The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-24
beating Of her heart grew cold and monot-

| One night Noeline, who was 42 years
old, was waiting for Lariensec, the former
| rival Of Jonanin. He was coming TO dis
cuss the price of the maize he wished tc
| sell her The miller had offered twelve
| francs five sous sack. The farmer asked
ten SOUS more. 1t was nearly 9o'clock
! The shadows were warm; the moon threw
its white light on the winding path
through the alders. Noeline, standing on
the threshold of the mill, saw some one
| coming.
''It is not Lariensec,r she thought; ''he
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
stranger might.
Good evening" he said, stopping.
| Would you like to see NOtre Dame de
| Lourdess"
'He is Bernaise or Bigourda1 colpor,
teur," thought Noeine, lone of those mer-
| chants from Pan or Bsgnieres, who, under
the pretext Of showing an image Of the
virgin at the bottom of their box, sell chap
lets and medals, thread and needles to the
country people"
My poor friend, it is rather dark to see
your virgin"
But as the merchant had a gentle voice,
and as the intercession of the virgin might
induce LarienSec to sell his corn at L
francs 5 sous the sack, NoeIine said:
Come in; will look at the holy virgin
by the resin light"
And thamerchant entered. When Noel.
inc could see him she felt the blood rush
TO her thin cheeks, and when the colpor-
teur had seen her face he seemed equally
astonished. And in a plaintive voice he
asked:
$50 you still live here, Noeline?"
"Ahi Good God"' said the miller, feel
ing her heart beat as it had LIT done fol-
years. SIS it possible that it is you, Jo-
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 hearthstone
they heard the shriu chilp of cricket
Noeline felt in her eyes warm moisture
like gathering tear.
Jonanin told his story. He had been
successful at 0rthez. He had married,
had children, had a shop of his own, was
prosperous and happy. But, after all
these years, the desire TO SEQ his old home
had seized him, and for the sake of econo-
my he had come like a Bernaise colpor
teur, selling needles and thread OF his
way.
ooh, 1 was sure you would succeed, Jo-
nanin," sighed Noeline
The cricket in the chimney went on
singing. The woman seemed almost over
powered by her increasing emotion.
'Then, why" stammered Jonanin, ''will
you tell me- Noeline, why you would not
be my wife twenty years ago?"
At first she could not answer; she
pointed to the chimney as if half ashamed,
and would have been glad to hide her head
in her apron, as she did when she was
young
1T was the fault of the cricket" abe
stammered.
"Of the cricket"
"Yesl l was foolish. I thought you
would bring me misfortune. The cricket
stopped singing when you came to see me.
"He stopped singing? Whyf"
Noeline shrugged her shoulders in sign
that she did not know. They both stood
silent, dreaming, and they dared not look
into each others eyes by the light of the
smoking resin.
Very soon Lariensec, the farmer entered.
"Good evening, good evening"" he said,
after the peasant fashion. saluting as many
times as there were persons in the com
pany.
And when be had recognized the former
shopkeeper; "What, JOnanin, you here
What the devil are you doing here?"
81 come to talk over old times 1t does
one good at our age"
''Ah, yes, the old timesi' said Lariensec.
81 remember that you were to have been
married, you and Noeline."
Certainly" replied the miller.
"And do you know what kept US apart;"
asked the merchant; "a cricket"
''Bahr' exclaimed Lariensec. "In fact !
seem to remember''-
He burst into a loud laugh
"Ah, it was too good' said he, ''too
goodn'
Then seriously: Bah! you are happy
are you not? Both happy2 We are all
happy here; so we may confess our little
peccadilloes of other days All! that one
was too good Do ycu know, Jonanin.
why the cricket did not sing? We are all
friends, you know, old fellow. Well, it was
because / was watching you. scratched
in the chimney there, on the side next our
field, when you came 20 pay your court.
All! other people loved Noeline, too, and
other people were furiously jealous"
Then seeing that his revelation was
coldIy received, and that Noefne looked at
him sadly, he resumed generously:
THAT is not all; l come 10 tell you that
I accept your price for the corn; twelve
francs five sous the sack. Does that sylit
you, Noeliney"
And NoeIine in a low voice: ''That suits
me, LaTiensec.'
Then the farmer bought some spools Of
thread from the merchant from Orthez for
his wife and paid without bargaining.
Good evening, good evening he said,
going out.
And the two old lovers we're left alone.
They. did not say much to each other
Jonauin slowly pat Gp his merchandise /
Noeline watched him, uncoBsciously, turn /
ing over the little silver cross. which she /
still wore. with her bony fingers. Fur one !
despaiTing moment sna was perhaps tempt /
ed 20 press her lips 10 JoaaGA's hair, once /
blonde, nov turning gray; but she re
strained herself; her virgin lips were igno- /
rant how to give such q Kiss
We'll, good hight, Noellne," said the /
colporteu-, lifting his box 70 MS back.
Good night, Jonania"
They awkwardiy pressed each others /
hands and parted.
He took tie path through the woods on !
which the moonlight fell. she standing on 4
her threshold watched him 50, while in the 4
chimney toe cricket sang IN the sad night, /
sang with a calm, clear, Untlriny voice, as /
if he wished 70 tell Moline Of Ell the hap /
piness she might have Translated +
from the French Of Jean Kaneau for Tie /
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