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

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, az
II she was afraid she should die.
The following week Jonanin left the
country. With his clothes tied up in
little bundle lie went away at dusk,
when tho last leaves were slivering on
the trees. He went through the alder
woods and along the bank OF the little
brook of Espitos. 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 lie 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 Jonanin until he disappeared
among the deepening shadows of the
silent forest
A small, thin, pale person, with hands
and feet like those of a skeleton, looking
as if 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 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-
tional crutches, 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 Lariensec,
who had loved her with 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 -four fell white and silent,
powdering rything around.
Jonanin had never come back. Many
and many time Noeline had walked
along the border Of the stream with the
hope of seeing him reappear. 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 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
One night Noeline, who was AZ years
old, was waiting for Lariensec, 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 ~ francs sous sack. The farmer
asked 10 sous more. 1t was nearly 0
o'clock. The shadows were 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.
ut is not Lariensec, she thought; che
would not come by that path.
The man had q wooden box on his
hack, he walked slowly, seemed tired,
and looked at the stream and the trees
and the mill as stranger might
Good evening"" lac said, stopping.
would you like to see Notre Dame de
Lourdes?"
He is Bearnaise or Bigourdan COL
portsur," thought Noeline. Zone 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 poo
Pile
MY friend. it is rather dark to sec
your Virgin"
But a. the merchant had gentle
voice. and as the intercession of the Vir-
gin might induce Lariensec to sell his
corn at 10 francs sous the sack, Noel.
inc said: "Come in; will look at the Holy
Virgin by the resin light.
And the merchant entered. When
Noeline 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 q 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, us it possible that it is you, 10
nanin?"
And for 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 to see her.
And suddenly behind the warm hearth
stone they heard the shrill chirp Of a
cricket Noeline felt in her eyes warm
moisture like gathering tear.
Jonanin told his story. He had been
srccesaF,,1 Mt Orthez He had married