The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-10-07
"BON GARCON."

SpIlER Eu6I6, out SQatl meyer 20 dSHlUs
Yet it is to me the most beautiful lace
in the world.
One lands at the Marina and climbs
the hill winding up, ap. up the long,
white, high road, which is like a 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 to the sea One
sees nothing but the great. shining
plain and the threatening mountain.
Round and round curves the road be
tween those two silent watching
enemies, till suddenly, without warning,
one reaches the plateau and comes out
in land of desire.
1t is only to climb a wall and then
two walls onward without let or hind
rance through the wheat fields, under
the olives, where the young green
wheat blades are like swords for keen
ness, and their color strikes on the soul
like song too sweet for words. and
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 81 Dry of the wheat.
The Pickering shades OF the gnarled
olives in the afternoon light. and if he
lies still enough the sound of the night
ipgaie learning its song. And vet he
may be sick at heart
AS lay there the livelong April day
neither reading Dor thinking. nor CRATE,
full to God for his wind and his bean
fields, but with my fingers in my ears
shut out the sound or the nightingale
who sang so loud, so loud
For, instead of the young spring tide,
saw nothing but woman, standing
as first | saw her, dressed in white
from head to foot, with bare arms and
ivy round her golden head, and great
garland of it On her crown.
There she stood and looked me in the
eyes, with a straight, grave glance
Not the lock she gave men as rule;
found that out soon enough, for if
ever there was woman coGuette, sedui-
sante (my English is not good at best,
1t leaves me always when I speak of
herr, it was she-Suzon.
used to watch her often as she
talked to men with that quick glance
she had, and being used to Analysing
faces-it was my profession for that
matter, l who am a doctor-I saw that
she, whom most women hated for her
lovers, whom most men adored and
thought soft warm plaything, une
vraie femme, was in reality as cold as q
stone image.
1t was very pretty play which went
on around her, with often a change in
the jeune premier, but she did not act
it in herself.
She piped careIessly and all her court
danced, but she grew neither warm nor
weary.
am not very sure how came to be
so friendly with her; l think she began
it. l am sure 1 would not have pre-
sumed.
But we fell into a way of walking over
the hills together and sitting on the
cliffs in the mondays, looking out over
8 sea like the glory of God for light and
color, talking of many things some
times, sometimes quite silent, lying in
the sun; with my hat over my eyes,
drinking in the scents of the spring air,
just seeing the splendor of bush of
yellow broom standing out against
violet sea; she had her head thrown
back on the short dry grasses, often
enough with cigarette in her mouth.
AS the days went by we grew quietly
v.
morning asked her something.
The fact was all the place was ringing
with her doings. The men with whom
she had amused herself for time, not
all being gentlemen, handled her name
in the cafes without too much courtesy.
And the women had always hated her
for her beauty, her toilets, her artistic
reputation. Young as she was she had
had q mention at the salon,
So / asked her if 1t really amused her
sufficiently to be worth the price,
She shook her head.
When she was not painting she grew
horribly ennuyee; she must do some
thing; and thenit was not all her fault,
she said.
at is to a great extent" told her.
"You lead mon on horribly (uot me
zee nest pas la peine-but most men.
AS soon as they make love to you they
disgust you, repel you; you fling them
over none ID gently, and, well-enin,
they talk "
She nodded. fancy she knew quite
well what sort of reputation she had.
But presently she said with amuse-
ment:
$50 you do not care about me-you !''
81 like you so much that do not
like them to speak of you as they do.
You are always bon garcon to me-" /
cried. turning sharply on her; "why
cannot you translate it literally and be
a good boy always? Drop your CO.
quetry, take life frankly; you would do
better"
She did not answer.
7 The sun was hot; she beg an to look
tired, and said she had work to do, she
must 60 home. 1 thought she did not
+ like what had said. But l walked to
her villa with her, and as | stood in the
loggia and babe her good-by, she put
her hand into mine.
And something prompting me, said
very low:
BE good boy"
She looked me in the face.
II will" she said, as though making
a VOW.
And she did, l know, for never again
saw her in that light manner which /
had always disliked; l never heard her
taking to men as had heard her often
enough.
And we were rather more together
than ever. She would not let me treat
her as woman. Indeed, she was the
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