The Portland daily press., 1875-03-27

cracked so joyously on the hearth when the
white flowers of the frost covered the WIN
doWs, and silence reigned in the valley-this
fire which watched by the half hour, smok-
ing my pipe, dreaming thousand things
which passed through my brain, gave me
now only sad thoughts. The wood cried, and
dog Ragot sought in all the corners, went up
stairs and down, snuffed under all the doors.
Ca,as woye his baskets in silence, the willows
in heap before him, the grandmother count
ed her beads, and Marie Rose, pale, and
dressed in black, came and went in the house
taking care of everything and doing all with
out noise just like her mother.
/, said nothing. When death enters into
our life, all complaints are useless.
Yes, the winter was long!
Then the spring time came again as in for
mer years. The buds of the oaks and beech
trees put forth. They opened the windows
to let in the warm, sunny air. The great
peach tree before the door was covered with
flowers. All the birds of heaven began to
sing and build their nests as if nothing had
happened.
l returned to my work, accompanying the
supervisor general Rameau in his rounds,
arranging for the disposal of the timber, in
exploring, in going away early and returning
late at night.
Grief followed me everywhere: but it was.
a consolation to see Marie Rose growing in
trength and beauty in really marvellous
manner 1t is not, George, because l was
her father that [ say so, but one would have
sought a long time in Saverne, at Lutzelstein
or in our valleys, before meeting young
woman so fresh and graceful, such an honest
expression, with such blue eyes and such
magnificent light hair And she attended to
all the work in the house or out of doors
All! yes can well say it, she was a beauti-
full girl, gentle and strong Often when re-
turninga at night, and seeing her at the door
way, making motion to me that they bad
been waiting supper long time for me, then
running down the steps and pressing her beau
tiful cheeks close to miDe-often have
thought: She is more beautiful even than
her mother at her age. She has the same
gnu cCuoS' LII my SilOi lCb I-lO hoo Soiii
plain, for many others would envy my lot
to have such child who gives me 50 much
satisfaction. One thing aloEe called forth
tears: when L thought of my wife, then
cried, 'Ah if Catherine could come back to
see her she would be very happy"
About this time other thoughts passed
through my mind, the time when should
be pensioned off was near, and as Marie
Rose entered into her sixteenth year, 1
thought to find for her some brave youth,
connected with the toresters, with whom l
could end my days surrounded by my chill
dren and grandchildren, and who, taking my
place, would respect me as l had respected
my father-in-law Bruat whom 1 had sue
ceeded twenty years before.
l thought lit was my principal idea, for
really had some one in view of hand
some young man of FelsbUrg, who had left
the horse guards some four or five years
before, and who had been elected guard
forester at Tomenthal, near us. His name
was Jean Mulin and he knew already the
forester's business, having served as an ap-
prentice at EqIisheim in Alsace. The youth
pleased me, first because he had a good char.
acter and because Marie Rose seemed to look
kindly on him. had noticed that she al
ways blushed little when she saw him
enter the house to make his report, and
that he on these occasions always came
in uniform, his little cap with the hunt
ing horn embroidered in goll-a costume
always attractive to young girls. His
voice, little rough, became very soft in
saying, "Good morning, Mademoiselle Marie
Rose. Are you always well? What beauti-
full weather to-day-what a beautiful sum-
He seemed troubled; Marie Rose also re-
piled to him in a timid voice. At last it was
clear that they loved and admired each other;
very natural thing when one is at an age to
marry. We see it every day, and it will be
seen always. 1t is dispensation of Provi-.
dence. Thus 1 found nothing wrong; OH
the contrary thought, when he shall ask
me, according to the custom, we will see.
shall not say yes, or no, at first. One must
not seem too willing. But l shall soften lit
tie by little, and then shall consent, Tor we
mist not drive youth to despair. Such were
the thoughts which passed through my brain.
Besides the young man was of good family.
His uncle Daniel Mulin was a schoolmaster
at Fesburg; his father haG been sergeant
in a regiment of infantry, and his mother
Margredel, although living with him in the
forester's house at Tomenthal, owned little
house at Felsburg, with a garden and five or
six acres of good land. One could not wish
a sutton more agreeable in every way.
Seeing thus that everything promised well.
almost every evening when 1 returned from
my tour of inspection through the woods, in
the path which runs by the valley of Dossen-
helm, just at sunset, where silence falls with
the shadows of the forests, in the great mea-
dows of Linosel-this silence of the solitude
scarcely troubled by the murmur of brooks
almost each evening as L walked sadly .on
pictured to myself the peace my children
would have in this corner of the world, their
quiet home, the little ones that we should
carry to Dossenhein for the christening in
the old church, and many other things which
softened me and made me say Heavenly Fa-
ther, surely these things will happen! And
when you will be old, Fredric, very old, your
back bent with age like grandmother Anne,
and your head white, you will go away tran
gully full Of years, and blessing the young
brood, and long time afterward this brave
Jean Mulin with Marie Rose will remember
you.
Pcturing thus 1 made halt regularly in the
path above the foresters house of Jean Mu-
lin, looking at the little shingled roof, the
garden, and the yard where the mother OF
Jean chased the hens and ducks into the
poultry house at night-fall for the foxes were
plenty in this corner of the forest. I looked
down and called, raising my cap.
"Ha! Ha! Margredel, good evening""
Then she, raising her eyes, replied cheer
lily, "Good evening Monsieur Brigadier.
How are they all at homer"
''Well, yes Margredel, very well, God be
praised"
As soon as descended across the heath we
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