The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-25
FANCHETTE.

shoulders, childish form and shy, rosy
face half avoiding, half inviting the gaze
this was Fanchette.
Fanchette Hugot they called her in
the village, where old Mother Hugot
was well known. But Fanchette shook
her head. She was no kith and kin of
Nine. Hugot, that she knew, and Jacques
knew it also-Jacques, with his bonny
brown head and bright, bold face and
gray attire, which marked him of the
better class; Jacques, who loved her
better than she loved the turkeys which
she tended, and swore that every dark
hair of her head under the red turban
was precious to him.
Jacques father called her the little
turkey tender and threw her a coin
from his carriage as he passed. But
Fanchette treasured the coins and made
herself more beautiful in her lovers eyes
with her finery-ribbons that matched
| the blue of her eyes and roses that rivaled
the carmine of her dewy lips.
When Jacques took her in his arms
and told her that he loved her and let
the light Of his beautiful eyes shine in
hers, she forgot the whole world Just for
that one moment She forgot to wonder
that God should let his creatures suffer
so; that he should distribute blessings
so unequally. She forgot that old
Mother Hugot was a hard mistress and
forgave her the bruises on her poor body
and the unkind words she used toward
her. She mounted into heaven when
l Jacques put his arms about her and she
could lean her head for moment on his
broad shoulder.
But these opportunities were seldom
granted her for sinking her soul in Lethe.
There were COWS to milk, and the pigs to
feed, and the turkeys to tend, and when
she could finally slip away to her lover
! whistling impatiently round the corner
of the lane she had but few moments
to spare from her mistress, who was i'm
patient the instant the girl was out of
her sight.
They used to watch the moon come up
sometimes, round and fiery and glowing
in the soft warm sky, and Jacques would
claim kiss for every star that appeared
in the heavens as they watched. All
Fanchette. loved the stars Ono shone
into her little easement at night, and she
always thought of Jacques when she saw
it, and his kisses seemed to her again laid
on her lips rs she fell asleep with her eyes
il fixed on the distant light.
Fanchette was very faithful to Mother
Hugot, who grumbled at having to keep
her and called her shiftless and a good
for-nothing, But Fanchette knew from
the tiny gold locket around her neck and
from the embroidery on bit Of a gown
Mother Hugot had shown her that she
was Jacques equal at least, and she al
E ways looked for a delivery to come tC
her in some guise or other. Every morn
: ing when she arose she would say, "Per
, haps today my deliverer will come" ant
? every night when she went to bed she
! prayed, God, thank thee that l am ye
alive, for know thou wilt send me
i great blessing tomorrow"
i So when the fairy godmother finally
did arrive Fanchette was the least sur
e prised of any of the village.
When Jacques met her that evening
in the lane, he laid his head down agains
!, her to hide his face, out of which tn,
9 gay light had faded,
y You are going away" he cried, 1T,
e be great lady. You have title; yol
!, will live in a palace. l, poor Jacques
n what shall l do? l think death woul,
not be difficult"
II shall come back, Jacques, in yea
they have promised me that-and thel
), we can be married if you are waitin,
/ for me still. Parting is but a test o
!. true love. Don't give your kisses O
n your love words to other girls to max
!, ! the time speed faster, my own Jacques
If feel that you arc all my own in dee,
% and in thought, there will be no sting il
! the sadness of our parting"
Jacques lifted up his head. The moo
J, came up lightly over the late lime tree
4. and shone upon his boyish face"
II promise, he said, solemnly liftin
his hand on high, and then he drew he
dark head against his shoulder an
r. pressed her lips with his own.
"a In year from tonight will NEE
n. you here. Oh. Fanchette, my love, N
r own, you will not fail me2"
# Never, Jacques, if l come to rags.
~ VIII keep my worn. IL L come 10 q Del
n, gar, still will meet you here"
50 "Remember our star, Fanchette. Ey
no cry night l will look for it, and whe
~ you see its rays you will know you
Jacques is dreaming of you and prayin
for your return"
When the sun chased the shadow
H. u, from the earth next morning, Fanchett
bs was many miles away.
On She went to II palatial home. 81
rs gowned herself in satins and saw he,
81, self bedocked with. jewels. She gre,
eli more fair than poets dream, and 81
ds danced with mobiles and was attende
n by aristocratie DANES.
al She was still Fanchettc, and at nigl
she looked at tho star she loved an
murmured the prayer of her childhood
days. Every heartbeat was for Jacque
les every tear for Jacques, every smile fl
t"' Jacques. She knew not if he were def
mi or living. When she was Of age, at Il
at end of the year, then she would know.
AZ Her beauty expanded. Her eyes we
Mi deeper, her form rounder, her SIX
ar, frner, with glow like polished marbl
at She carried her head with n saucy iii