Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-09-06

sobbing aloud behind her apron. Jo-
nanin 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 Noellne we mt our TO con-
ceal her sorrow. She sat down near the
mill stone in the dilapidated mill, listen
ing to the drops of water as they fell on
the big iron wheel, and when she heard
Jonanin shut the door and pass out
, among the alders, and along the bank of
| the stream mourning 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 a
| little bundle he went away at dusk,
when the last leaves were shivering on
the trees He went through the alder
woods and along the bank of the little
brook of E5pitos. The young miller saw
| him come and she stood motionlesS be-
| fore her mill.
"Good night, Noeline, he said slowly.
"Good night, Jonanin," she replied,
dropping her eyes.
Then, as he went on, she ventured to
| ask
Are you leaving the country?"
He seemed to stagger on the leaf COW
cred path.
"Yes, have found place at Orthez. ="
She said nothing. Her fingers played
with the little silver cross which hung
about her neck, and with troubled eyes
she watched Jonann until he disappeared
among the deepening shadows of the
silent forest.
A small, thin, pale person, with hands
and feet like those of skeleton, looking
as if nature had begun to make a woman
and failed, but with two big black eyes
much younger than her face, such was
Noelne Farques, the miller of Espltos,
twenty years after the departure of Jo-
nanin Lncaze Women in the south fade
early. The mill, older by twenty years,
and showing it, stood across the stream,
keeping erect by the aid of some addi-
tonal crutcEes, and its tic tao was just
as joyous as when it was new.
Noeline had never married. After Jo
nanin went away no other lover could
touch her heart. Aristide Larien9ec,
who had loved her with a passionate,
Jealous love, had been refused like the
others. The young man, long inconsol-
able had married at last. He never came
to see Noeline except to sell his grain.
They had doubtless both forgotten the
fruit they used to eat beside the mill
stone while the flour fell white and silent,
powdering everything around.
Junanin had never come back. Many
and many time Noeline had walked
along the border of the stream with the
hope of seeing himreappear. She thought
of him every day; and every night when
the cricket sang she dreamed melancholy
dreams before her sad hearthstone until
her rushlight died out.
Alas! Orthez was so far off. People
from Espitos never went there. AT the
shop in the town they hal no news of
Jonann. What had become of the
youth with the blonde hair? Sometimes,
when her old maids soul was sadder
than usual, Noeline prayed for him, but
grew cold and monotonous.
One night Noeline, who was AZ years
old, was waiting for Larien5ec, the
former rival of Jonanin. He was coming
to discuss the price of the maize he
wished to sell her. The miller had Of
fered 12 francs sous sack The farmer
asked 10 sous more. 1t was nearly o
o'clock. The shadows We're warm; the
moon threw its white light on the wind
ing path through the alders. Noeline,
standing on the threshold of the mill,
saw some one coming.
"It is not Lariensec, she thought; she
would not come by that path. "
The man had a wooden box on his
back, he walked slowly, seemed tired,
and looked at the stream and the trees
and the mill as a stranger might.
Good evening"" he said, stopping.
"Would you like to see Notre Dame de
Lourdes?"
"He is Bearnaise or Bigourdan col
porteur, thought Noeline "One Of
those merchants from Pau or Bagnieres
who, under the preteXt of showing an
image of the Virgin at the bottom of
their box, sell chaplets and medals,
thread and needles to the country peo-
pie "
MY friend, iC is rather dark to see
your Virgin"
But as the merchant had gentle
voice, and as the intercesson of the Nir-
gin might induce Lariensec to sell his
corn at 10 francs 5 sous the sack, Noel
nesaid: "Come in; will look at the Holy
Virgin by the resin light
And the merchant entered. When
Noeine could see him she felt the blood
rush to her thin cheeks. and when the
colporteur had seen her face he seemed
equally astonished. And in a plaintive
voice he asked: $50 you still live here,
Noeline?"
"Ah! good God!" said the miller, feel
| ing her heart beat as it had not done for
years, sis it possible that it is you, Jo-
nanin?"
And for a moment they were silent.
The water of the brook fell in noisy
drops on the iron wheel, just as it did
long ago, when Jonanin came 10 see her
And suddenly behind the warm hearth
stone they heard the shriil chirp of a
cricket Noeline felt in her eyes Il warm
moisture Ike a gathering tear.
Jonanin told his story. He had been
successful at Orthez. He had married,
had children. hal shop of his oWn, was
prosperous and happy BIT after all
these years the desire to zee his old home
had seized him, and for the sake f &c IL
nmy had come like a Bcarnai5e col"or-