The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1893-11-18
PAULE'S BLUEBELLS.

They arrived at dusk. In the distance
Mont Valerien lay quiet and peaceful a.
lion. A light mist enveloped
1t, falling from the blue sky, across which
THE setting sun cast golden flames Two
steps away Paris grumbled.
The Seine surrounded the Grande Jatte
|isle with low. gentle murmur, q murmur
that was one long caress, and there was in
the atmosphere u perfume Of flowers and
freshly mowu grass.
Along the driveway on the other side Of
the river carriages passed at q trot. bear
ing the happy occupants to the promenade
or taking them back to the city. On the
water joyous merrymakers few by in
yawls that seemed like toys, the rowers
! shouting loud salutes to q big, numbering
tow boat. black and awkward, which made
them dance like cockleshells on the waves
made by it's paddles. And the ferrymen,
who. for one sou passenger, made the
crossing from bank to bank, paused to let
pass the enormous mass of barges dragged
in tow, while the alert, laughing, noisy
oarsmen, full Of bravado. dashed by brisk.
" plying their SOULS.
The Seine then was full of laughter,
rolling its green waters with a crisp, chop
"Come on, come on!'' and brushed the
banks with a sly little kiss that bent the
reeds and the water lilies still ungathered
by the promenaders, while the rascally
sparrows - little vagabonds with their
sweethearts-leaped and skipped in the
grassy hooks, near which the greenish
scum Of tiny rivulets made moving spots
of emerald.
From time to time pretty girl at the
tiller threw laugh to the wind; voices
sounded everywhere; tights and jerseys,
red and white caps, and the gay toilets Of
women, casting for a moment the fash of
their vivid color upon the rolling waves,
came and went and were little by little
effaced by the thickening mist that the
heat drevAfrom the water.
"Oh, il only had some buebellsr'
Paule spoke feebly in a soft. muffled
voice. like the cooling 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,
her black, curly hair thick and abundant,
bringing out by contrast the ivory pallor
+ of her skin, she seemed herself-with that
/ faint. wavering red deepening and paling
! in the wan cheeks-some strange, frail
4 blossom.
She wanted bluebells, the within Of a
child, of one incurably ill! Her beautiful
dark eyes, surrounded by BLUSH circles
| and shaded by long, curling lashes-eyes
| almost too big for the delicate face-spark.
led with desire-she wanted bluebells!
But. dearest" her friend responded.
there are no bluebells here"
"Truel How very annoyingW
And she gave a sigh that was nearly a
/ sob in her sunken little bosom.
Allat once joyous racket came through
| the trees, the crash of a bass drum and the
/ flourishes of trombones marking the time
| of a gay quadrille. The boatmen of the
Seine dance with all their heart at these
island balls! Paule listened and joyously
clapped her hands.
| "Come, let us see themr' said she.
And he, with gentle, kindly smile, full
nevertheless of an unavowed sadness, he,
Paule's friend, held out his two strong
hands and said simply:
"Get up then"
In the cabaret frequented by the boat
men the crowd was dense; pretty and
gayly dressed girls in the arms Of stalwart
oarsmen-every muscle OF the body plainly
outlined under the thin woven shirts
madly whirled about the table of the
drinkers. An orchestra Of some dozen
y musicians. led by signor something Of
Jother. the name spread out in letters q foo,
long on CANDY poster. played furious
quadrille.
Some of the dancers affected the style Of
the choregraphs Of the outer barriers
their gambolings. springs AMI alert gym
nastics some, more serious, dance sedate
~ and without bothering themselves
with the manner Of others, gallahtly lead
ing their loved ones here and there, with {
certain fine and lofty scorn Of their sur
roundings.
Truly strange medley, in which frient
and stranger elbowed each other a. chanc'
threw them together, and each took pleas
ure, according to his taste, Intoxicating
himself with the breath Of the evening
while the perfume OF Pernod mingled II
the air with the smoke Of pipes and cigars
to be quickly swept 70 the river or to hanl
tor q moment-litt!a blue clouds In tn
trees-as II caught by the branches.
"Ah, but life IL good" sighed Paule
leaning heavily on the arm Of her friend.
Lifei the eternal dream Of those earl
doomed, Of those that dream Of morrow
they will never see, Of = morrow alread
fiyinRl Paule had In her eyes now the In
toxication Of a blissful visioni Why coul
she not have in reality the Joy that he
eyes behold, the deceptive mirage OF Tn
happiness Of Othersi
Suddenly she uttered little cry'
"Bluebellsl Bluebells. Henriw
II was true; there they were on the col
sage Of one of the women. She had passe
like q whirlwind close beside them. D
the gray robe Of the dancer the flower