San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-08-30


ellie, with her lovely head thrown back, the
pearly laughter ripping from her cherry
lips, and her haste to depart that made
her visit seem like dazzling vision.
"Adieu, shepherdr'
"Adieu, mistressn'
And she was gone, bearing away with
her the empty baskets.
When the descending road hid her from
sight it seemed to me that the stones roll
ing beneath the shoes Of the mule were
falling one by one upon my heart. l heard
them Il log, long time, and until the close
of the day was like one wrapped in a
sweet slUmber, fearing to stir lest might
drive away my dream.
Tn';.,..'. ~. -. >, IS ;'!a de-ths Of -" ~
ley began TO grow bite and as the s.Iep
huddled together, blcating to return 20 tho
fold, heard some one call me dDWa the
road and saw reappear our GemOiselle, no
longer smiling as had seeu her IL short
time before, but trembling with cold, fear
and wet. 1t seems that at the base of the
mountain she had found the Sorgue terri
bly, swollen by the recent rain, and that in
makinga desperate effort to cross it she had
nearly been drowned.
The most dreadful thing of all was that
at this hour Of the night she could not
think of attempting to return to the farm,
for our demoscllc by herself could never
find the way by the short cut and / could
not leave the flock. The idea of passing
the night upon the mountain tormented
her almost to madness, particularly on &C
count of the uneasiness her family would
feel. As for me, treasured her the best I
was able.
I'm July the nights are short, Mistress"
said !. 1T will hardly seem more than
wretched moment"
And quickly kindled a roaring fire to
dry her feet and her dress all soaked with
the water of the Sorgue. Afterward I
placed before he: milk and sleeps milk
cheese, but the poor damsel did not think
either of warming herself or of eating, and
at the sight of the big tears that gathered
in her eyes felt like weeping myself
Meanwhile the night had come on apace.
There remained upon the Crests of the
mountains only sprinkle of sun, a vapory
light toward the west. / invited our de-
moselle to enter the fold and sleep. Hav-
ing spread handsome new sheepskin over
the clean straw, babe her good night,
and, going ont into the open air, seated my
self before the door. God is my witness
that, despite the fire of love that was
scorChing my blood, no evil thought came
to me, nothing but an overpowering pride
on thinking that in a corner of the fold,
close beside the curious flock that stared
at her as she lay asleep, my masters
daughter-like sheep more precious and
whittier than all the rest-was reposing, in
trusted to my care.
Never had the heavens appeared to pos
sess such depths, never had the stars
seemed so brilliant. Suddenly the door of
the fold opened and pretty Stephanette
made her appearance. She could not sleep.
The animals ratified the straw as they
moved about, or bleated in their dreams.
She preferred to come to the fire. Seeing
this, cast my sheepskin over her shout
ders. stirred up the flames and we sat
down side by side, remaining thus without
uttering single word.
If you have ever passed night in the
open air you know that at the hour when
we sleep mysterious world awakes amid
the solitude and the silence. Then the
brooks sing in their clearest tones and the
ponds are lighted up with tiny flames. All
the spirits of the mountain freely come and
co. there is rustling in the air, there are
almost imperceptible sounds, as if we heard
springing up. Day is the life of creatures.
but night is the life of things. When one
is not accustomed to this it fills one with
fear. Therefore our demoiselle was all Of
culver and chung to me closely at the
slightest noise.
At one time, long melancholy cry arose
from the pond that sparkled below US and
came rolling upward to our ears. At the
~ oh ST.
glided over our heads in the same direction.
as if the lamentation we heard were bear
ing flash of light with it.
What is that" asked Stephanette, in a
whisper.
"A soul entering paradise, mistress"
answered making the sign of the cross.
She made the same sign and, for mo-
ment, gaZed meditatively into the heavens.
Then she said to me:
is it true, shepherd, that you people are
maGicians:"
Not in the least, our demoiselle. But
here we live much nearer the stars than the
people of the plain and know better what
is tEking place among the sparkling lights
of heaven
She was still gazing upward, resting her
head against one of her hands, and wrap
ped in the sheepskin like little heavenly
shepherd.
'Ah how beautiful they arer' cried She
81 never saw so many of them before! Do
you know their names, shepherd"
Eyes, indeed, mistress! Listen: Right
above us is St Jacques highway. 1t goes
from France straight into Spain. 1t was
st. Jacques de Calico who traced it to show
his road to the brave Charlemagne when
he was making war uDOn the Saracens