The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-26
TIE LITTLE TROUBAD0UR.

brown bare legs, and kccn-,ycd men aud
women i'm white cotton cap~, are picking
lip the nuit1gc Of rich apples, shaken
from the branching b0u-h- overhead.
The presses aruau all day long, aud til"
cider. clear like the sunshine, dilps, drips.
drips! The driver Of the patti ut, shaggy
horse, drawing round and round, swoafs NJ
times Justify, on drowsily chants the re-
frlin Of some old Norman love ditty. II is
now with us, but it seems to be very long
ago.
When was long ago, in TRUTH Here we
are in a room with n curtaincd balcony,
overlook ng the estates pertaining to an
old chateau with II Norman tower Two
persons, besides ourselves, are lettering
here; II lady and her attendant cavalier
The lady is French, but the gentleman is
English. They are playing at the world
old game Of Hearts" and they both have
youth. ana beauty. and wealth, together
with gay temper and proud Will, TO back
them in the audacity with which they
"makc their play"
Lieut. Burtrum had to-day, in his visit
appeared III at case; this disturbance at
length grow 80 apparent in his uistmit
manner and wandering speech that 1t
drew upon him glance of rcprOof from
the sweetest violet eyes that ever charmed
u lover. lie colurcd. pardon my brusQuc-
RE-" he said: "but the truth is. am uu-
expcctcdly hidden to return t. EnulInd
tonight. am trying 10 find the courage
To saN 'Adicu,' but On my soul II Is lllid'
what" cried Mudpmoi-cllc Nuon;
"you are going to England tonight g. SIZE
frlt that trrachcrous qulvetNg of her
mouth was hctraying her Size caught up
cluster of fresh gathered violcis Hud h''d
them To her lips. "Ohc dues not like say
ING adicu to u friend" she smiled with
her dark purple eyes over the violcts, so
like them below.
" But TIL. shall not I've ndieu. Madcmoi-
scllr Ninoni" lie caught her hand. flow
ers and all, aud held them IA ms shall
return TO Normandy Why. what hcau-
tifui iH- YOU wear, madame scllc. he
crit d suddenly, in "A changed voice. And
what Il singular motto; liaircd' Your
ring ought 20 have u history, Madcmolsclle
Nnou."
"ltis an heirloom. and was given meby
my Cousin CASTOR, when lac " nj away
with liz regiment into Algeria. returned
mademoiseile. lit was worn hy the liu-
gucnot dEtoucs through all those dread
mi wars. and has moro thnn once been
dr,nChcd in brave bluOd. There was Il
pause; a bell in the old Norman tower
struck the hour ia fine, great, loud, metal
lie strukc-. IL have Oitcu,' pursued the
maiden rctloctiycly, thought hal II my
back some day. Thcu | should not be
Nine. l.. Maqusc any more among my
people. uu know hls body WAS never
found after that dreadful expedition of
MdcMlhOu into the mountains aud-uud
if -N
with petty malice she left her sentence
suggesuVcly unfinished. She knew very
well that her spcculdtIous regarding her
cousin = possible return were utterly wl!d.
she knew that II CASTOR d'Etu,lcs body
was never seen 10y his cumradcs who ac-
cunp,n,d him On that tciriblcmlfch INTO
Al-"ila, it was because the brave young
FrcurH sol 4ler had, IN the hands of the
kabN!c-. under that -corching sky where
his monument was now glittcrng, suffered
fate too terrible for words to tell. but
one written III many OF tho annals of
bloody barbarian warfare. MIdcmo>elle
knew all this very well; but Lieut. Boz
tram had announced hls Intention OF Il
dY return TO England too suddenly
mot To hurt her vanity, ana she meant 10
make that evenings journey unOOniOTt-
able Tor hIH, II SHE could.
All, If he shou 4 return" she sighed.
Then She smiled cuquett sally. The Noung
Eugilshtnau dropped her hand. lie dld
mot even ask her for one of tue v.olcts.
SHE began TO fasten them IN her dress.
"Nour cousin. Gas on, cOuld not bcother-
wise than gcucl Ous when he looked in your
lace, s,lI the l., utcuant, sharply. " lie
could not do less than share hs 1cncs with
YOU
" Do you have violcts in ENGLAND. Mon
k4fNi l4ffilllf t7Ai'l lllt young HIfl. she
brushed back her brown har aud looked
mp NJ him. ~" WIS .iWili e aud her face
WAS Ike one of the roses IN her g4idcn.
softly flushed aud fair. with q httlctI,mble
through 81; som" quick emotion was fash
III past with It's Dud-!lkc wings.
Lieut.. Beltram stulked TO the window.
looked out, aud then retained to hor.
Pardon Inadampi>cilc,' hc ,aid, glavciN,
"hut the steamer leaves the duck IL .lN
O'Clock, and find lay my watch that have
Just half an hour lcft me. VIII YOU sing
me one song bcto'e goY
ION, with pleasure, Monsieur Henri
Only you must tell me what II shull be
Mrdcnoiselle Nnon took up her guitar
and drew The bruud band of scarlet ribbon
about her neck. Henri assisted her and
rs he dli SO he noticed with his keen
hungry lover eyes what Il pale pink refcc-
tOH-jlst The ghost of Il lovers lovely
hlush--tne crimson satln threw upon the
lruuctte check. The one deep, dainty
dnnpie there seemed TO iii and overflow
with happy color.
what shan It hrf' asked Ninon bend
ine her cheek down and drumming the
tllu-s with white fingers. My last song
Tor Nuu must hc . "hoIc" one, you know"
iiu' u nrI. gazing al The rosy dimple. lost
IL, n','h l"I once.
'lt i, iu-t The spot where n lover would
pllccaki- hrmulwured. "Decp down,
10 49, ihr s"r"ihC>-.'
Motai,ur'' exc aimed the girl, aston
ishcd.
beg your pardon" faltcrcd the Young
man. h's face all aname with confusion.
" wl, 'hMkng of something else
"Ih"L VIII put away my music,' said
SIMON, WIN an air oi offended dignity.
o. II WIZ simply annoy ven, since more in
POI .nrt uHUt"r nlls Your miui.'
go Ninon! surely you viii not punish
me tin> severely tor a moments Thought
less foliYi You may give me the song
on" only impOrr YOU
lie put back the ribbon which she had
throw of displ"ascd; She did not resist the
touch OF his hand; she sang, with down
cast face a simple ProveuCll air. Then
hhe nut away the guitar. ~ caunOt sing
today III" said; q" | am not IN the mood
aud at such times music comes hard to
me-
Yet what she did sing was beautiful,
both IN word and execution. Tho youug
marqulse Possessed n wonderfully sweet
and Sympathetic voice. Henri paid her
the st"icutyprd compliments Of society TO
beauty then hr added n word of his own
IN sirC"re THINKS "You have the true
husic'hl's art o. pu'tlHg Yourself en- ftip-
port win your hearers he said. ali YUu
were obliged, 10y stress Of fortune, To make
song your profession, YOU would soon win
all the inurcls fame ma stored up IN her
II, uSIIlN for future. usDlIuut-f