St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-07-16

li ~
:; =: !: !: ): !: :;
w trade Of tn,
terrace. at the Hotel Beau-Kivage
Geneva. Directly opposite, isolatet
In its dazzling whiteness. standing
out against the horizon like . gigsn
tic iceberg. Mont Blanc emerged from
the crowd of alpine rocks. proudly
spreading its snowy mass, which tn.
oblique rays of the setting sun made
trdescent with myriads of small NOV
ing rainbows.
Over the lake companies of the "a
miliar swans circled round and abou,
the boats fastened to the quay, ther
successfully alighted on the water with
long slides and rapid wing-beats; the
gulls called to each other In hoarse
tones in a last frolic before going t6
rest on the waves In the distance
were visible the great birds of Frey
who. after the day spent in the chase
were returning to the inviolate peaks OF
the Valais mountains.
Fascinated BY the majestic spectacle
and the mysterious attraction of space,
dreamed of . fantastic ride, q wild
flight In a balloon to those heights
well-nigh inaccessible to human benign
l would have scared in immaterial
ether, above the confusion Of peaks and
rocks which from below appear gigantic,
ard are in proportion to terrestrial im.
sDcnsity, so say the scientists, but rs
the irregularities on the skin of an
ORANGE was far from Geneva and its
lake and know not when would have
returned to earth had not jacques
voice suddenly scattered my day
droams
'Why! Nine. dc Latriville!' cried he.
''You know her?" asked 1, mcchani-
caliy in the tore of a man who has just
awakened, but does not wish to seem
70 have slept
Certainly. SO do you! You surely
remember Latriville, of our promotion;
he who was SO terribly wounded at
Langson?"
"Latriville. yes! but did not know
was married"
''Ah!" and Jacques quickly left me
to greet the new arrivals.
Below the terrace, before the hotel
door, a carriage laden with trunks and
packages had just stopped. Avalet de-
scended from the box, while at the car
riage door appeared = man, tall, slen-
n - D>nA
soldierly bearing was marred by some
thing uneasy, anxious. recognized
my comrade Latrivillc, but it seemed
to me that his look was dull, fixed, and
his wide open eyes were sightlcss. He
left the carriage with the help of his
servant, took the Wallets arm, and went
toward the terrace uusteadily, his hands
stretched out before him, rs though to
feel his way.
; A second later. descended from the
carriage = woman, young and remark
ably pretty, who. her hands filed with
parcels, sPrang lightly down, touching
the earth with the lightness of poised
bird. She was tall, with well-rounded
figure, extremely delicate features,
heavy blonde hair knotted at the back
of her head, eyes nearly black and very
bright, soft red lips of q charming and
delicate outline. Indifferent to the
hustle among the employees and serv-
ants of the hotel, caused by the dis
arrivals, her eyes followed
her husband while he mounted the
steps, and seemed to watch over him
with the solicitude Of mother or of an
older sister. When Latriville reached
the top, she ascended in her turn, light
and graceful and holding out her hand
to Jacques, who approached her. said:
"You! what good luck!'
Jacques bowed deeply over her hand,
then gave Latriville the military EN-
brace. which cordial and affectionate
habit has not vet been dethroned among
the officers by the hackneyed hand
shake. l then also left the terrace TO
welcome my old comrade, of whom l
had the kindest memories, though since
| left Saint Ayr I had only seen him
from time to time. As I held out my
hand to him he looked at me fixedly
without moving.
..How do ycu do. Latriville! Don't
you remember me? Mayran, you know
Corporal Mayran of the SIXTH" =
..Ah! Is it you, old friend! II is
good to see you again! I should have
guessed that it was y0n-to recognize
,ou was impossible. am blind!''
.Oh! poor old fellow!' said /, pain |
FULLY impressed.
Yes I left my eyes in Tonlxin; It is
rather difficult to get around. but the
rest is good" added he with . smile.
Then, have IN Antigone who makes
ne forget that am not complete. BY
he way, is my wife here, that ! may
introduce ycu?"
s.Yes, dear, answered Nine de LatFi-
lille. in . soft, gentle. firmly musical
,oice.
INV dear Jeanne, this is Capt
Nayran. (perhaps commander now,
10 not know) one Of my comrades at
saint Cyr, like our good Jacques. All!
nv friends. what happy inspiration
brought me here! We will live over
,ur cli life together, and talk OF old
ines. will we not?"
was surprised and saddened By
his eayety which seemed forced.
ould not imagine that man stricken
~ such 4 terrible afliction. condemned.
,efore forty years Of age. never to see
,nvthinr more: neither marvellous ma |
ure. before which was in ecstasy Just |
,ow. nor the faces Of loved ones, nor |
he delicate besuty Of this charming |
conan. could be otherwise than
rushed under the weight of an incura-
=. a..n,;r When we returned to the