The morning call., 1892-07-24
4 SWEET SINGER.

had first-rate mornings fishing in the
swift, shallow river. which went rushing
about In such wondrou loops and bends
among the labyrinth OF hills which obstruct-
ed its course. was just proudly landing
splendid specimen from the deep pool below
tie platform of rock on which was stand
ing, when Jean Baptiste. my luncheon bas-
ket over his shoulder, hove IN sight round
iuttipg crag. | liked Jean Baptiste; / ad-
mired bis fine, regular features, his tall,
military figure, his digBified self-posSessio1,
his innate gentleness, and i loved to hear
bis simple stories of the events which had
fallen within the limited range Of his ex-
perience.
A la bonne heure, Jean Baptiste,"
cried, airing the French which in these
Ardennes wilds was making such fine
progress. 81 will eat MY luncheon where L
am and then continue operations; this pool
is in perfect condition" Jean BaptiSte SAID
nothing; his handsome face showed scanty
assent. ~ GU don't agree with me, L went
on. Hasn't pIScat0Iy fortune favored you
here?"
ut is very long since l ished here, mon
sieur." he answered gravely.
And why ?" l asked, ''if one may risk
the question"
Well. monsieuE" he began, doubtfully,
Its an old story"
stories; moreover. it was my privilege as
foreigner and guest to hear many things con-
cerning which he might have been less COM
munic4tlye TO those who knew him better,
so / said. coaXlngly:
An old story, Jean BaptiSte. Why, that
is all that is necessary to make this spOt and
my enjoyment perfect. How old is p"
1T l. 80 years old" he replied.
Thirty years. best of landlords but that
is nothiGg."
10 su,fIa1
You are pleased to say so. monsieur.
Anyhow, we were all 80 years younger then,
when Is something; and | and my brother
Eugene we're considered the two best
matches in the village. Our father. Jean
IcuYet, was then the landlord Of the lnn,
where We now reign III his stead: he owned,
too, the biggest iSTm in the place, not eX-
ctpting NJ. BerSieT'S, the burgOmaSter.
In our house there was plenty Of work and
plenty Of room for couple of daughterS-in-
law if Eugene aud ] had cared to go d.
wooing. But, somehow, we didn't care,
though hints had been given from several
quarters in which we should be welcome
The hurgomasier gTumb!ed that cur father
mad given US too much education and raised
Is above our equals. and the griS used 10
chSd and say that Eugene was SO wrapped
Up in his music, ana l was so wrapped up
in him, that we had no thoughts for counting.
There may have been little truth III ali
his; certainly Eugene could play on our
church organ as no one else could, and mu-
SIc was bis greatest pleasure; that was how
il was lie persuaded by father to let him so
once-3J years agO-to Antwerp for tile
Feast or the Assumption; he wanted TO
hear the fine masses sung in the great ca
tledral church. 1t was settled, too. that on
lis way back he should stay with cur uncle
at Gembl0uX. aud see something of the lew
land harvesting, of which we had heard so
much. All this meant that he would be
way three weeks or a month. and it was in
- q n = glfSeDpe N
event Of NY life cane TO pass
''Ona eVenilE-thlS was how it befell-ln
comes NJ BeTsleT a full hatf-h0uI earlier
than the time for his usual evening pint;
he had an open letter in his hand and a
look Of DerpleXity on his honest face.
'Jen LouYet, he said to MY father, I
want your very good advice
uu're welcome to ii, said my father,
handing him his tankard.
\ GU remember nv sister, went on Ber-
sier, VINO married Darcy. the cOniectioner.
liz BruSSe!s?'
MY father nodded. Ii was known that
Darcy. the c0nfecroneT. had proved him.
self a very bad husband.
Well, she's dead, poor thing and he
paused.
"'Peor thing echoed my mother and
isn't there little grip
There was little girl Nine Louyet.
by your leave; but she's big girl now. aud
the question is whats to become of her.
write me long letters about her. She might
be married and settled now If she had
dot but where's dot" to come from
when tie father drinks and wastes his sub
siance?'
Il d0a't know what It was reused me TO A
kind OF anger at this-not entirely against
the sDendthrift father, either.
It isn't much Of a man who would
think the want Of dot" an obstacle to
marriage
- 'Hrv- do you tDorv ., coil ~, l,,,.
master You, perhaps, can afford 30 take a
girl without q sous but every man cannot
Every man can work. J began, but the
burgomaster interrupted me.
Well any way, there was young man
her mother wrote TO me about who was not
q yOnT way Of thinking, and there was
X nd OF beginning which came to an nm
timely ending and Pm not sorry, for
struggle for life in Brussels is not what
should wish for the girls fate. But now.
Louyet. come TO The part that requires
your advice. The girl wants to come to me.
She cah't live with her father and she's not
old enough to live by herself ana work for
her Ilving, even If she knew how to earn il
but IL not SO easy. either, for an old Wild
owrr Ike me to take charge Of a girl OF 49,
lie stopped, and my father smoked
thoughtfully. Il was my mother WHO sroke.
Let her come, said she; may be can
help TO look after her Bit
~ You" cried Bersier. gratefully.
straight So, after good deal Of talk, it
was settled that Marie should come
NOW, l expect you viii think that was
great fool for man of two and thirty
years II | tell you all that went through my
mind while that talk was going on. | had
scarcely heard of Marie Darcy's existence
before that evening, yet | felt as drawn To
her as II she had some right and claim ON
me, ana IurtIeT there was kind of awe In
my heart as II my life were about to change
{ fnl
IL was such strange feeling. half hope and
hat lear, that even If Eugene had beea a I
nome rould not have mentioned it to him.
YET cId not try 10 put 1t away, rather
encouraged II and dweit on it until the third
day after when, as / as coming home with
lne last load OF barley, the burgBmaster's 6
char-a-Danc passed me, saw Mary Darcy
for the first time.
Il knew she would be pretty, though no
one had told me so +; but naturedly had not
pictured her as she was. Her brirbt cbest-
nut haIr clustered about her forehead in
Qalnly little curls, peeping from beneath
her heavy Grape hat; her eyes were large
and dark and her face clear and pale. she
was Sienqerly built and graceful, and the
oouud oI Der voice vas sweeter by contrast
with our rough Waloon accent This I
soon lad an opportunity OF hearing for
when she had rested awhile after her jour-
hey, her uncle brought her to see my mother.
ana l stood by while she told her first i'm
pressions. She already loved our village =.
she said. having heard SO much of it IRON
heT poor GEAR mother; she was going to be
very eontented among US and not regret
Brussels. She glanced at me as she said
this. aud /. who never made pretty speeches
TO girls, said that it would br our fault and
our misfortune if she did. At which She
laughed and asked me IL l knew Brussels.
10 which | said no.
"'Ah, cried my father. 'it is nv son Eu-
gene who viii be the traveller. When he
comes back you can talk of Brussels with
Oh she said sweetly. 4 shall not talk
0f Brussels now l shall give my mind to
learning all about this new home, which |
am so fortunate to fnd. and for which am