The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-09-08
R3y!a!.!!! q! Bssi9g BsMd:g1
ABSOLUTELY PURE
pAULEs BLUEBELLs

They srrived ., dusk. 10 the distanc
Mont Vslsrien lsy qaie, aud peaceful ~
sIum herring lion. A light mist envelopes
IL. falling from the blue sky, scross vhic
the setting sun casts golden flames. Tw'
sters away Psris srumbled.
The Seine surrounded the Grsnde Jait
isle with low. gentle murmur. mutmu
that Was one long caress. and there was u
the atmosphere a perfume OF flowers ant
fresh mosn grass
Aloug the driveway on The other side o
the river carriages passed Ut sirot besrini
the happy occupants 10 the promensde o.
taking them back TO the city. on 'h'
water joyous meirymsk,r. heS by IL
yawls tblt seemed like toys. the rower'
shouting loud rslutes 10 q big, numbering
tow boat, black and swkw,ri, which made
them dance like cock les bells on the wsve'
made by its paddles. Aud the felrymen
Who for one sou 3 passenger. made the
crossing from bank to bank. paused 10 lsl
pass the enormous mass OF bargss dragged
10 TOW, while the alert lang noisy
osrjmen, full OF trsvsdo. dash d by brisk
ly plying their sculls.
The Seine then was iu'l Of laughter.
rolling its green waters with . crisp chop
ping sound that seemed to cry out to oil.
Come on, come onl and brushed the banks
with . sly little kiss thst bent tbe reeds
and the water lilies still ungstbered by
the promensders. while the rascslly spsr'
rows little vsgsbonds with their sweet
heart -lesped and skipped in the grassy
hooks, lear which the Rreenish scum OF
tiny rivuets made moving spots OF
emerald.
From time to time q pretty girl at the
tiIler threw a laugh /, the wind; voices
sounded everywhere; tights and jerseys,
red aud white caps. and tbs gay toilets OF
women, cst ting for moment the fash Of
their vivid color upon the rolling waves.
came aud went snd we're littls by little Of
faced by the thickeninP mist that the hest
drew from the water.
Oh, il only had some bluebellsl
Psule spoke ieebly in 3 soft. muffied
voice, like the cooinR OF bird. Her friend
had made her tiny nest OF moss, and near
the little birch yawl, drawn out on the
grass, seated or rather reclining there, her
white flannel skirts spread out around her,
ber black, curly hair thick and abundant,
bringing out their contrast the ivory psllor
of her skin. she seemed berself-with that
faint, wsvering red deepening and psling
in the wan cheeks some strange. frsil
blossom.
She wanted bluebelIs, the whim OF
child, OF one incurably i'll Her beautiful
dark eyes. surrounded by blush circles
and shaded by long. curling lsshes-eyes
almost too big for the delicate face spark,
led with desire -she wanted buebells!
But, dearest, her friend responded, there
are no bluebells here.
Truel How very snnoyin8l
And she gave . sigh that was nearly .
sob 10 her sunken little bosom.
All At onces joyous racket came through
the trees, the crash OF bass drum and the
flourishes OF trombone marking the time
OF q gay qusdrilIe. The boaimen OF the
Seine dance with all their heart at these
island bslls Psule listened and joyously
clsppped her hands.
Come, let us see them said she.
And he. with geLtle, kindly smile full
nevertheless OF an unavowed sadness, be.
Psules friend, h,l out bis two strong
hands and said simply:
Get up then.
In the csrbsret ir quented by the boat
men the crowd was dense; pretty and gsyi
ly dressed girls in the arms Of stalwsrt
osrsmen every muscle OF the body plainly
outlined und,r the thin woven sklits-
msdly whiried about the table Ct the drin,
kers. An orchestra OF some dozen must
cisns. led by signor something or other.
the name spread ont in letters foot long
90 gsudy poster, played furious qua
drille.
Some OF the dane, rs effected the style OF
the cboreeraphs OF the outer barriers their
ssmbolings, springs and alert gymnastics;
come, more serious. dance sedately and
without bothsring themselves with the
manner OF others. gallsntly leading their
loved ones here snd there. with . certain
fine and lofty scorn OF their surround
inps
Trnly . strange medley. in which friend
and stranger elboved each other - chance
threw them together, and each took pleas
ure, according TO hi. taste. intoxicating
himself With the breath Of the evening.
while the perfume OF Pernod Mingled 10
the air With the smoke Of pipes and cigars
TO be quickly swep, 10 the river OF to bsns
for . n.oment-litile blue clouds 10 the
trees ~ " caught in the brsnches
Ah, bu, life is good Sighed Psule.
leaning bessily ou the arm Of her friend.
Lie the eiernsl dream Of those early
doomed. Of those ths, dream q the moir5v
they vii nsver see. Of q morrow already
fyinsi P.ule had IN her eyes nos the in
tories iiou oi biissiDi vlsioui Why could
she nti have 10 reality The Joy that ter
s,ss bsheld. the deceptive mirage Of the
bsppiDess Of o,hersf
Suadenly shs uttered little or,
Blnebell,l Blusbslis. Heoril
wss true; there they sere 90 the cor
.sse Of one Of the ~omen. She bad psssed
hies shitlwiod close besiie them oa
The gray robe Of the dsnesr the fovers
s,ueE oct In al en,ieing taft. and Ter csss.
il,r. led Of perhaps iwsniy yesrs, seemed