The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-08-10
NONA.

picturesque! A miserable anchorage.
for ten boats at the most, a single stony
street, which l can compare to nothing
better than q mountain torrent. On top
Of the hill a church, a veritable gothic
toy, which stood in the middle of q
cemetery from which a magnificent
view Of the ocean was obtained. Find
ing myself in the vein for work, l lin
gered III this out of the way corner until
the end Of the month OF September,
which by a rare chance in rainy Finis-
tere, was that year exceptionally mild
and clear.
But one cannot always compose verses
and write, and a walk was my hygiene
and my distraction. My most frequent
promenade was along the beach, having
on my right the bleak and rocky cliffs
and On my left the uncovered stretches
Of sand-an immense desert of sand left
bare by the outgoing tide. Two or three
times l had exchanged civilities with
some custom house officer going his
rounds, his gun slung over his shoulder.
I was so regular and peaceful a prone
NADER that tho sea swallows were no
longer afraid of me and hoped in front
Of me, leaving tho print Of their star
shaped feet i'll the wet sand. I walked
six or eight kilometers d day and re-
turned homo with my pockets filed with
those dainty ehells which are found by
burying the hand deep down in the
damp pebbles.
This was my favorite excursion.
However, OIL tho days when q strong
breeze was blowing and the tide was
very high I abandoned the seashore, and
climbing tho village street l stlulled
along the sandy moor, or else I settled
myself with a book on a bench in a cor
ner Of the cemetery, which vas shelter
ed by the church tower from the west
end.
It was q lovely spot, conducive to sad
ness and revery. The church tower.
stood out against the autumn sky, over
which dark clouds were scurrying.
Crows, whose nests were in the steeple,
few out with their hoarse cawing, and
the shadow Of their large wings .glided
over the scattered tombstones, almost
hidden i'll the grass.
In the evening more than at any 9th
sr time, the last rays Of the setting sun
bathing the sea as though with blood,
she ragged branches Of the skeleton of
an old apple tree ~silhouetted against the
crimson sky and the deep intense still
HESS Of the wild home Of the dead flood
ed my soul with melancholy.
1t Was on such an evening as / have
Just described that, wandering among
the tomhs, many Of which bore unde,
the sailors name this mournful legend,
Died at sea-" I read On a new cross
the following words, which astonished
and puzzled mo: "Here exposes Mona
LIE Magnet. Died at sea Oct. 2G, 1878
at tie age Of 49,"
Died at sea! A young girl! Womel
hardly ever go out in the fishing boats
How did this happen?
"Well, monsieur" said a gruff voic
behind me suddenly, "you are LOOKING
at poor NoDa's tomb?"
turned around and recognized an oil,
sailor. with II wooden leg, whose goo
graces l had acquired by the aid Of
few glasses Of brandy, which 1 had Civ
Ell him i'll the taproom at the inn.
Yes" l replied. But 1 though
that you fishermen never permitte
women to go out with you. l have eve
been told that they bring you misfu
sumo
And that is the truth" responde
the good man. Besides, Mona neve
went into a boat. Would you like t
know how the poor little one dice
Well, I will tell you.
"Ficst Of all, l must tell you thu
Pierre, her father, was a topman, lii
myself, and an old comrade. At Bou;
get, when Admiral La Ronciere raise
his golden helmet Oh the point of h
saber, and we flung ourselves, hatch'
in hand, on the embattled houses, v
marched elbow to elbow, Pierre and
and it was he who received me i'll h
arms when those cursed Prussians put
Nail in my thigh. That same evening
the ambulance at the fort Pierre he,
my hand to give me courage while Il
surgeon amputated my limb, and ]
was there at my bedside when the az
m;ral brought me my medal. But tho
rascully Prussians got the best of u
and we We're sent home. /, with n
wooden leg, was practically helples
Bre Pierre, who was uninjured, hirf
On beard a fishing smack. Very soc
sfterward his wife died from an int
mittent fever, leaving him the care
little Mona, WHO was going on 10 yea
Of aga.