Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-09-15
QUAlNT FRENCH TALE.

QUAINT FRENCH TALE.
The Duke of Provence knocks at the
door of his daughters room with the
pommel Of his sword.
Get up, Maquelon; it is daylight
and the'Ange]us' has rung; your broth
crs are waiting for you down in the
yard; the horses paw the ground; it is
time to START
There is something after a bloody
war in order to strengthen a treaty Of
peace. Maque,on was married, al
though she was but a child, to Prince
Herbert, a child himself; since they
have grown up separated from each
other; now the day has come to con-
duct the bride to the bridegroom.
Maquelon blcsses herself and recon-
mends her soul to the Virgin; she rises
and puts on her wedding dress and a
long veil. Then, dressed all in white,
oAC "coNCuOo tAC OtdlI5' AAcI OIOIuclS
look at her in delight. They mount
their horses.
"Is Prince Herbert's home very far
from hcre?'
80! very far. To 90 there we will
have to cross plains and forests, we
shall climb more than one mountain
with a blue summit
Then Maquelon sadly hangs down
her head. Yet nothing separates her
from the house in which she was born;
she may, by stretching forth her hand,
touch the ivy that clings to the walls.
In the meantime her father and her
brothers say, "Let us co. but there
is Maquelon' $ mother coming cut from
the now deserted house, and with her
trembling hands she presses closely to
her heart her daughters little foot rest
Ing Oh the stirrup.
"You are going away says she.
''You leave me! ., my heart will be
empty!'
"Alas!' answers Maquelon,'' is it
hot my father and you, my mother,
who have given me to Prince Her
bcrt?' The tears are shining in the
blue eyes of Maquelon as the drops of
dew on the grass. The cavalcade is
moving, and Ma4uelon's foot slides out
from her mothers hands.
The stirrups sound. the spurs grind,
the stones fly uuder the. feet of the
horses: the Duke of Provence and his
three sons arc powerful knights, cover
ed with black armors, the alright of
the S%arucens; in the midst of this
double line of steel and iron is pale
"Ihey 90! they go! they cross the
plains and they disappear under the
greenish vault of the forest; then they
reappcar again on the sleepy TANKS of
the mountains. Their thoughts are
sad, and neither q song nor a ballad is
sung to divert their cnuui. Mean
while, MANY days and nights had pass
cd since their departure, when at the
moment of crossing a little stream the
old Duke stops his horse.
''As true as the water of this stream
shall never remOunt to its source
says he, II shall not maze another
step forward, but your brothers will
accompany you, Maquelon; my road is
nOw behind mc.'
"What will become of MT if you de-
part from mc?' cries Ma4uelon.
II must return to console your aged
mother. Farewell, dear child, the
years have heaped themselves on my
head, aud perhaps | will die without
seeing YOU again.
Let the VIII of God be done! But
you, my brothers, swear that you will
never abandon me!'
The brothers hang their heads and
keep silence.
Elbow long and distressing is this
marching,' says M%aquelon. 1--WE pass
from the forest to the mountain, and
from the mountain to the plain; and
we do not arrive. Have we not lost
our way in the country of dreams?'
mo, my sister, Prince Herbert dwells
beyond those blue monntains.'
Tell me, my brothers, does it seem to
you that the more We advance the more
heaven darkens behind us; the grass
is fading away, aud the trees are low
cring their branches to the ground?'
Yes, Maquelon, sadness spreads
itself behind you because you shall pass
no more on this road. At this hour
our heart-brokcn father travels alone,
and our mother wrings her hands in
despair"
''Do o think l have not also my
share of sorrOw-what do | see? Does
your horse refuse to walk, or are you
retaining tho bridlc?',
"Do not cus my horse! This oak
tree on my right marks the line that l
shall not cross. My brothers will de-
scend with you into the valley
''What! Have YOU not sworn never
to abandon me?' says Maquclon, clasp
ing her hands. Have you no remem-
brance of your oath?:'
"a vain oath, my sister; | must re-
turn to comfort my father and mother.
Farewell, beloved Maquelon, l am
young. but often the young depart be-
fore the old. VIII l ever see you
again?'
$50, my brother! Now the Holy
Virgin knows that you have never
loved met
The youngest of the brothers, named
Amaury, was a master in the gay
science; Maquelon cherished him.
Dear Amaury, sing one Of those bal
lads that please the ladies and the
knights so much
''Willingly my sister. l will sing
the ballad of NESTLE of Bearn':
The Count of Bearn has a daughter, the
fair NESTLE,
P~rovencales, F%renohmen, and the Wild
Want to marry the Counts daughter.
ThoV NO NJ IN orrv hpr away