The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-15
THE CRICKET.

thew rested-such was Noeline Farques, the
miller of Espitos.
A ricketv old house built over the stream,
quite alone in forest of alders, leaning
over on one side, the life of the old stones
taken out of them by their veil of ivy. with
huge piles underneath, which looked like
crutches; resounding continually with
busv hum like woman's constant clatter
such was Noeline's home, the mill of Es- |
pitos.
Although it was old, the mill had faithful
customers; and although the miller was
small, she had many admirers. Among
them. the most devoted were Aristide Lari- I
ensec. big red-faced fellow. son of neigh
boring miller. and Jonanin Lacaze. pale |
blonde, who was serving his apprenticeship
in one of the most important shops of the |
Aristide, the miller's son, hung about the
mill, his pockets full of fruit for the young
miller. They sat before the milestone and |
ate them. while the iron wheel sang it's !
rhythmic song as the water poured over it,
and the -four fell white and silent, powder
ing everything aroung.
nate. He could rarely see Noeline. except |
on Sunday after mass. when she went to the |
shop in the town to buy needles and thread
Then indeed Jonanin was flushed with
pleasure.
BE spread out before the eyes of the young
girl his whole store of thread and needles,
and they were long time in choosing, for !
sometimes their fingers met as they turned
over the merchandise.
Sometimes on Sunday afternoon Jonanin
had two hours to himself, and he went to
fish in the stream of Espitos. He did not
in it than any in the country; hut Jonanin
placed himself SO that he could both watch
the window of the mill and his float: he
consoled himself for the immobility of the
latter by what he saw through the former.
At nightfall Noeline came to look for her
ducks along the bank of the stream and
the pressure of hands which the lovers ex-
changed in the Sunday twilight was so sweet
that Jonanin dreamed for nights about it.
The miller did not hesitate between her
admirers. She preferred Jonanin. She
hardly thought of any one else. When she
was with him she, was perfectly content.
Therefore the blond Jonanin was author
lied to pay his court to her. Noeline's
mother invited him to come and eat chest
nuts at the mill during the long autumn
evenings. But the first time he went a
strange thing happened. The cricket which
denly silent 1t is 80 singular, thought Noe
lines mother, and the young girl turned
pale.
And when the young man made his Sec
ond visit the cricket did just the same. As
soon as the young man opened the door the
cricket ceased his song Then Noeline's
mother crossed herself, and the Young mil
Ter clasped her trembling hands under her
apron.
And each time that Jonanin entered the
mouse the hostile cricket was silent, and if
they listened carefully they heard strange
noise, an lnexplicable scratching in the
chimney, like protest of the little insect.
Noellne wept abun da ntlv; her mother was
unhappy.
Both of them, like most peasants. at
tached great Importance to the song of their
cricket. Ihey knew that one of these in
sects singing III the house assures happi-
ness and prosperity to its inmates. II it
was silent when Jonanin came, it was be-
cause Jonanln brought i'll luck 1t was i'm
peratlve that he should stay away.
Nevertheless Noeline knew that her sutton
was good, honest and laborious: she
seemed to read promises of tender happi-
ness in his tender gray eyes; but the cricket
would not agree. 1t would perhaps be dan
gerous to despise its warning. and when the
tired youth came, with beating heart and
voice broken by emotion, to ask Noellne's
mo1ner Tor her hand: the mother was grave
from sobbing aloud behind her apron,
Sonanin was refused. They did not give
nm the true reason. 1t would have panied
MN too much to learn that he would bring
misfortune to any house he entered.
Inc mother found plausible reasons to
hef SORROW. She sat down near the mill
stone In the dilapidated mill, listening to
me drops OF water as they fell on the big
IRON wheel, and when she heard Jonanin
smut the door and pass out among the alders
and along the bank of the stream murmur-
ing to himself, it seemed to her that he,
neart had stopped beating, and she prayed
TO God aloud, as if she was afraid she
should die.
The following week Jonanin left The
country. With his clothes tied up in {
little bundle he went away at dusk, wher
the last leaves were shiyering on the tree.
ne went through the alder woods and alone
the bank of the little brook of Espitos
Inc young miller saw him come and She
stood motionless before the. mill.
Good night" Noeline," he said slowly
Good night, Jonanin," she replied, drop
ping her eyes.
ask
ARE yon leaving the country?"
path. - 49, -
Yes, have found place at Orthez.''
She said nothing. Her fingers playe,
with the little silver cross that hung abou
her neck, and with troubled eyes sh
watched Jonanin until he disappeare,
among the deepening shadows of the Silen
A small, thin, pale person, with hand
anu ieet like those of a skeleton. looking a
II nature mad begun to make woman am
1alied. but with two big black eyes muc
younger than her face. such was Noelin
Farques. the miller of Epistos, twenty year
after the departure of Jonanin Lacaz,
women IN the south fade early. The mil
Oider oy twenty years. and showing it, sti
stood across the stream, keeping erect b
tne AID OF some additional crutches, and il
new. "
Noellne had never married, After Jol
SnIn weht away no other lover could touc
ner neart. Aristide Larinsec, who ha
sCveo ner with passionate, Jealous low
mao oeen refused like the others. I'll
young man, long inconsolable, had marie
y LAST. ne never came to see Noeline g
*cept to sell his grain. They had doubtle
both forgotten the fruit they used to eat b
eQe the milestone, while the flour fell Viii
mo silent, powdering everything around
Sonanln had never come back. MANY al
many time Noeline had walked along n
eCfder OF the stream with the hope Of e
M MN re-appear. She thought of hi
eyery day; and every night when the cricI
sang she dreamed melancholy dreams \
fore her sad hearth-stone until her rus
1iGht died out. As- A1'
AaG Orthez Was so far of. Peov
E 8ee0 Eap'tos never went there. AZ
eo4 ~ ne town they had no news of
III nn9s What had become Of the vor