Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-28
JEAN MAQUBNEM,
Short Stories.


perspiradon from their fOreheads be-
tween the quadrilles.
This night they gave themselves up
TO pleasure-those stout fellows OF Ire
port-in the hall at the gates OF the
Iown. They danced in their fishers
dress. they jumped and stamped their
heavy feet upon the floor, their hands
open and squarely placed upon their
FARMERS backs. The women we're
buxom creatures in rude health, whom
The men grasped as they would presently
their oars. The victims screeched, the
horns sounded, skirts Whirled, laughter
rose. and the many. sounds united in
tumult louder than The below OF the rls-
ms sea.
When Jean Maquenem enRred, dress
ed in The simple uniform Of the foot sol
der of the line, a gray-haired waiter
pointed out a corner masked by Pill
lar, and d.sdained, no doubt, as neon
venient. Jean MaQuenem placed nm
self there and looked about him. rive
hard years he had passed far away from
his native village. He was about 20
with blue eyes rather deeply set, strong
" built and of healthy complexion. lbs
smile was frank, and there was nothing
about him to betray the existence OF any
fierce nassions or 10 indicate their aD-
sence. In fact he was an honest lei
low q little romantic and somewhat
timid. IL,
He had sought out a place apart, WISH
ing 10 be recognized unexpectedly anu
reioiced naively in thing OF the en-
braces he was about to give ana receive
AS he sat there memories OF MS you'n
crowded thickly upon MS mlhu'
awakened by the sight of his former
companions in toll. With them, during
Years gone by. he had lowed boats along
the channel. passed the nights upon me
sea cast the nts and worked the snip
and been buffeted by the wind and
waves and rain. He also had danced
with them in this hall, where ne founu
nothing changed but himself.
Rnt more than all else it was Mar
querite Couplet whom n eWould reJoIce
n see again. As far back as he couiu
remember she had been mixed with MS
life. g ~,
Although simply the daughter OF an
inn keeper and a fisherman, from cn-lu-
hood she had loved to adorn herself 10
remain at bone and to play less Dolls
.,torous games than her comrades VINO
ran about the quay with their boy COM
nan;cns. She grew to be one or the
most beautiful girls in the province. NO
other woman had stirred the heart oil
lean Maouenem as she did when she
walked abroad, dressed n her snort reu
skirt. showing her slenG- ankles ana
pretty feet encased in leather SHOES
whose wooden sole3 clicked upon the
aag-srones: her graceful waist mould
cd in tight corsage, her cap win long
violet hands tied under her chin, ana
Great gold ornaments OF Norman pattern
Ianofng from her ears. And he had
nIoased her so much more tnan IAe
others THAI for eighteen months ne hau
remained her lover, and when Jney palI-
ed She vowed 10 avail, mis- return.
soon he saw h-r descending JHe stars
for a au.drille. She was 'a!!eI anu
broWuer. bu. sill very DeaullluI'
red kerchief with blue flowers was ABOUT
her shoulders and tied behind her Wa!S.,
showing corsagc Of ne same shaue Oh
brown as her skirt Her sleeves were
red and the bands CT her cap dark mac.
Vel the riot of colors did not deJract from
The fresh sea-.anued beauty CT her race
where shown TWO rows Of teeth as "AIte
and eyen as those Of young Vol.
The soldier noticed all these details
with keen pleasure. Yet his JOY would
have ise1 greater if Marguerite had no;
been dancing with a big. handsome EEL
NV who treated her familarly-a fisher,
named Pierre Dominique Maiatre, whom
N1aouenem recognized a once by ms
nose like an eagles beak, his broad /
forehead and superb breadth OF snoul-
ders. ~,
Chance brought this group under the
balcony TO inr place where the dreaming
lover sat leaning on his elbow against
the nfllqr. His Impotence overcame his .
,in7i5i-v and in a voice loud enough fCr /
-ba girl 20 hear he called twice: Mar 7.
onsriter Ma irguer..ew She turted her
aves recognized her Cld-tme sweet /
heart. blushed very red under ner com
nlexion like a sunburnt neciarine, ana (
continued the dance without respond 7
ing. She said only some words 10 |
Pierre Dominique. who looked also az |
NaQuenem, nodded his head ana are" !
his partner into the crowd
The welcome was quite natural but /
the soldier remained stupidity gazing I
at them over his empty 81 ses. IN
stinctiyelv. as dogs feel look or KIND .
ness or of anger, he was sensible OIL an .
air of GOODNESS or estTa2g nenr but re-
assured himself with he thought that
rba sunrise and embarrassment or .
n,Co.inp Inn before 300 people had nom
Unused tn girl. He walled undl the enc (
Of fine ouqdrille. counting on approach
ing and speaking TO her, but scarcely I
had fine orchestra scattered abroad me .
las. measures of the music than ne saw
Pierr- Dominique advancing, who gave /
him an arden. embrace and seated him
self by his side. saying:
He, La Grise, how goes it?"
Ii was the nickname OF his boyhood. /
which he had not heard for years. If /
felt a singular, indefnab.e emotion OF /
mingled pleasure and pain. Pierre .
dominique continued, looking his COM
rade in the face WIKI his yellow eyes
tho color of sand-such as sailors have .
sometimes:
you have arrived in time to present [
~ my wedding. Two weeks more and
YOU would have miss d H."
so much the better that l am here
said fhe soldier. And mine will not /
he much later. Whom are you going to
marry?"
you sly dog! You knew as well /
"0n nv word Of honor 7 do not"
AN old sweetheart Of yours, la Petite 7