Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-11-08
"BON GARC0N."

There is little corner in southern Italy
where Already still fingers. Once was II
the habit of spending every spring there but
shall never go again. Yet it IS to me Inc
most beautiful place in the world
One lands at the Marina and climbs the
hill winding M, up, M the long white hlgh
road, which is like shelf along the edge Of
! the cliff.
High above ones head hangs the mountain,
| leaning forward stark and grim; below the
( wall of the road the ground falls sheer away
I to the sea. One sees nothing but the great
shining plain and the threatening mountain.
Round and round curves the road between
those two silent watching enemies, till sud
denly, without warning, one reaches the
plateau and comes out in a land OF desire.
It is only to climb wall and then 10 walk
onward without let or hindrance through the
wheat fields under the olives where the
Young green wheat blades are like swords for
keenness, and their color strikes on the soul
like a song too sweet for words and yet
brave withal And below the wheat on the
lower terraces are the bean fields, sweet and
heavy, where a man may lie full length on
the short grass Of the threadlike paths and
feel nothing but the warm odors, the little
winds over the blossoms, be conscious Of
nothing but the glory of the wheat, the
Pickering shades Of the gnarled olives in the
afternoon light, and If he lies still enough
the sound of the nightingale learning its
song. And yet he may be sick at heart
As | lay there the livelong April day,
neither reading nor thinking, nor grateful TO
God for his wind aud his bean fields,
but with my fingers In my ears to shut out
the sound Of the nightingale who sang loud,
so loud
For, instead Of the young spring tide
saw nothing but woman, standing as az
first saw her, dressed in white from head TO
foot, with bare arms and shoulders, a wreath
Of brown winter ivy round her golden head
and a great garland Of it on her gown
There she stood and looked me in the eyes,
with a straight grave glance.
Not the look she gave men as a rule,
found that ont soon enough, for if ever there
was a woman coquette, seduisante any Eug-
fish is not good at best, it leaves me always
when speak Of herr, it was she-Suzon
used To watch her often as she talked to
men with that quick grace she had, and be-
ing used to analyzIng faces-it is my profes-
sion for that matter, | who am a doctor-l
saw that she, whom most women hated for
her lovers, whom most men adorei and
thought soft, warm plaything, uae vraie
femme, was IN reality as cold as stonc
Image
It was very pretty play which went on
around her, with often a change in the jeune
premier, but she did not act in it herself.
She pipcd carelessly and all her court /
danced but she grew neither warm nor I
weary,
am not very sure how came to be 50
friendly with her; think she began it,
But we fell into a way Of walking over the I
hills together and sitting on the cliffs in the /
mondays. looking ont over a sea like the .
glory Of God for light and colcr, talking Of 4
many things sometimes, sometimes quite 4
silent, lying in the sun; with my hat over 1
my eyes, drinking in the scents Of the spring I
air, just seeing the splendOr OF o bush 81 vel. .
ow broom standing out against violet sea: I
She with her head flung back on the short, <
Try grasses. often enough cigarette in her I
mouth.
As the days went by we grew quietly 4
nearer one another, insensibly, till one morn
ng asked her something.
The fact was, al the place was ringing
with her doings. The men with whom she
lad amused herself for time, not all being
gentlemen handled her name in the cafes
without too much courtesy. And the women
lad always hated her for her. beauty her
oilets, her artistic reputation; young as she
vas, she had had a mention at the Salon.
So asked her II it really amused her suffi-
'iently to be worth the price.
She shook her head
When she was not painting she grew hor-
IDLY ennuyee; she must do something And
hen it was not all her fault, she said
1T is TO great extent" told her 'You
cad men on horribly mot niece nest pas la
'eine-but most mem. As soon as they
make love to you they disgust you, repel
'ou; you fling them over none too gently,
nd, well-enfn, they talk. -
She nodded fancy she knew quite well
What sort OF reputation she had. But pres
ntly she said with amusement:
$50 You do not care about me-your
II like you so much that do not like them
o speak Of you as they do. You are always
on garcon to me-" | cried, turning sharply
n her; why cannot you translate it liter
lily and be a good boy alwaysf Drop your
oquetry, take life frankly; you would do
ettcrn
The sun was hot. she began to look tired
nd said she had work to do, she must go
ONE. | thought she did not like what had
aid. But | walked to her villa with her,
- as ! stood in the loggia and bade her
ood-by she put her hand into mine.
And something prompting me, / said very
wv:
"Be good boy"
She looked mo in tho fara
ii will, she said. as though she were max
lg vow.
And she did, l know, for / never again
NV in her that light manner which l had
ways disliked; never heard her talking
} men as | had heard her often enough.
And we were rather more together than
yer. She would not let me treat her as a
oman; indeed, she was the only woman /
YER knew who was, au fond, bon garcon-
-ho knew the meaning Of camaraderie.
But my relation to her was getting all
ose, and knew il
"Mon camarade, mon beau garcon, mon
mi, / said to her, and in my soul called
er Ma rose blonde, ma cherier
l made up my mind to go away; it was all
could do. She knew nothing about my