Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-05-29

The snow had been falling almost
without cessation for two entire days.
The roads at first had received a coating
fine and close, resembling hail, which
the wind soon blew away; this was fol-
lowed by another kind of snow, COM
posed of large fakes in the shape OF
stars, which fell slowly, like swan feath-
ers. and settled on the earth with the
gentle grace of living and coquettish
being.
The snow was not content with cover
ing the principal roads; it fell on the
withered turf and thorny hedges, hid
ing them entirely, and since then it fell
slowly but increasingly. covering the
country with a universal veil.
In the evening of the day before the
sky had cleared for an instant, and the
wayside crosses threw vet bluer shad-
ow on the snow. the mistiness had dis
appeared, the night had come also on
the white earth, the day dull and color
less succeeded it. and the villagers in
their frozen torpor did not venture out,
and asked if the world was going to be
buried under the snow already fallen.
In the last house ofthe village, the WIN
dow was closed by wooden shutter, q
the chimney on the still air; the only
light in the dwelling came through a
porte-Ienetre which led into the gar
den. Inside, under large shelf of the
black fireplace, two young people were
sitting together, but their hands were
not united, they were not both think
ing of each other.
'sIs the old man in town ?'' asked
Jean. ellis annoyed air was not
enough to express his ill-humor; he
added rough voice to it.
che has gone for Il potion for the sick
cow" replied the young girl, ''but fear
be is too late; she must be dead by this
time "He will scold me when he re-
turns"
why don't you go and see ?'' grum-
bled her companion.
She shrugged her shoulders. :
For the good | could do it would not
be worth while, and then it pains me to
see the animal suffer-"
She leaned her head dejectedly
towards the hearth, where small fire
of roots was burning; so small and
mean was it that the most stingy master
would approve of it. A few snowfiakes
tell through the chimney, displaying in
their fall all the colors of the prism,
tnen disappeared in the ashes.
When will he return?" asked the
young man.
''At O'Clock. The wagon goes to
town in an hour; he cannot return later
than that" said she.
HE will be here in half an hour" he
replied. looking at the old clock
<'Lsten, Nellie. To be frank, I have
something to tell you"
Il know what it is said the young
girl sadly, "do you not love me any
hn ,ho~
raised, made an indecisive gesture,
then returning to his original idea, he
replied with cruelty:
But, yes, | love you always; we have
not been friends for nothing; there re-
mains little friendship"
Yes, it is true you do not love me as
you did at the last st. Jeans Day; you
do not want me longer as your bonnie
amie.''
He rose from his chair and walked up
and down.
ly; it is not my fault! love cannot be
commanded
THAT is what you did not tell me
when you asked me to love you; you
said that love required a reward and
that | must love you also. / obeyed,
and now this is another thing!"
Eyes, this is another thingr' said
Jean, now very much enraged. zone
may have good friend for little time
to pass his youth with, and then when
the time comes one must do as others
do, get married"
Nellie rose, very pale, her eyes fixed
on jeans face. who, unable to meet her
gaze, turned his head away.
You will marry?" she said in a
hoarse voice.
''Yes, my parents wish it, and I can
not displease them.'
and ?"
s'Eh bien you'll have not promised
to marry you! said he, with disdain.
"Oh, no you have promised me moth
ing"
Because you convened"
81 am satisfied" replied the young
spirit was shaken more by the cruelty
OF this abandonment than by the sor-
row of an unrequited love.
Il confess that you have no cause to
marry me, for [ am only founding,
nourished by charity. servant to the
old man who took me- in. Oh, no. one
would never marry girl like me-you
have reason, Jean. But tell me, your
betrothed, is she rich?"
YES" replied Jean, caressing his
moustache with a contented air. 1t
seemed TO MIN IHaC h0ll0 look 1t Kind
", and this put him in better humor.
land pretty?"
mot so very pretty" said Jean.
s'But the wedding will not take place
until Easter; it will take until then to
prepare the brides rousseau. If you
will, petite Nellie, we can yet have a
pleasant time. You are pretty, much
prettier than my intended"
He would have put his arm around
her and kissed her pale cheek, but she
threw herself back, and, resting one
arm on the chimney shelf, she pointed
with the other one towards the door
and turning her blazing eyes upon him
she said:
"Go!" while Jean still fingered, his
eyes full of fierce hatred. go !" she
repeated, "or | will kill YOU"
She had erasped heavy log and held
it in her hand, and Jean, covering,
shrunk back to the door.
'fAs you WILL" he murmured; "as you
will. / did not mean to anger you.
There is nothing to make a fuss about"
go" repeated the young girl. but