River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-03

best in his own land. But now he
must think of that same loved face
worn with sorrow and pale with the
flow of many tears.
This maiden, whom we ought al
to have protected and cherished, who
was, as it were, an angel sent among US
was wounded cruelty; this trusting
childlike heart was broken by Serone
man. There was in the village a Ger
tain Paul Lameurthe-nota fisherman
thank heaven, not one of uS-but OF
better standing, and respected by al
the mobiles round us as a good and
steady workman.
He wooed Renee; she loved him,
and was happy.
:" Only for one brief Summer, though
with the Autumn his love waned, and
his pride rebelled against allying him
self with one he considered beneath
himself in station; and one day, one
bitter day for Renee, he told her he
was too poor TO wed for love, and that
they must part.
He said land | believe he spoke
truly that ne still loved her more than
any woman on earth; but he did nOt
say that his love of himself was stronger
than his love for her, poor child, which
was still more true. Tie next month
he married our wealthy miller's daugh-
ter, Marie SAINT.
No word Of reproach fell from Re
nee's lips, no one but the Father OF
love can ever tell what passed in her
heart but that she was sore-stricken
we all knew. She made no sign, but
she was cha ged-more gentle, more
sympathizing if possible, but changed.
Time passed on, and all seemed to
prosper with Lameurthe. For Fences
sake we never openly reproached him,
but he knew full well what We felt in
our hearts concerning him; and we in
our turn knew he was not happy. His
patrons round still favored him with
every mark Of respect, and his praises
were to be heard on all sides.
"Oaiy the fishermen Of Serene lcdS silent.
Cone child was born to him, pretty
boy enough, with curling hair and dark,
beseeching eyes, like his father; and in
this Paul's whole life seemed centered
and the only time he looked young and
happy was when one met him by
chance wandering away from the vii
lage alone with the child.
"0ne day, when the sea was angry
and the sun hidden by stormy clouds,
Renee was sitting on the beach watch
ing the waves break on the shore and
the spray dashing to land, when her at
tention was suddenly arrested, we sup
pose, by seeing Lameurthe's child
standing on point of the cliff which
Overhung the angry sea.
''In his hand he held some flowers
his father had given him. Whether he
let one of his treasures go, and in try
ing to recover it lost his footing, we
never really knew; but he fell, mon
sieur, he fell.
Poor white dove, she gave one loud
cry for help; but, blockheads that we
were, we understood her not, for,
busted with cur work. we had not seen
the child's danger.
waiting for no further assistance,
she pushed boat from the shore, and
sprang into it. Nainly we cried out to
her to desist; her only cry was, The
child, the little helpless child" You
may scarcely believe it, monsieur, but
for the moment we thought that sorrow
had at last done its work, and that she
was mad. Alas! none amongst us was
clearer sighted than Renee at that per-
ilous moment, when we stood half
paralyzed with surprise.
She was not altogether unaccus-
toned to rowing, but the sea was very
rough and the tide strong that morning.
|, who followed her with two comrades,
had difficulty in making way through
the surging surf, which kept rolling in
with flst-increasing strength.
''Bravely she toiled on her way, and
before we could overtake her, had
reached the spot where the child had
fallen.
''She must have seen his agonized
face, wan with terror, float on the cruel
seas, and without thought of her own
danger, so threw herself over the side
of the boat, and caught him as he was
sinking helplessly.
sHe locked his arms tightly round
her neck, and with one hand Renee
held to the tossing boat, while with the
other she strove to keep her precious
charge above water.
Our boat ut length gained the spot,
and we succeeded in drawing the eX-
hausted giIl into it, with her burden.
But it was too late; the effort had been
too severe for the weak girlish frame,
and we saw the lifc-blOod oozing slowly
from her pallid lips.
Con the shore a crowd had gathered,
and could see Paul Lameurthe, nearly
frantic with suspense, waiting, waiting
for us to gain the shore, for he had wit
messed the whole scene from the cliff
above
THE child was placed in its mothers
arms, and she carried it away in safe
ty: but we laid the maiden down on
the strand gently, and tried to stay the
life that was so precious to us from
| flowing away so fast before our eyes.
g Monsieur, the scene was very sad
and will never fade from the memory
of any who were present that wild
morning
'tThCn it was that Father Louis, oul
| old priest, came amongst us, and turn
| ing to all assembled, said, My children
/ | think we have one duty to perform
which ought not to be omitted. We
must award our cross, so long forgotten
and unclaimed, to this brave maiden
who has given her life to save chile
of our people,
a low murmur of assent greeted
his words; and then, addressing himsel
to rs fishermen, who stood in a groul
near him. he continued, Fishermen o
Serene, it is for YOU to decide wh'
| amongst Us shall award the old badg
of honor to Renee Val
For one moment there was Il 81
lenGe. then we looked steadfastiy il
! each others face, and read the sam
answer in every mans heart. Thel
Pierre Dubois made reply for us al
Father Louis, he said aloud, the MAJ
we name is Paul Lameurthe.'
The fishermen Of Serene rere drelgea
.'Lameurtne turned towards us witt
mute. piteous appeal, which for
moment nearly shook our resolve; bu
we remembered the cruel autumn ever
ing when Rence's heart was wounded
and made no sign.
Then. with faltering hand and ashe
face, Paul took the cross from Fathe
Louis, and once more knelt beside tn
maiden he had loved.
No ore heard has whispered word
TO her. and many eyes were turne
away. But | watched.
"A flush, beautiful as the morning
overs pread her face, and | saw he
look up ut him with forgiveness, lov
and blessing in her sweet fading eyes
Then, as he placed this chain roun