The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-24
THE CRICKET.

AAAAoSoAc H0ElAn, WIFI G1o Ir6SQ DuE
freckled complexion given by life in the
open air, with two big liquid black eyes,
which made the hearts beat quicker of those
on whom they rested-sueh was Noeline
Farques, the miller of Espitos.
A rickety old house built over the stream,
quite alone in a 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 plies underneath, which looked like
crutches; resSundiug continually with a
busy hum like woman's constant clatter
such was Ncelines home, the mill of Es.
pitos.
Although it was old, the mill had faith.
ful customers; and although the miller waa
small, she had many admirers. Among
them the most devoted were Aristide La
riensec, a big, red faced fellow, son of q
neighboring miller, and Jonanin Lacaze, a
pale blonde, who was serving his appren-
ticeship in enc Of the most important shops
of the town.
AFistide, 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 il,
and the -four fell, white and silent, powder.
ing everything around.
Jonanin, the apprentice, was less fortu.
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.
He spread out before the eyes Of the young
girl his whole store of thread and needles,
and they were a 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
catch much, for the stream had fewer fish
in it than any in the country; but JonaHin
placed himself so that he could both watch
the window of the mill and his float; he
consoled self for the immobility of the
latter by what he saw through the former.
At nightfall Noeline came to look for her
ducks along the banks OF the stream, and
the pressure of hands which the lovers ex-
changed in the Sunday twilight was so
sweet that JonaDin 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 con-
tent.
Therefore the blonde Jonanin was au-
thorized to pay his court to her, Noeline's
mother invited him to come and eat chest
or fha mill 1Y,yircr ha 1Opoy
evenings.
But the first time he went a strange
thing happened The cricket, which al
ways sang on the kitchen hearth, was sud
denly silent.
1T is SO singular" thought Noeline's
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 miller clasped her trembling
hands under her apron.
And each time that Jonanin entered the
house the hostile cricket was silent, and if
they listened carefully they heard strange
noise, an inexplicable scratching in the
chimney, like protest of the little insect
"
was very unhappy.
Both of them, like most peasants, at
tached much Importance to the song of
their cricket. They knew that one of these
insects singing in the house assures happi-
ness and prosperity to its inmates. If it
was silent when Jonanin came, it was be-
cause Jonanin brought i'll luck. 1t was
imperative that he should stay away
RI l,pla -
suitor was good, honest and laborious; she
seemed to read promises Of happiness in
his tender gray eyes; but the cricket would
not agree. It would perhaps be dangerous
to despise its warning, and when the tired
youth came, with a beating heart and 8
voice broken by emotion, to ask Eoeline's
mother for her hand, the mother was grave
and the young miller could hardly keep
from sobbing aloud behind her apron.
Jonanin was refused. They did not give
him the true reason. 1t would have panied
him too much to learn that he would bring
misfortune to any house he entered.
The mother found plausible reasons to
give him, and NOeline went out to conceal
her sorrow. She sat down near the mill |
stone in the dilapidated mill, listening to
the drops of water as they fell on the big
shut the door and pass out among the aid |
ers and along the bank of the stream, mur-
muring to himself, it seemed TO her that /.
her heart 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 lit /
tie bundle he went away at dusk, when the 4
last leaves were shivering on the trees. He /
went through the alder woods and along /
the bank of the little brook of Espitos The /
young miller saw him come, and she stood /
motionless before her mill.
Good night, Noeline," " he said slowly.
Good night, Jouanin," she replied, drop /
ping her eyes.
Then, as he went on, she ventured to ask: |
Are you leaving the country" !
He seemed to stagger on the leaf covered /
path.
"Tes, 1 nave found a place as Orthezn
She said nothing. Her fingers played /
with the little silver cross which hung /
about her neck, and with troubled eyes she |
watched Jonanin until he disappeared /
among the deepening shadows Of the silent /
forest.
II
A small, thin, pale person, with hands
and feet ike those Of skeleton, looking
as If nature had begun to make woman
and failed. but with two black eyes much
younger than her face, such was Noeline
FarqCes, the miller of Espitos, twenty /
years after the departure Of Jonanin La
Gaze. Women IN the south fade early |
The mill older By twenty years, and show
r~Tif r cr~