The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1890-09-06
A BROKEN IDEAL.

Maurice strolled aimlessly through
the outrageous forest. The rair
had ceased, butfrom the leaves drops
of water still dripped with the light
sound OF a trickling fountain. At 6
distance the path he was following
opened OF a green glade. The trunks
Of the trees we're dark, their branches
darker still, andthespreading foliage
of the chestnuts, meeting above the
head of the young artist, seemed like
the vault Of cathedral at the hour
when the declining sun sends through
the many-colored windowsa mysteri
Gus light into the, obscurity of the
interior.
Maurice loved the hour when the
day dies, when a gray tint falls upon
all objects, c%onfounding their con.
tours, softening their angles and
rounding their outlines. He walked
slowly, each moment discovering in
the forest some beauty he had not
seen before, and filled with that ten.
der admiration for nature which is q
part of e
Having reachedt the glade, he looked
about him. Thegrass vas green and
fresh; the delicate leaves of the trees
glistened under the drops of rain
which had fallen upon them. He
paused that she might better observe
the scene, which seemedmore impress.
sive inthe gathering shadows than
in the full light of the sun.
He saw the pretty, slight form of a
girl advancing from a clump ofbeech
trees. She walked with supple step,
without seeing Maurice, who, as mo.
tionless as the trunk of the tree neal
which he stood, looked at her intent.
". When a few PAGES from him the
girl saw him, trembled, and let fall a
small bundle OF fagots she was carry
ing on her head.
"iou, frightened me-" she said.
smiling, and her large, dark eyes
sparkled gaily under her tangled vel.
low hair. ,
He looked at her a moment with.
out replying. Complete harmony,
which it is impossible to describe, ex-
listed between this smiling girl, the
foliage of the glade and the tone OF
the landscape.
Remain where you are" said the
young man; II want, to sketch you"
She was about to brush back the
locks that had fallen over her fore
head, but he stopped her with a ges.
ture.
"Stand just as you are"
He seated himself on a stone and
rapidly sketched the face and form OF
his young model. Il. ....
She was u peasant, but delicate and
slight, as are these young girls before
they complete development, which is
often late. Her eyes were already
those of a woman; her smile was still
that of a child.
Glow old are your" asked the art
list, as he worked.
81 shall be sixteen soon"
'Is it possiblel I thought you were
younger"
slam small, "shesaid, Witha frank
smile, "but / shall grow qnickly, and
by Saint Johns EveI shall have. q
lover"
why on SaintJohn's Ever asked
the young man, pausing in his work
and looking at her.
Because then we shall dance
around the bonfires."
So soon was this pure brow, these
innocent eyes, childish mouth to be
profaned by the caresses of some
stupid rusticl Maurice experienced a
vague feeling Of jealousy
would you like to have me for
your lover?"he asked. she returned
you? Ali you are a gentleman. I
am peasant. Honest girls do not
listensto gentlemen"
Such is the code OF virtue among
villagers. The young man made no
reply to her words, but sold:
can see no longer. Will you re-
turn here tomorrow little earlier??''
For my picture?"
"Yes.n
9" will return. Good evening.
She took up her fagots, and pass
ing under the arching chestnuts,
soon disappeared in the shades Of
evening.
Maurice returned home dreaming
of the girl with the yellow hair.
Although he had often before seen
pretty peasants, whom he had re-
garded with an artist'seye heseemed
to look on this girl with the jealous
eyes Of q lover. That night and the
next day seemed long to him, and
some time before the appointed
hour he was in the glade.
He worked by himself, and when,
4 little later, the young girl arrived,
hooking ut the sketch, she exclaimed
with IN airofcoquetry and surprise:
ssAh, il ID II Are you going to
give i to n m nei