Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-06-09
A TILE Of A BRIDGE.

OenSe tOllaye, the little mill betrayed
its presence only by the sound of
churning water and falling spray. 1t
sounded ut little distance like q
melody with sad rhythm to it that
from time to time became suddenly
bright with u thousand charming
graces, and then returned again to
the old melancholy song.
The mill itself, with its roof of
soft. red tiles, mingled its soft color
ing with the tops Of forest trees; and
the background Of poplars that shut
10 In behind and extended to the hor-
iron only let through the ruddy glow
Of the sunset.
To reach the sunset 1t was neces-
sary to cross n stream which in one
Of It's tortuous meanderings u little
further on, flung itself with such
sweet music against the revolving
mill wheel.
A bridge spanned It here and
led up to the entrance, but a
bridge whose beginning ana end
alone were in serviceable condition.
The middle consisted merely Of a
couple Of movable planks which
rested on the two ends, and impaired
. springy motion to all who passed
across them.
But only foot passengers dared to
trust themselves on these perilous
boards, and the wagons loaded with
Sour and corn were obliged to make
. long detour to reach the mill.
And this little oasis so well pro.
tected. this little out-of.the-way
corner, where human industry had
made itself a home, was situated, as
the rubicund visage of its portly
owner Indicated, in Bourgogne.
This brave miller possessed but one
fault and that n common one, name
~ nm immoderate affection, for dol
lars.
He was widower. and his daught
ter Martha lived with him. She was
. charming creature who busted her.
self with the household duties and
vas treasure toward which many
bad already directed covetous eyes.
vor Martha was Is years Of age,
besides which she had lovely mass
Of auburn hair, eyes OF exquisite ten.
derness, and thousand and one other
attractions. 1t was known by all
within radius OF twenty leagues
that she would be rich one day; her
father had saved money for years.
But she, brave lass Of Bourgogne,
was rs profoundly Indifferent to the
burning eyes that watched every
Sunday In the church as she was to
the passionate hand.pressure OF the
enchanted partners who led her away
In the dances Of the village fetes and
festivals.
Martha really had some love in her
heart. There was delightful limo.
cence in the way she loved her cousin
Thomas, who, for his part, was not n
whit more enterprising In love mat
tiers than herself.
Thomas possessed tastes that
showed considerable refinement. lie
was fond Of reading and he played
the flute. He was dreamer OF mild
characteristics. He loved nature too
fondly ever to have robbed bird s
nest, and he cultivated sweet-smelling
flowers in every possible corner OF the
garden.
This native aristocracy OF taste had
always pleased his young cousin,
Martha.
But lie pere Bernard looked upon
his nephew as hopelessly stupid, and
a., In addition, the lads parents had
scrupulously neglected to bequeath
to him a single sou, there was no
chance that the two cousins would
ever be united by the sacred bonds
OF matrimony.
They both knew this, but despair
sits lightly in young hearts, and they
continued to live rcsignedly in the
warmth Of this impossible dream.
They gave to each other the thousand
little Joys and attentions that are al
lowed between relations and, like
true lovers, they found infinite sweet
ness in the most trivial incidents.
Who can tell the value Of furtive
pressure Of the hand in the shady
grove, the touching Of the fair one 5
hair with the yearning lips, the flower
let fall from the pretty waistband
and treasured ever after with trem-
bling and heart-pangs:
Those who like may sreer at these
things, hut they are, nevertheless,
delightful, and he who has never ex-
perienced them is a thrice unhappy
wretch.
As Sully-Prud 'homme says; 'l'
Is the little things that bear witness
to the deepest love"
Thus Martha and Thomas lived
side by side, not daring to think Of q
future which had in store for them &
common love, yet happy at least that
they were not separated for the pres
ent.
One morning as Marthe came il
from the yard where the sweet sprlnl
air had awakened the clucking Of the
young chickens, le pere Bernard
came TO meet her with an expires
sion on his face that was half laugh
ing, half angry. He hcldin his han'
three letters that the postman ha'
Just left.
Here, read these, iilette," he salt
10 Marthe, who, when she ha'
opened all three, stood there with
look Of great surprise, mingled wit
a little annoyance on her pretty face
The first letter said
MONSIEUR BERNARD ! love Mile. MAJ
the. and | have the hon'r To ask OF 70