The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1895-07-27

NNhS 1t tiOIt 1t Wis! lJuL HOW
picturesque. A miserable anchorage,
for ten boats at the most. a single stony
street, which | can compare to nothing
better TEAM a mountain torrent. On top
OF the hill & church, Il vcrit4ble gothic
toy, which stood i'll tho middle Of Il
cemetery from which il magnificent
view Of the ocean was obtained. Find
ing Elyself il the vein for work. I lin
gered i'll t!iisout Of the way colner until
the end OF tile month of September,
which by - rare chance in ra:Yv Finis-
tere, was that year exceptionally mild
ard clear.
But i cannot always compose verses
ard write, ard a walk WAS NY hygiene
and ray distraction. My rlost frequent
promenade was along the beach. having
on my right the bleak and rocky cliffs
and Gu my left the uncovered stretches
of sand-an immense desert OF sand left
bare by tho outgoing tide. Two or three
times l had exchanged civilities with
some custom house officer going his
rounds, his gun slung over his shoulder.
l was 50 regular and peaceful a prone-
nader that the sea swallows were no
longer afraid of me and hoped in front
of me, leaving the print Of their star
shaped feet i'll the wet sand. l walked
six or eight kilometers a day and re-
turned home with my pockets filled with
those dainty shells which arc found by
burying the hand deep down in the
damp pebbles.
This was my favorite excursion.
However, On the days when a strong
breeze was blowing and the tide was
very high l abandoned the seashore, and
climbing the village street I strolled
along the sandy moor, or else I settled
myself with a book on Il bench in a cor
ner OF tho cemetery, which was shelter
ed by the church tower from the west
end.
It was a lovely spot, conducive to sad
ness and revery. The church tower
stood out against the autumn skv. over
which dark clouds were scurrying.
Grows, whose nests were in the steeple,
flew out with their hoarse cawing. and
the shadow OF their large wings glided
over the scattered tombstones, almost
hidden in the grass.
In the evening more than at any 9th
er time, the last rays of the setting sun
bathing he sea as though with blood,
the ragged branches of the skeleton of
all old apple tree silhouetted against the
crimson sky and the deep intense still
ness OF the wild home of the dead flood
ed my soul with melancholy.
1t was on such an evening as l have
just described that, wandering among
the tombs, many of which bore under
the sailors name this mournful legend,
Died at sea-" I read ON a new cross
the following words, which astonished
and puzzled me: Here reposes Mona
LIE Magnet. Died at sea Oct. 26, 1878,
ut the age Of 49,"
Died at sea! A young girl! Women
hardly ever go out in the fishing boats.
How did this happen?
well. monsieur" said a gruff voice
behind me suddenly, you are looking
at poor Nona's tomb?"
turned around and recognized an old
sailor. with a wooden leg, whose good
graces l had acquired by the aid of a
few glasses of brandy, which I had Civ
en- him in the taproom at the inn.
Yes" I replied. but 1 thought
that you fishermen never permitted
women to 60 out with you. 1 have even
been told that they bring you misfor-
tune"
and that is the truth responded
the good man. Besides, Mona never !
went into q boat. Would you like to
know how the poor little one died:
Well, I will tell you.
First Of all, I must tell you that
Pierre, her father, was a topman, like
myself, and an old comrade. At Bour-
get, when Admiral La Ronciere raised
his golden helmet on the point of his
saber, and we flung ourselves, Ratchet /
In hand, on the embattled houses, we
marched elbow to elbow, Pierre and l.
and it was he who received me in his
arms when those cursed Prussians put a
ball in my thigh. That same evening in
the ambulance at the fort Pierre held
my hand to give me courage while the
surgeon amputated my limb, and he
was there at my bedside when the ad-
miral brought me my medal. But those
rascally Prussians got the best of us,
we were sent home. I, with my
wooden leg, wal practically helpless.
But Pierre, who was uninjured, hired
on board a fishing smack. Very o
his wife died from an inter
mittent fever, leaving him the care of
Mona, who was going on 10 years
IF age.
Naturally while the widower was ct