Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-08-27

CHATTER 1.
Rolleryille is parish of the country of
Caux, renowned throughout all Normandy
for its sheep, its delicious APPLES, and the
marvellous healing properties OF its fCun-
tain of Saint Clotllde.
The place contains about a hundred
houses bordering street OF the shape Of a
square knee. 1t is a branch Of the Leizarde,
a trout river, which connects with the
Seine, after having turned six mills, and
reflects IN its clear waters, the sky, the
rampant of Cent Guatre, and tie white and
gothic steeple OF Harilens.
The farms, bathed by the water, smile in
the sunlight, and extend to the hills
crowned with oaks. The peasants are
well-to-do, and we still see the head-gears
OF this worthy people upon many pretty
head at the government balls in Paris
Some future day, the railroad of Mont
villiers, cutting away all obstacles, will
force Its way thither, and the shrek Of the
locomotive will be heard to ;he utmost
limit of the valley. Meanwhile the parish
is reached by a diligence which travels
through all the country from Rollerville to
Havre.
Every evening at o'clock the carriage
leaves the courtyard of the Bras-D'or AN
old inn, now out Of date like the old dill
gence of Paris. Ii is there that all day
long the begrimmed and yellow wagon
creaks in the sunshine. The names of the
various communes are printed upon its red
band, and the name of the coachman is
written over the door-Biondel. Ii is en-
bellished with a superb capital, a chubby
b., inclined grotesquely, like the jolly
coachman as he gossips with all the inn
keepers along the route.
The winter is an unfavorable season for the
coachman, as the travellers are rare. 1t was
therefore an unusual event, when one even
ing in March, the diligence stopped before
rAbbye, the first farm at the left on COM
ing from Eponville. A young woman
alighted, followed by child dressed like
herself in deep mourning, and servant
who carried hamper.
Take care. Do not fall, Ml'deric."
Mage, the farmer, waiting near the fence,
greeted the newcomer with respectful
words of welcome.
lis Madame well and how is the little
one? How much he resembles Monsieur
at his age And as at this remark, the
blue eyes filled with tears, he stopped in
embarrassment, fearing hy his inadvertant
remembrance to have awakened painful
"reminiscences.
Pardon, Madame Ferrard, / feel have
grieved you"
Blondel. meanwhile, handed the trunks
TO a farm servant, whilst swearing at the
horses, who commenced TO stapp impa-
tiently.
The baggage was soon all removed, and
preceded by the farmer, they all entered
the sale dH partition.
The room wac damp from five years of
disuse and closed blinds. She seated her
self before the fire, shiyeringly, the child
upon her knees. Mage looked at her silently,
touched by her desolateness, and the sad
ness of the languid eyes, heavy with un-
shed tears.
Thanks, my good Mage, Melina will at
tend TO us now"
The farmer withdrew and the three
dined, the maid with the mistress, drawn
together by the familiarity of loneliness
and sorrow.
The butterflies fiutteTed about the can
dies. The child slept upon chair, and as
the servant assembled to prepare the rooms,
the widow sitting alone beside the hre,
gazed dreamily at its dying embers.
She was widowed by the war. Ten years
ago, yes, Just ten years. Lieutenant FER
rsrd, touched by her desolate orphan con-
ditioD, and her beauty and grace, had beg
ged her hand. For ten years she had fol-
lowed him from garrison to garrison, proud
of her husband, proud of the child who
so strongly resembled him. Then In the
midst OF her happiness, the war trumpet
sounded. He went to the frontier. She
remained in Paris with the little one. Oh,
the suspense, the agony, the rare news,
from the day when imprisoned In the
besieged capital. She lived for six months
in suspense, hearing nothing, still praying
TO the Virgin tc save that dear life, long
after he had fallen upon the field of battle.
When she heard the sad news she at first
refused TO believe, but when il was con-
firmed, when all was over, hope with the
rest, she had taken her child by the hand,
and come to live upon this farm, her only
fortune. come in her loneliness, far from
the Indifferent crowd.
Above her head, the steps of the busy
servant passed back and forth. The flick
ering light of the dying fire reflected the
shadows OF the sleeping child. She bent
over him, and embraced him.
do Lot weep, Mama "Oh, my darling.
If God ever give TO thee woman who
loves thee, leave her not alone
CHATTER IL.
A country awakening What Joy for poor
little urchin who for six months imprisoned
in the besieged city, had lived in fear, trem5-
ling between the sobs of his mother and the
umult Of the streets.
The morning sunlight shone through the
red cotton curtains, playing upon the wall,
IN bright golden spots, and the farmhouse
cleaned brightly in the sunshine.
Behind the house there was a broad space
hlled with grass and weeds, where thz regular
passage Of the servants to the well hai traced
dusty foot.path. Beyond the well the
sheep-fold. long and shaped Ike an arch