Daily Republican., 1885-03-18

A little shepherd Of the forests of Pal
neca loved young girl of Santo Pietro
the cool mountain village where the
fashionable ladies Of Ajaccio &c. to spend
the summer.
The young girl loved the youth.
At the first word Of marriage the
father ofthe young girl flew into 9
terrible passion, no terrible that the
flock of Palneca did not dare to wander
near the hillside OF Santo Pietro.
But on the fifth day the girl fell ILL.,
and ut last the father relented.
We will see about that" he said
after he has drawn his conscript't
number and has served his time. dc
not want you to have q husband who
will be compelled to leave you as soon
AZ you are married"
How came 1t that In this country,
where there Is no telegraph, the sheI,-
herd an hour afterward knew what had
been said?
The fact is that on entering the vii.
age he had only one idea uppermost in
his Kaleidoscope from his term OF
military service.
The next day, while cutting wood
In the forest, he, as II by accident, gave
his hand smart blow with:his hatch
ct and severed three fingers.
Now let the military examination
take place!
He went home and tended his hurt
as we'll As he 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
am not going to serve in the
army" he said, :" for l am sure they
will never take me. You can marry us
now"
But the father stopped him by q
word.
Never" he taid, twill | give
my daughter to one v no Is MANNED"
And IL was apparent by his tone of
voice that he meant what he had
said.
In spite Of his daughters illness he
remained memorable.
1t WAS quite clear that this old man
did not like MANNED son-in-lsw.
He made but one reply 10 the prayers
and tears of this young girl.
never ! And don't let him come hang
ought to marry cripples. Let him mar
y
hunchback of SAINT Andrea"
The young girl did not reply, and
not once during her illness did she
speak Of her shepherd.
The old man seemed now TO imagine
he had efiectually settled this love At.
fair.
But 30 as to put an end forever TO
the poor shepherd coming and making
love 10 his daughter, he went and found
future husband for her-quite old,
and awfully rich"
The young girl, however. was not to
be sold like that.
When she was convalescent, she was
seized with longing for the forest and
the open air, and every day took long
walks by the hillside OF Palneca,
by the road that her focks knew 30
we'll.
One morning, after q long search, she
again came across the little shepherd,
tired of the world.
Show me your wounded hand, she
said.
He showed 1t to her bashfully, and
piously she pressed IL to her lips.
Show me" she said to him again,
the Ratchet which wounded you.
He took 1t and showed It TO her.
Then, raising 1t, and placing her hand
on a stone, she said, This Ii how you
did it, is't it? This is how the accident
happened ?"
And before the shepherd was able To
reply, the Ratchet had fallen, the stone
was Redeemed, and beside 1t lay the fl n.
gers Of the pretty maid of Santo Pietro
Nov, shepherd" she said, show
me how you healed your wound.
And together they returned TO SAINT
Pietro, he with tears In his eyes and she
radiant.
What could her father do?
Had he not imprudently said that
cripples ought To marry cripples?
The wedding was celebrated very
soon afterward.