River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-05-26

Geneva Directly opposite, isolated
in its dazzling wilderness. standing
out against the horizon like a gigan-
tic iceberg, Mont Blanc emerged from
the crowd of alpine rocks, proudly
spreading its snowy mass, which the
oblique RAYS Of the setting sun made
If descent with myriads Of small NOV
ing rainbows.
Over the lake companies of the IA
miliar swans circled round and about
the boats fastened to the quay, then
successfully aIighted on the water with
long slides and rapid wing-beats; the
gulls called To each other in hOarse
tones in last frolic before going 10
rest on the waves In the distance
were visible the great birds Of prey,
who, after the day spent in the chase.
were returning 10 the inyiolate peaks of
the Nalais mountains.
Fascinated " to- majestic spectacle
and the mysterious attraction Of space,
dreamed Of fantastic ride, a wild
flight in a balloon to those heights
well-nigh inaccessible 10 human beiLg~
/ would have scared in immaterial
ether. above the confusion Of peaks and
rocks which from below appear gigantic.
and are in proportion to terrestrial i'm
meusitv. 50 say the scientists. but as
the irregularities ON the skin of an
orange was far from Geueva and its
lake and know not when ! would have
returned II earth had not Jacques
voice suddenly scattered nv day
dreams.
why. Mime. de LatrivilIer' cried he.
"YOu know here" asked /. mechani-
eally,in the tone Of man who has just
awakened, but dos not wish TO seem
% have slept
Certainly, so do YOU. You surely
remember Latriville. of our promotions;
he who was so terribly wounded at
LangsOn2''
"Latriville, yes, but | did not know
that he had been wounded, nor that ne
was married"
"Ah.r and Jacques quickly left me
to greet the new arrivals.
Below tie terrace, before the hotel
door. a carriage laden with trunks and
packages had Just stopped valet de
scended from the box. while at the car
rage door appeared "A man. tall, slen-
tAt1Gs SUN YOUNG " &AtNE ul>N III AsA~AANA4
sOldierly bearing was married by some
thing uneasy, anxious l recognized
my comrade Latriviile. but it seemed
20 me that his look was dull, fixed, and
his wide open eyes were sightless. He
left the carriage with the help of his
servant. took the Wallets arm, and went
toward the rrace unSteadiiy. his hands
stretched out before him, as though 10
feel his way.
a second later descended from the
carriage a woman, young and remark
ably pretty, who. her hands filed with
parcels. Sprang lightly down. touching
the earth with the lightness of a poised
bird She was tall, with well-rol.nded
figure. extremely delicate features.
heavy blonde hair knotted at the back
of her head, eyes nearly black and very
bright. soft red lips Of a charming and
delicate outline. Indifferent to the
hustle among the employees and serv-
ants of the hotel, caused by the dis
tinguished arrivals, her eyes followed
her husband while he mounted the
steps, and seemed to watch over him
with the sOlicitude of n mother or of an
older sister. When Latriville reached
the top. she assembled IN her turn, light
and graceful, and holding ont her hand
to Jacques, who approached her. said:
''GOu' what good luck
Jacques bowed deeply over her hand.
then gave Latriville the military EN-
brace which cordial and affectionate
habit aaS not vet been dethroned among
the officers by the hackueyed hand
shake. | then also left the terrace to
welcome nv old cOmrade. of whom
lad the lSiudeSt memories. though since
I let Saint AYR I had only seen him
FROM 4me To time. As ! held ont my
hand 70 him he looked at me fixedly
without moving.
How do You do. Latriville, Don't
YOU remember me- Mayrlu. You know
Corporal Mayran of the SIXTH ~
"Ah. l. 1t you. old friend. 1t is
good To- see you again. ! should have
guessed that il was you-to recognize
You was impossible / am blind,''
''Oh. poor Old fellow said /, pain
fully impressed.
Yes. left nv eyes in TonlSin: it Is
rather difficult To get around. but the
rest is good. added he with smile.
Then. have an Antigone who makes
me forget that l am not complete. BY
the way. Is my wife here. that / may
introduce you2"
YES. dear. answered Nine de Latri-
vile. in a soft, gentle, firmly musical
voice
MY dear Jeanne. this is Capt
Mayran. perhaps commander now, I
do not know one Of my comrades at
Saint Cvr. like our good Jacques. All.
my friends, what happy inspiration
brought me here We will live oves
our old life together. and talk of old
times. will we mote"
was surprised and saddened by
this gaycty which seemed forced.
could not imagine that a man stricken
by such terrible affection. condemned.
before forty years of age, never to see
anything more: neither marvellous ma
ture. before which l was in ecstasy Just
now, nor the faces OF loved ones. nor
the delicate beauty of this charming
woman. could be otherwise than
crushed under the weight Of an incura-
bic despair. When we returned 10 the
terrace after having accompanied Latri-
vile and his wife 10 their rooms. and
made the engagement to meet them at
dinner. / could hold my tongue no
longer. but communicated my rehec-
lions 70 Jacques, saying that our poor
friend must have tremendous dose Of
philosophy, or a stoicism too affected to
be sincere.
Why. no. nv dear fellow" an
s,yav..1 Iaror,.aS II assure Won that
Latriville Is not as unhappy as you
think. To begin with. he Is getting &C
customed TO his infirmity, and you
know that time and habit smooth
things down wonderfully. Then, he
finds in the devotion and affection of
his wife a consolation that many pos
sessing both their eyes might envy
him
''Grantsd: stu. without being blind |