The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-09-20

| and when the tired youth came. with n
heating heart and a voice broken 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 did not give
him the true reason. 1t would have
panied him too much to learn that no
would bring misfortune to any house he
entered.
The mother found plausible reasons TO
give him, and Noeline went out 10 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. II
seemed 10 her that her heart had stopped
| boating, and she prayed to God aloud, as
| II she was afraid she should die.
Tho following week Jonanin left the
country. With his clothes tied up In n
little bundle he went away at dusk,
when tho last leaves were shivering on
tho trees He went through tho alder
woods and along the bank of tho little
brook of Espitos. The young miller saw
him como and she stood motonless be-
fore her mill.
"Good night. Noeline, he said slowly.
"Good night. Jonanin," she replied,
dropping her eyes.
Then, as lac went on, sho ventured TO
nsk,
Are you leaving tho country"
He seemed to stagger on the leaf COW,
erod 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 Dyes
she watched Jonanin until he disappeared
among tho deepening shadows of the
silent forest.
A small, thin, palo person, with hands
and feet like those of skeleton, looking
as II nature had begun TO mako woman
and failed, but with two big black eyes
much younger than her face, such was
Noeline Farques, the miller of Espitos,
twenty years after the departure of Jo-
nanin Lacaze. Women in esouth fade
early Tho mill, older by twenty years,
and showing IL, stood across the stream,
keeping erect by the aid Of some addi-
tional crutches, and its tic tac was just
as joyous as when 1t was new.
Noeline had never married. After Jo-
nanin went away no other lover could
touch her heart. Aristide Lariensec,
who had loved her with n 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 whilc the dour fell white and silent,
powdering eve ything around.
Jonanin had never come back. Many
and many time Noeline had walked
along tho border Of the stream with the
hope of seeing him reappear. Sho 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
Alasl Orthez was so far off. People
from Espitos never went there. At the
shop in the town they had no news Of
Jonanin. 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
little by little the beating Of her heart
grew cold and monotonous
Ono night Noeline, who was 4e years
old, was waiting for Lariensec, tho
former rival of Jonanin. He was coming
TO discuss the price of the maize he
wished TO sell her. Tho miller had Of
fered 10 francs 8 sous sack. The farmer
asked 10 sous more 1t was nearly
o'clock. The shadows were warm; the
moon threw its white light on the wind
ing path through the alders. Noeline,
standing on tho threshold of the mill,
saw some one coming
at is not Lariensec, she thought; che
would not come by that path.
The man had wooden box on his
back, he walked slowly, seemed tired,
and looked at the stream and the trees
and the mill as stranger might
Good evening"" he said, stopping.
"Would you like TO see Notre Dame dc
Lourdes?"
"Ho is Bearnaise or Bigourdan col
porteur," thought Noclinc. "One OF
those merchants from Pau or Bagnieres
who, under the pretext of showing an
image of the Virgin mt the bottom OF
their box, sell chaplots and medals.
thread and needles To the country peo-
Pile
my friend, II Is rather dark 70 sec
your Virgin.
But as the merchant had gentle