The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-04-06
''THE TRAGEDY Of THE MARSH"
Translated for the ''Argonaut' from til
Fropc1, ~ n Iop,op

french OF w. Leman
tell the tale as twas told to me by Noel,
keeper of the pastures, Ole day when was
duck hunting on tho marshes of Saint
Georges. We had beaten the princes en-
closures Dick in advance, nose to the wind;
Noel bringing up the rear, with my game
bag-which, alas! was not heavy-on his
shoulder. The MONDAY sun fell perpen-
dicularly upon our heads; the mosquitoes
swarmed about us by thousands, first max
ing their presence known by sounding a
ribbon that unrelled itself in its passage
around the glistened like mirror
before our eyes. On the opposite bank
Quillebtenf, with its quay grown green
through long and intimate contact with ths
marsh, its slate roofs scattered pell-mel
around the old church, and its white light
house, like an advance guard, stood up
right at the foot of the pier.
We were approaching the rushes with
gun half cooked and ear strained to catch
the faintest sound. Suddenly detected q
rustling among the reeds.
Hist" whispered Noel; watch atten-
lively, but be in NO hustle" Thereupon, tc
my establishment, he seized without cere.
mOny the following piece with which had
taken aim, For Gods sake, do not fire.
1t is crazy Jeanne!"
Through the tail grasses, which prevent
I'd my clearly discerning the object, now
perceiveda white shadow reflected in tue
ripping waters. Soon fantastic figure
appeared on the other side Of the rushes.
1t was of a still youthful woman, pale AMI
emacMted, whose eyes glittered with that
restless, lurid light which marks the prey
of consuming fever. Hanging loosely
from her waist was 4 skirt that had been
originally white, but now it vas bedraggled
with mud. She wore, crossed over her
bosom, a red shawl, while on her head, en-.
tangled in her heavy hair, was bridal
wreath-crushed and torn, ana matted
with grasses. She paused and gazed at us,
took two steps forward with both arms ex-
tended, then paused anew. For an instant
she stood thus, with fixed gaze, as motion
less as stature; then gave utterance to a
strange cry, hi If sob, which awakened
from its reyery and put to flight a hugh
heron that was Summing itself in a neigh
boring field.
Come, be still, silly one," said Noel, in
bis harsh, rough voice, at the sound OF
which the poor girl gathered up her skirts
with both hands, and pursued her erratio
course toward Saint Georges.
We seated ourselves Oh q neighbOring
hillock in the immediate vicinity, under
the shade of the silvery willows, and, at
my request, after having first taken drop
to restore cheerfullness, the keeper began
his narrative, to the hoarse accompani-
ment furnished gratis by the frogs from out
the ditch.
Jeanne's father Isaid NoelI is the host of
the inn where you are now staying. Pre-
vious to her misfortune, Jeanne was uni
versally considered to Re the belle of all the
country hereabOuts; nor was there within q
raids OF tea leagues an inn moro frequented
than that Of Pere Simon. The line Of car
riages drawn up in the courtyard Sunday
after Sunday was sight worth seeing.
Calashes and omnibusses from Huvre, con
veying thither gay parties attracted to the
inn by the fame of its mutelote hunters,
eQuipages, with their liveried coachmen;
to say nothing of travellers gigs of every
description, and heavy farm wagons, whose
horses stopped Of their own accord before
the door.
Jeanne was the life and soul of the
house, In the salon, where the villagers
were wont to assemble in friendly converse
over cup of coffee Or glass of vine; in
the kitchen, where all absolutely gilt
tered in its cleanliness; in the cellar, filled
to repletion with its barrels of cider and
rows Of wine bottles. In short everywhere
her snowy cap was visible. She was ever
on the alert that nothing might escape her
to laugh at good Joke. which no one could
better appreciate than herself.
Pere Simon, seated at his counter in the
midst of many hued bottles gathered in the
earnings that cost him nothing but the
trouble of clinking glasses with his guests
TO pretty girl with a large dot, suitors,
as rule, are not wanting, nor would they
have been to Jeanne but for the fact that
every one was aware that her hand was al
ready promised to Raymons La Thiele, the
son of q neighboring farmer. They had
grown up together, and long before either
party was of an age to think of love, it was
understood thing that they were to be
married as soon as Raymond should return
from the service.
Wou(d-be lovers were not slow to recog-
nize in their successful rival man of pow
erfnl frame: whose jealous disposition made
itself known, when excited by anger, in the
weight of his fist. Moreoyer-this most
effectual preventive against counter-cl claims
the father-in-law elect was possessed of
thirty acres of sunny land, to say nothing
of the finest pasturage in the country. The
farm is just above the inn. You can see
it from here, behind those poplars, border
ing tho marsh. The house, with its matched
roof and black cross beams. was. however
but sad nest for newly married pair.
therefore Pere La Thiele had promised as
q wedding gift to build them a new house
in the uplands "a house of brick and slate
as are built in the city, the garden of which
was to be laid off with graveled walks, and
enclosed IN an iron railing.
There was much visiting from the farm
to the inn. In the evening, after the last
guest had taken his departure, and the
shutters were drawn, then the four ad-
journed to Pere Simon's kitchen, The two
rathers-old soldiers-sat with the brandy
bottle between them, and told each other
stories-always the same-of other days;
and the young people. within the shadow
OF the chimney corner, also told each Other
story, which, too, was always the same
yet theirs was tale as old as the everlast-
ing hiAs. But Raymond was obliged to
leave for the army. The evening pre-
vious to that appointed for the drawing OF
lots, Jeanne burned fine wax candle, as
propitiatory offering. AS result of this
generous sacrifice, her lover was conscripted
for single year only.
AS may readily be supposed there was a
eolAoWAu1 paitlug many were the Kisses
interchanged; again and yet again was
the farewell uttered, only to be revoked
with another kiss. When the last adieu
was finally whispered, Jeanne cried and
sobbed as though her heart would break.
But girls tears are like rain storms short
in duration in proportion to their violence.
Jeanne doubtless appreciated the fact that
weeping spoiled pretty eyes, and that work
done with sorrowful heart was drudgery
BE that az it may, at the close OF the sec
ond day she was as merry and blithe as OF
yore. Again she sang as thrush in the
sunshine.
Explain who can why Jeanne, as good
girl as ever lived, bet1othed to fine young
fellow, should in n few short days have for
gotten the companion Of her childhood to
become enamored of a stranger, LOVING him
madly, even unto death, for death only can
end her misery, poor creature! Wo-
mans heart is So constituted. thew saw
but this solution Of the enigma is not salts
factory to me, nor is it to many othc1s who,
like myself, have found this riddle inso-
luble.
Jules Delaporte was considered hand
some by those who admired his style. For
my part do not like these pomatumed