Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-09-11
THE CRICKET.

The CKICkEI.
A perfectly formed little person, with
hands and feet duchess might envy, a
miniature woman, with the fresh, but
freckly complexion given by life in the
open cir. with two liquid black eyes,
which made the hearts beat quicker Of
those on whom they rested-such was
Noeline Farques, the miller of Espitos.
A rickety 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 a busy hum like a
woman's constant chatter 49, such was
Noeline's home, the mill Of Espitos.
Although it was old, the mill had
faithful customers; and although the
miller was small. she had many admir-
ers. Among them the most devoted
were Aristide Lariensec, big red faced
fellow. son of neighboring miller, and
Jonanin Lacaze, pale blonde, who was
serving his apprenticeship in one Of the
most important shops Of the town.
Aristide, the millers son, hung about
che mill, his pockets full Of fruit for the
young miller. They sat before the mill
stone and ate them, Willie the iron wheel
sang its rhythmic song as the water
poured over it, and the flour fell white
and silent, powdering everything
around.
Jonanin, the apprentice, was less fortu.
nate. He could rarely see Noeline, OK.
cept on Sunday after mass. when she
went TO the shop to buy needles and
thread. Then indeed Jonanin was
dushed with pleasure.
He 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 merchan.
disc.
Sometimes on Sunday afternoon 10.
nanin 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 tho
country. but Jonanin placed himself so
tu0t uc CVui0 OOVt W0tCA tuO W AAOOW VI
the mill and his float; lie consoled HIM
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 bank Of the stream, and
the pressure of hands which the lovers
exchanged in the Sunday twilight was
20 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 per-
fectly content
Therefore the blonde Jonanin was au-
thorized to pay his court to her. Noel
ines mother invited him to come and
eat chestnuts at the mill during the long
autumn evenings But the first time he
went a ,ange thing happened. The
cricket which always sang on the kitchen
hearth was suddenly silent. ut is so
singular" thought Noeline's mother.
and the young girl turned pale.
And when the young man made his
second 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 il they listened carefully they heard
. strange noise, an 'nexp!icable scratch
ing in the chimney, like protest of the
little insect. Noeline wept abundantly;
her mother was very unhappy.
Both of them, like most peasants, at.
tached great importance to the song of
their cricket They knew that one Of
these insects singing in the house as
sures happiness and prosperity to its in
mates. II it was silent when Jonanin
came, it was because Jonanin brought
i'll luck. 1t was imperative that he
should stay away.
Nevertheless Noeline knew that her
sutton was good, honest, and laborious;
she seemed to read promises of happi.
ness in his tender gray eyes; but the
cricket would not agree. 1t would per-
haps be dangerous to despise its warning,
and when the tired youth came, with a
beating heart and a voice sroken by emo.
ton, to ask Noeline's mother for her
hand. the mother was grave and the
young miller could hardly keep from
sobbing aloud behind her apron. Jo-
nanin was refused. They dill not give
him the true reason. 1t would have
pained him too much to learn that he
would bring misfortune to any house hs
entered.
TIE mother found plausible reasons b