Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-11
A Village Romance.
How q Fathers Obstinacy was OvsrcO
 by Simple Shepard Couple.

How q Fathers Obstinacy was Overcome by g Simple Shepard Couple. TFrom the P4Tis Morning News.l
 little shepherd of the forests of Palneca loved young girl of Santo Pietro, the cool mountain village where the fashionable ladies of Ajsccio go to spend the summer. The young girl loved the youth. At the first word of marriage the father of the young girl flew into terrible passion, 50 terrible that for several days the Aocks of Palneea did not dare to wander near the hillside of Santo-Pietro. But on the fifth day the young girl fell i'll, and at last the father re- tented.
 ''We will see about that" he said, :'aftsr he has drawn his consoript's number and has served his time. I do not want you to have husband who will be compelled to leave you as soon as you are married.' How came it that in this country, where there is no telegraph, the shepherd an hour afterward knew what had been said? The fact is that On entering the village he had only one idea uppermost in his hesd-escape from his term of military service.
 The next day while cutting wood in the forest, he, as if by accident, gave his right hand smart blow with his batchet and ssv- cred three fingers. Now let the military ex- animation tske place! He went home and tended his hurt well as hi was able! and when the wound was healed, and he had been rightly and duly exempted, he went to Santo Pietro and bravely repeated his offer.
 II am not going to serve iu the army" he said, flor am sure they will never take me. You can marry us now"
 But the father stopped him by 8 word
 ''Never," he cried, twill give my daugh- r to one who is maimed."
 And it was apparent by his tone of voice that he meant what he had said. In spite of his daughters illness, he remained memorable. It was clear that the old man did not like a maimed son -in-la~. He made but one reply to the prayers and tears of this young girl.
 "Ee7er, you thoroughly understand, never :! And don't let him come hanging around here any more. Cripples ought to marry cripples. Let him marry the little blind girl of Pelneca, OF the huachback of Sant'AndreR."
 The young girl did not reply, and not once during her illness did she speak of her shep- hare. When she was convsleseent she vas seized with 8 longing for the forest and the open air, and every day took long walks by the hillside of PeIneca by the road that her hocks knew so we'll One morning, after a long Seach, she again came across the little shephard, pale and haggared, like 8 shephard tired of tho world
 Show ms your wounded hand" she said.
 He showed it to her bashfully, and piously she pressed it to her lips.
 ''ShoW me-" she said to him again, s'the hstchet which wounded you" He took it aud showed it to her. Then, raising it and placing her hand on a stone:
 ''This is how you did 1t, isn't it? This is how the accident happened ?"
 And, before the shephsrd was able to reply, the hatohet had fallen, the stone had redden- ed. and beside it lay the three fingers of the pretty maid of Ssnto Pietro
 ''Now, shephard," she said, ''show me how you healed your wound"
 And together they returned to Santo- Pietro, he with fears in his eyes and she ra- diant What could the father do? He had not imprudeutly said that cripples ought to marry crfpples? He cursed them and mar ried them. The wedding vas celebrated two two moaths sgo.