The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-19
MONA.

Some years ago 1 passed scveralweeks
at n fishing village Oh tho coast of Brit
tany. What Il hole it was But how
picturesque! A miserable anchorage,
for ten boats mt tho most, single stony
street, which can compare to nothing
better than mountain torrent. On top
of the hill q church, a veritable gothic
toy, which stood i'll the middle of
cemetery from which magnificent
view of the ocean was obtained Find
ing myself i'll the vein for work, lin
gered i'll this out of the way corner until
the end of the month of September,
which by IL rare chance in rainy Finis-
tere, was that year exceptionally mild
and clear.
But one cannot always compose verses
and write, and Il walk was my hygiene
and my distraction. My most frequent
promenade was along the beach, having
OH 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 1 had exchanged civilities with
some custom house officer going his
II.
was so regular and peaceful promo
nader that tho sea swallows were no
longer afraid of me and hoped in front
of me, leaving the print of their star
shaped feet in the wet sand. I walked
six or eight kilometcrs day and re-
turned home with my pockets filled with
those dainty shells which arc found by
burying tho hand deep down in the
damp pebbles.
This was my favorito excursion.
However, on tho days when u strong
breeze was blowing and tho tide was
very high abandoned tho seashore, and
climbing tho village street L strolled
along tho sandy moor, or else I settled
myself with Il book on a bench in cor
ner of tho cemetery, which was shelter
cd by the church tower from tho west
end
TWAS lovely spot, conducive to sad
ness and revery. The church tower
stood out against tho autumn sky. over
which dark clouds were .scurrying
Crows, whose nests were in the stoeple.
flew ont With their hoarse cawing, and
the shadow Of their large wings glided
over the scattered tombstones, almost
hidden III tho grass.
In the evening more than at any 9th
er time, the last rays Of the setting sun
bathing tho sea as though with blood,
the ragged branches of tho skeleton of
an old apple tree silhouetted against tho
crimson sky and tho deep intense, still
ness of the wild homo of tho tlead flood
ed my soul with melancholy.
it 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 ut sea-" read on new cross
tho following words, which astonished
and puzzled me: "Hcrc reposcs 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 III the fishing boats
How did this happen?
We'll. monsieur" said u gruff voice
behind mo suddenly, you are looking
ut poor Mona s Tomb
turned around and recognized an old
sailor, with u wooden leg, whose good
graces had acquired by the aid of a
few glasses of brandy, which 1 had Civ
en- him i'll tho taproom at the inn
Yes" replied but thought
that you fishermen never permitted
women to go out with you. l have even
been told that they bring you misfor-
tune -
And that is tho truth" responded
the good man. Besides, Mona never
went into boat Would you like tc
know how tho poor little one died:
Well, will tell you.
First of all, must tell You thu,
Pierre, her father, was q topman, like
myself, and an old comrade. AT Bour.
get, when Admiral La Ronciere raised
his golden helmet OH the point of his
sabcr, and we flung ourselves, hatchet
i'll hand, on tho embattled houses, VIC
marched elbow to elbow, Pierre and I,
and 1T WAS he who received me in his
arms when those cursed Prussians put a
ball i'll my thigh. That same evening in
tho ambulance mt the fort Pierre held
my hand to give me courage while the
surgeon amputated my limb, and he
was there at my bedside when tho adj
miral brought mo my medal. But those
rascally Prussians got the best of us,
and we were sent home I, with my
wooden leg, was practically helpless.
But Pierre, who was uninjurcd. hired
on board a fishing smack Very soon
aftcrward his wife died from an inter
mittcnt fever, leaving him the care of
little Mona, who was going on 20 years
of age.
Naturally while tho wdower was at