Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-08-16
years, is it possible that 1t is you, JO-

nanin?"
And for moment they were silent
The water of the brook fell in noisy
drops on tho iron wheel. just IS it did
long ago. when Jonanin came 70 see her.
And suddenly behind the warm hearth
stone they heard the shrill chirp OF @
cricket. Nocline felt in her eyes warm
moisture like gathering tear.
Jonanin told his story. He had been
successful ut Orthez. He had married,
had children, had shop of his own. was
prosperous and happy. But after all
these years the desire to see his old home
had seized him, and for the sake OF econ
omy had come like a Bearnaise colpor-
teur, selling needles and thread on his
way.
~Oh, was sure you would succeed,
Jonanin. sighed Noeline.
The cricket In the chimney went on
singing. The woman seemed almost
overpowered by her increasing emotion.
@Then, why" stammered Jonanin,
"will you tell me, Noeline, why you
would not be my wife twenty years agof"
At first she could not answer; she
pointed TO the chimney as if half ashamed.
head in her apron, as she did wAsn she
was young.
at was the fault OF the cricket, she
stammered
"Of the cricket2"
@Yesl was foolish. thought you
would bring me misfortune. The cricket
stopped singing when you came Co sea
me-"
~He stopped singingl Why?"
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. en-
tered.
"Good evening, good evening, he said,
after the peasant fashion, saluting as
many times as there were persons in the
company.
Andwhen he had recognized the former
shopkeeper-
what, Jonanini you herel What the
devil are you doing here?"
Il come to talk over old times. It does
enc good at our age"
"Ah, yes, the old times ?" said Larien-
sec. i remember that you were to have
been married, you and Noeline.
Certainly" replied the miller.
And do you know what kept us
apart 2" asked the merchant "A cricket.
@Bahl" exclaimed Lariensec. an fact,
] seem to remember"
He burst into loud laugh.
"Ahl 1t was too goodl" said he. too
goodI"
Then seriously.
"Bahl You are happy, are you notl
Both happy? We are all happy here;
so we may confess our little peccadilloes
of other daysl Ahl that was one too
good. Do you know, Jonanin, why the
cricket did not sing? We are all friends,
you know, old fellow? Well, il was be-
cause was watching you; scratched
in the chimney there, on the side next
our field, when you came to pay your
court. Ahl other people loved Noeline,
too, and other people were furiously
jealous!"
Then seeing that this revelation was
coldly received, and that Noeline looked
at him sadly, he resumed generously:
THAT is not all; i come to tell you
that accept your price for the corn: 12
francs and sous the sack. Does that
suit you, Noeline?"
And Noeline in a low voice:
"That suits me, Lariensec.
Then the farmer bought some spools
of thread from the merchant from
Orthez for his wife and paid without
bargaining.
4Good evening, good evening" he
said, going out.
And the two old lovers were left alone,
They did not say much to each other,
Jonanin slowly put up his merchandise,
Noeline watched him, unconsciously
turning over the little silver cross which
she still wore with her bony fingers.
For one despairing moment she was per-
haps tempted to press her lips to Jo-
nanin's hair, once blonde, now turning
gray; but she restrained herself; her
virgin lips were ignorant how to give
such kiss.
well, good night, Noeline, said tho
colporteur, lifting his box to his back.
Good night, Jonanin!"
They awkwardly pressed each others
hands and parted
He took the path through the woods
on which the moonlight fell; she stand
ing on her threshold watched him go,
while in the chimney the cricket sung In
the sad night, sung with calm clear
untiring voice, as if he wished TO tell
Noeline of all the happiness she might
have had.-lThe French of Jean Ras
meau.
EupepDy.
Thia In that WIN nrnhf "a hara an Aacf