Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-30
CONTINUED from frst payr.i

along the sweet Swiss valley, back to its
bright, sunny homes and kindly people.
One morning left Cazogue--s village
some six or seven miles from Nelnotte-
as day was breaking, that | might walk
over hillsides and mountain paths, down
into the valley where it lay so snugly
resting.
Ga through lanes aud road went, with
he fresh young life of spring breathing
all around. with the chirp OF the blrus
singing their matin song as the gray
morning twilight crept along, and win
he fresh mountain air waiting over the
Gelds. Simple and Englishlike it might
have been if ones eyes could have seen
only to a certain height; but above came
the rounded green sides and the snowy
peaks of the great mountains; sounds
there were. too, of rushing streams, pour
ng cataracts ie ring headlong down
through some mighty rift in the rocks;
sounds there were too. of far. off, 'high-up,
muflled explosions. like maybe the blast
ing of ancient rocks by the Titanic genii
OF the mountains.
Above all and clothing alike sight and
sound. rested. but ever growing, the rosy
flush of the morning sun on the snowy
silver-g listening peaks. On the dark
green pine forest, too. 1t came, tipping
their sombre old arms with q magic gold
en- light; and down always-down at last
to the green grass and cornfelds, TILL ii
shone upon the clustering houses Of the
villages; covering all with soft, peace
full radiance of color, bathing all-hoary
mountains and nesting homes-in hazy
calm of rest, out OF which awakened
gradually the new life OF the tday-
songs of birds, lowing OF herds; then
the far-off drowsy murmur of men singing
up the hillsides from the valleys.
Llnger:ngly my feet chung TO the soft
green hillsides. Peace was around; why
make the well-tuned chords jar against
the discords of daily human lileP Surely
the path led downwards, away from quiet
into turmoil and i threw myself down
where a clump of trees hid away the
downward road, and made perfect soli-
iude. l played with the soft oh grass
| broke wantonly the stems Of the tender
young spring flowers, and scattered their
so lately born petals on the dewy air.
Soft winds played amidst my hair; the
sweet breath OF spring danced around; in
and out everywhere young. happy, TEEN.
ing lie creIt and flew amongst tae leaves
and grasses; and over all came sweet
rich scent as of countless flowers. My
senses were lulled. all was SO sweet; and
lay back with closed eyes, dreaming.
Again came waited across that strange
sweet scent--rich and fragrant, carrying
Joy in its breath Why. then, did a sad
feeling of sorrow come AS it tloated away
ON the sunny air-a sad, quiet feeling of
sorrow-rather memory-as when one
thinks of grief hidden away in far back
years. Again and again il came and then
knew II was the lilies behind me breath
ing forth their fragrance. turned round,
and there were the delicate white things
hidden amo"9st bed of soft MOSES; and
as they lay SO quietly, all dew-laden, I'M
der their dark green leaves, the sadness
and the memory became clear; and gath
ering some of the fair flowers in my hand,
thought of the last years summer at
Me not e, and o the sad end Of the loved
Lsette.
How long lay and dreamed know
not; but alter a while sounds mingled
with my dreams-slow, hushed, half mel
ancholy sounds of singing. A religious
chant it seemed. and they were girls
voices singing it and ever and anon stop
ping and beginning airesh. But at each
flesh burst the music came nearer.
Then along the path near which | lay
came procession-some men, some wo-
men, but mostly young girls, chanting the
hushed waiting music of some funeral
chant. And in their midst saw youths
carrying coffin, er-bestrown-nay,
almost hidden beneath a pail of the ten
der spring flowers, and again swept out
from amongst the sad throng the faint fra
GRANGE of the lilies.
Singing and weeping went the sad-faced
girls-tones and voices such contrast to
the bright colors of petticoats and bodices
and snowy high caps flashing out in the
cheerful morning sun. Foremost in the
ihrong / saw old Eeuve Plignon; and ST.
lent among the singers was Therese, Lii
sette's young sister, with bent head and
a.ful eyes, holding the hand of another
Melnotte maiden.
The truth flashed into my mind. This
was the end OF Pierre and Lisette's hope
and love.
Lisette Plignon was being carried to her
rest in the little cemetery ON the hillside
AMI they told me afterwards that they
buried her with Pierres cluster of lilies in
her hand, which she had always carried
about with her.
The gossips of Melnotte were wrong.
Lisette was young, ut-she could not
n IL FORGET -NO1H'S CH11f11U Times