The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1893-10-13

facqucd. Suo KNEW not II Nc were uca0
,r living. When she was Of age. at the
md Of the year. then she would know.
Her beauty expanded. Her eyes were
deeper, her form rounder. her skin
Hrmer, with glow like polished marble.
She carried her head with saucy tilt,
her lips melted into smiles, her cheeks
dimpled. They called her Fanchette
the lovable.
! When II months had passed. she put
her arms about her newly found father.
the murmured Jacques name with an
| itonation like ringdove in her voice,
ID frown corrugated the old mans
handsome brow. He flung her aside. 4
"Ingratel" he cried stormily
Fanchette kissed him sadly and crept
away. Just at that moment she longed
for the starlighted land, the coins that
Father Badeau threw to the poor turkey
driver and the curses Of Mother Hugot
with aheartsickness that terrified her.
She never mentioned Jacques name
again. She stole FROM her home one
night at the hour Of IL. She paused be-
yond in the corridor and gave one glance
behind at the luxury wrapped nest she
had quilted. She saw the gilded panels.
shining mirrors rejecting painted cell
ings hung in roses with frieze Of Gu
4 pids, soft. rich carpets and lace hung
bed where dreams Of Jacques had cir
cled round her drowsy head.
She saw her tiny satin shoes, subtly
suggestive of Incidence and with a
touch Of personality seeming to cling
about them still as they lay discarded on
the white fur rug before the scented fire.
Her glance wandered to an open chest
Of antique wood hard by. heaped up with
the choicest treasures of the milliner's
art Here fan coquetted with an opera
cloak, there dainty ball gown spread
| its fimsy flounces over Partisan bonnet
laden with purple violets.
She dropped tear, she burst into o
sob. Her woman's heart cried out after
all this luxury. Her better nature whis-
pered Jacques name into her ear. The
tear became rs rainbow touched by
her smile. She turned and fed, crying.
"The world is well lost for love. my
Jacquesl comet come!"
In the old familiar trysting spot at
last, waiting for her lover. she echoed
those words. She crouched down and
kissed the turf and the star eyed mar
guerites and laughed to herself softly
and gleefully.
She heard his step at last. She arose
with new shyness born Of her fresh
beauty and her solemn JOY.
''Jacques!'
what, Fanchette! Youl Whatl Fam
chette in the rags Of the turkey girlY' he
stammered.
"Oh, yes. Jacques, yesl The turkey
girl, Fanchette. whom you love- Not
the lady Fanchette ever againi am
yours, Jacques, yoursl"
He dropped his hat from his hand. His
rugged face paled and his lips quivered.
She thought his Joy unnamed him.
He put both hands over his face and
stood so. abashed before her dewy eyes.
She brushed bis hands with her red lips
and whispered to him:
Look up. my Jacquesl Surely you
will speak to your own Fanchettei Oh.
| fie. friend jacques, tears for joy. for
sooth! Methinks that is worthy of o
woman. WhatI VIII you not look at
meS They say that am greatly changed
"a beauty, Jacques, your little Fan
chettei Are you not gladY
She was sobbing and laughing and
clinging to him, the moon showing her
dimples, and her soft, quivering lips,
and her new great beauty to him in
maddening way. Her hair fell around
him, her warm arms were laid upon his
shoulders, she was leaning against him,
delicious in her womanly gladness. But
he did not touch her after the first invol-
untary caress. He dropped upon one
knee at her feet and laid his face against
her hand.
Their star on high looked down upon
them benignly.
Look, Jacques, look-our starl Do
not kneel to me. my own Jacques, do
not, prayl See, it is smiling at us-it
is happy, too. The year is past. is past,
Jacques, let US thank the good God to-
gether. But first will you not kiss me?
Am / to sne FOR it, then5 Dear friend,
do not give way thus. am here, close
beside you. Jacques. win never. never
leave you now. love, unless you bid me
go?"
II bid you &c"
The voice was hoarse, agonized with
deathly anguish In its modulations.
"Jacquesi"
II am marTiedF'
He caught her, held her to him as her
eyes closed and cursed himself.
"Fanchette. Fanchette, look up and
lstenl Ny God, hate myself mar
ried Rosamond Cartier six months ago.
Thought you would not come back.
Father influenced me-
"Don'tF Fanchette said.
She seemed more beautiful than ever
when she stood up again. But Jaques
could not bear to look at her.
She slipped away from him over the
grass toward Mother Hugot's house.
"Come to our house, Fanchette.s . he
pleaded.
Butsh shook her head. lifted the latch
and went in.
She is the turkey tender once again.
She sees Jacques wife roll by in her
carriage. She Is humble and patient.
but she prays the old prayer no more.
All that remains Of the past are the
stars. and on calm nights when che
looks out Of her window she still fancies
as she weeps herself into troubled dream
land nat Jacques is once again claim
ing kiss for every star in the crowded
heavens. Exchange.
How French Criminals Face Death.
The Able Faure. ex-chaplain Of Ro-