The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-02
A Tragical Love Story.

Whilst travelling in Brittany some years
ago l stopped at the village of r, a
small, unpretending place lying on the
northwest coast not far off Quimper. On
the next morning, the weather being bright,
| strolled out to take last farewell of the
place. Afar from the village, and close to
the sea, was a small hut; what drew my
attention to it was its pretty garden in
front, and its close proximity to the church.
yard. An old, wrinklcd, STOPPING woman
passed before me- | asked her who resided
there.
"Ah! SIR" she said, wiping tear,
"that's sad story"
GLOW so?" asked.
''rhere once lived there" she replied,
"thc beauty Of our villagc--our fair Yo-
nan; the villagers at night see her walking
by the sea singing to the waves"
Here she wiped another tear and piously
crossed herself. I asked her to relate me
Yonan's story.
Willingly, SIR" she said; "comc into
the churchyard.
So we entered the small chrrchyard, and
as we snuntcrcd among the paths the wo-
man began thus:
Ionan was an orphan, and lived hap
PLY in that cottage; her only companion
was an old woman, Manon by name, who
loved the beautiful girl with all her heart.
Manon was proud of her, and called her
her child They lived a lonely, quiet
life; the cottage was always clean, the
windows laden with flowers, the garden
was full of roses, Yonan was always so
fond Of them; she rose early in the morn
ing with the lark, smiled out of her window
to nature, watered her roses, singing her
favorite ballad, and the birds flew to her
and ate out of her hand.
"Yonan was tail and dark, the sea air
had darkcncd her skin, and gave deep red
color to her checks; the long walks rem
dcrcd her robust, wcll-made maiden; she
gazed so often at the sea, that the waves
seemed to reflect their blue-grcen tint in
her eyes, which were large and fringcd
with thick eyelashes, the sun had burnt her
hair into a dark, lustrous brown They
called her 'Saintc Yonan,' she was so pure
and innocent; her low musical voice suited
all cars. At last they all wondered in the
village, 'who will win thee, our fair Yo-
nan = The young men were shy, and
dared not climb up to the height where
Yenan stood in her own atmosphere of
purity. One night, she and Manon sat to-
gcther before the fire spinning-it raincd
hard, Yonan was agitatcd and nervous.
Nlanon looked at the beautiful girl who sat
there spinning, her black cross hanging
over tho white kcrchicf she had pinned
across her bosom; there was no light in the
room, the fire crackled mcrrily in the wide
fireplace, and threw its warm rays in the
kitchen, casting the two womcn's shadows
against the walls, rcddcning the plate, and
the thin sauccpans rejecting the ,lurd glare;
vase of flowers, which Yonan had gath
cred in tho morning, stood on the wooden
table in tho center, and q harp was by Yo-
mans side. A strong gust of wind brought
the rain down the old chimney, and made
it rattle against the window panes: a knock
at the door echoed through the cottage, the
woman started, 'NIanon, she said, 'why
does my heart throb2' She went out Of
the room. Manon heard the door open, and
mans voice say 1t was 30 wet, and, being
q stranger, knew not whittier to go. Yonan
bid him come In.
ga tall, strongly built man walked into
the kitchen, his steps rcsounding on the
bright stones; he mad dark, sunburnt
face, and curly black hair thrown back; a
wide, open forehead, dark, black, fiery
eyes, and thick, black, curly beard; tho
fire fell upon his face and added to his
manly beauty softening, warm ruddiness
Yonan stood by the door trembling and
looking at the stranger.
"I fear, he said, Il am disturbing you !;
if so, will leave YOU
$50, no. said Yonan, in trembling
vo,ce.
"'Warm yourself before the fire, said
Manon, noticing his wet garments, 'you
arc welcome.
"The new conner thanked Manon, who
rose to lay somo food on the table, but Yo-
nan gently put her back and laid the cloth
hcrsclf-tho stranger followed Yonans
movements with steady gaze full of ad-
miration.
81 come from Quimper,' he said, 'my
name is Hcry; have come here for short
time before leaving my country, Brittany,
on long Journey across the sea.
"Therc was clash of plates, and Manon,
turning round, saw Yonan turn pale and
stagger, but she soon recovered and bent
her face, which blushed like the roses she
loved 30 much, Hery helped her. humbly
excueing himself for all the disturbance he
gave them. Yonan avoided his hand d---but
when she touched 1t, in giving him the
bread, a sbiver ran through her, and she
once moro clasped her cross. Hery sat at
the table, and Yonan resumed her seat be.
fore the fire; he looked at her--how could