observed Master Mjilandain, the saddler, standing in his doorway, looking at him. They had once had a -difference about a halter, and owed each other a grudge, for both were by nature inclined to bear malice. Master Hauchecorne was seized with a sort of shame at being thus seen by his enemy, grubbing in the mud for a bit of string. He abruptly hid his spoil under his blouse, then put it in" his trouper's pocket, and pretended to be still looking on the ground for something- he could not find; finally he went off towards the market, with his head poked forward, bent nearly double by his rheumatism.

John Galsworthy.) ;to become masters of the art of 0. Henries, Ambrose Bierces. etc., . I) 3' the incomparable de Maupasall remarkable for their limpid high falutin' in a" mile of de his native French than any trans- . talking along in a commonplace, gf iting you with a surprise—that's all. J^* s&arre, contrast. |r He was swallowed ud at once jp tho slow-moving, noisy crowd, disputing over its interminable bargainings. Peasants were punching $he cows, moving hither and thither in perpetual fear of being taken in, ftlid not daring to make up their minds; scrutinizing the seller's eye, to jfcry and discover the deceit in the ttian and the blemish in his beast. |, The women, placing their gpeat baskets at their feet, had taken 'put their fowls, which lay on the ground with legs tied together, eyes with fright, and crests all scarlet.' They listened to the offers made, and held out for their prices with wooden, impassive faces; then, suddenly deciding to take the bid, would scream a fter thol customer as he slowly walked away : — "Done with you, Master Anthimo. You shall have it.' . Then, little by little, the marketplace emptied, and, the Angelus rin-' ging midday, those who lived too far away straggled into the inns. At Jourdain's, tho big diningroom was crowded with guests, just as the huge courtyard was crowded with vehicles of every breed, carts, cabriolets, wagonettes, tilburys, covered carts innumerable, yellow with mud, out of trim and patched, some raising their two shafts, like arms, to tho sky, some with nose on the ground and tail in the air. Right up against the diners the immense fireplace, flaming brightly, threw a mighty heat on to the backs of the right-hand row seated at table. Three jacks were turning, garnished with chickens, pigeons, and Jogs of mutton, and a delectable odoiir of roast meat, and of gravy streaming over the wellbrowned crackling, rose from the hearth, bringing joy to the heart and water to the mouth. All the aristocracy of the plough dined at M. Jourdain's, innkeeper and horsedealer, a shrewd fellow, and a "warm man." The dishes were passed, and emptied, together with mugs of golden cider. Everyone told the story of his bargains, and asked his neighbour about the crops. The weather was good for greenstuff, but a little damp for corn. Suddenly, from the courtyard in front of the house, came the roll of a drum. All but a few, too lazy to move, jumped up at once, and flew to the doors and windows, their mouths still full and their napkins in their hands. Finishing off the roll of his drum, the town-crier shouted in staccato tones, with a scansion of phrase peculiarly out of rhythm:— "This is to inform the inhabitants . of Goderville, and all others — present at the market, that there was lost this morning on the Beuzeville Road, between nine and ten o'clock, a black leather pocket-book, containing five hundred francs and 'somebusiness papers. It should be returned —to the Town Hall immediately, or i>o Master Fortune • Houlbreque at Manneville. A reward of twenty francs is offered." The man went by, .and presently the dull rumble of the drum was heard again, and then the crier's voice, fainter in the distance. . Everyone began discussing the event, calculating the chances of Master Hoiilbreque's recovering or not recovering his pocket-book. And so the meal came to an end.

(To be concluded next week.) |

The Waipa Racing Club have been well supported by horse owners. The nominations tote up to no less than two hundred and sixty odd. Amythas, Malaga, and Bonnie Briar will be absentees from the Auckland Racing Club Summer Meeting. The Otahuhu Trotting Club have received capital acceptances. One hundred and twenty-five have paid up, an average of over fifteen per race. Geo. Paul, the Te Awiimutu own-or-trainer and breeder, is expected to arrive in the middle of the present week with his select well-condi-tioned little team. Mr. Craw, the Palmerston ownertrainer, has arrived at Alexandra Park with- Victor. Woodburn, Blue King, Nelson, Derby, and another. The quartette have been busy on the tracks. , Rio Grande, and Inora, the stable companions, have been at Alexandra Park during the present week, and have not been idle. The former looks in fine condition. On Tuesday. Kewpie was tried out, by the owners and the assistance of a couple of galloping pacers over each mile. The time for the sixteen furlongs, the writer was informed, was quite satisfactory. The writer did not see Kirikiriroa, Kempsey, and Rcckcliff in action, but they never looked in better racing fettle. Bon Bon has wintered well. The black gelding is one of the early birds. He is reported to be looking well, and putting plenty of vim into his work. Lord Rose never looked much better, and has done everything which S. Groat has asked of him. Tiki, the stable mate, looks splendid. Harold Junior looks a little bit on the jolly side, but the owner. A. Brown, understands his horse. His other string, Red Star, was ruling off the furlongs on Tuesday in the most approved fashion. The grey pacer, Dorothy Dimple, put a couple of mile tasks behind her in a most satisfactory manner, and should act well on the new racing track. The local owner, trainer, and breeder has Lord Roberts and Miss Marvin Downs in splendid racing fettle. Mr. Milne has left nothing to chance. The pair have boen highly tried. Blackthorn, out of ten starts last season, did not notch a win, but at the present time is going great guns, and may make amends for past failures. Gold Rod, the trotter, pleased the track watchers on "Tuesday by his resolute style of casting the furlongs behind him. The son of Gold Bell-Miss Dulce is in fine condition. . ■ The success of the Otahuhu Trotting Club Spring. Meeting is only a question of the weather. The track is in good order. The new racing track h practically the same.as the old one. A new. number board lias been erected at a cost of over seyei\ hundred pounds, which fills the eye pleasingly.' Old-time patrons of the course will hardly recognise the favourite rendezvous. Fleming arrived with Woodvale and Wonderland. The pair look in good racing form. Huon Gratton. one of the limit horses, was keeping his stable mate, Nora Creina, busy on Tuesday morning over a couple of miles. He looks in fine racing trim. The entries received by the Tsuimarunui Racing Club, fixed for December 5, are in every way most satisfactory.