The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-06
THE ATTACK ON THE MILL.
An Episode Of the War of 1870.
M EMILE lola.

festival this beautiful summer evening. In tn
doorway were set three tables. end to end. 1
readiness for the guests. The whole country
side knew that on this day Merlier's daughter
FRANCHISE. was to be betrothed to Dominique
youth who was accused OF being an idler. bu
whom the women within radius OF tire
leagues regarded with shining eyes. 30 hand
some was his appearance.
Father Merlier's mill was most cheerful
place. 1t was Just in the middle OF Rooreuse
whore the main road makes bend. The VII
laRe has only one street and two files OF cot
tages. one on each side OF the street: bu
there at the bend. meadows lie spread out
and large trees. along the course OF tn,
Morelle, cover the bottom Of the valley with
magnificent shade. There is not in nj
Lorraine a more adorable bit OF nature. Or
the right and on the left thick forests Of
primeval trocs climb UP the gentle slopes. and
I'LL the horizon with sea Of verdure. while to.
ward the south the plain widens. and. marvel
| lousy fertile. offers to view an in6nitude Of
pieces OF land divided by green hedges. Butthe
| chief charm OF Rocreuse. after oil. Is the cool
| ness OF this green hollow. even In the hottest
days OF July and August. Tho Morelle comes
down to bring with her the GOODNESS Of the
branches beneath which she flows for leagues:
| she brings the murmuring soundsthe chill and
solitary darkness OF the forests And the
| river is not the only cool thing there: all sorts
| OF rushing streams babble under the trees: at
| every step spring gushes up: following tho
narrow footpaths one feels something like
the presence of supterranean lakes bursting
up through the moss at the foot OF tho trees.
between the rocks to pour out In crystal foun-
tains. The whispering voices OF these stream
let's arise In such numbers and SO tumultu-
ously that they cover the song Of the bull
70 ha In nbnp taA
park. with cascades falling on every side.
In the valley below gigantic horse ohestnuts
cast black shadows on the wet meadows. On
the edge Of the fields long rows OF poplars
hold up their rustling screens. Two avenues
OF enormous plano trees 60 up. across the
fields. toward the ancient chateau OF Gagny,
to day In ruins. In this continually watered
soil the grass grows INN moderately. 1t Is like
an expanse Of natural lawn. whose fields are
greensward and whose giant trees uphold
colossal baskets OF LEAKAGE. When the sun at
noon sheds his rays vertically. the shadows
are blush. the burning grass lies asleep In tho
heat. while an icy SILVER runs under the
branches OF the forest.
And It was Just there that Father Merliers
mill enlivened u corner OF the wild woods with
its click-clack. The building. made OF timbers
and mortar seemed as old as the world. At
the foot 1t half dipped into the Morelle. which
spread out here into round. clear basin. A
dam had been contrived. and the water fell
from height Of several yards over the mill
wheel, which creaked as 1t turned. with the
asthmatc wheeze OF a faithful servant grown
old In the house. When Father Merlier was
advised to change 1t he shook his head, saying
that a young wheel would never become SO
well acquainted with work. and he mended
the old ono with anything that came to his
han yrit In al sfa wit or irop mil
bits Of zinc or lead. The wheel looked the
gayer for all this. with its outline tufted with
grasses and moss. When the water turned 1t
with its silver wave it was yelled with pearls
and it's strange shape revolved under a SHIN
mering cloud Of changing oolors.
The part Of the mill which dipped thus into
the Morells wore the appearance OF some
barbaric arch left unfinished there. good
half Of the dwelling was built upon piers. The
water came in under the floor. Below tho fall
the basin was as clear as q mirror. A broken
stair went down to the river near pier. to
which was moored skiff. A wooden gallery
projected over the Wheel Windows. irreg-
ularly pierced in the wall. overlooked it.
There was q confused medley OF angles. of
little walls. OF additions made through after
thought OF timbers and roots. which gave to
the old mill the aspect OF an ancient. dis
mantled citadel. But ivy had grown over it,
all sorts Of climbing plants filled tho large
crevices. and throw a mantle Of green over the
old dwelling. The young ladies' who went by
made sketches In their albums Of Father
Merller's mill.
On the side facing the road the house was
more strongly built A stone gateway gave
access to the large yard. bordered on the right
and the left by sheds and stables. An i'm
mense elm tree by well covered half the yard
vii re Tn ba Off
the line Of four windows OF Its first story. sur
mounted by a dove cote Father Merler's only
pretence at smartness consisted In having this
facade whitewashed once In ten years. 1t had
just been whitened and 1t dazzled the eyes Of
the villagers at noon when the sun shone on it.
Father Merlier had been Mayor of Rocreuse
for twenty years He was esteemed for the
fortune he had been clever enough to make.
He was supposed to have something
like eighty thousand francs. which had
been brought together sou at a time.
When he had married Madeleine Guillard. who |
brought him the mill as her dot, he had little |
more than his two hands. But Madeleine had |
mover repented OF her choice. SO prosperously |
had he conducted the family affairs. His wife |
had now passed away. and he was left O wild
over with his daughter FRANCHISE. He was
doubtless well enough circumstanced to allow
IN tho moss but that Would have sos see to
him too dull a life, He continued Working for
the pleasure of doing so. Father Merller was
tall old man With "a iopG quiet face who
wardly the most cheerful. He had been chosen
Mayor because OF his money, but also for the
attractive bearing that he knew how to wear
when he was making a marriage.
FRANCHISE Merlier was Just eighteen years
old. she did not pass for one Of the handsom-
gFs hs aTs 81 ssn she was
had been even plain; 1t was hard to under.
stand. at Rocreuse. how the daughter OF
Father and Mother Merlier. both SO we'll devel.
yret. But at iilfteen. while still remaining del
gate. she took on the prettiest little vssaRe In
md was rosy withal; her lips were always
serens, brow wherein alwsyS rested crown
he country. she was far from being thin in
lesh: ono might say simply that she was not
strong enough to lift a bag Of wheat. Her
athsfs long silences had rendered her roa.
hat she was always laughing: at heart she
Naturally. the whole country paid court to
Tor. more for the sake OF her gold than for her
'Nn charms. And In tho end she had made
hoce which had scandalized the people. On