The Topeka state journal., 1898-08-01
OVER THE FALLS.

| troubled only by the songs Of the shepherd
| and the church bell of Russey, a village
built z, 500 feet above the level Of the river.
A dreadful noise, which mingles itself
| with the hoarse voice of the wind passing
| through the forests, is heard miles around
| This noise is made by the Doubs falling
| from an altitude of 90 feet down into a
bOttOmless abyss Every year, the Goth of
/ June, the young people of the surrounding
| villages, dressed in their best clothes, de-
scend in the valley, embark in a feet of
newly painted and tastefully decorated
| boats and cOnf1de themselves to the cur
rent of the river, but as soon as the terri
| bic cataract is signaled and the sound
| coming from the gulf is heard a gun is
| fired and the boats scud away from the
| abyss and death.
In the village of Les Brenets Jeannette
AIoriot lived with her father and mother.
She was as handsome as the landscape of
her native place and pure as the air that
she breathed- She had q legion Of lovers,
but although Jeannette was Is years of
age she had refused all the offers Of mar
| riage from her numerous admirers.
Among the discarded was a watchmak-
er, whose accented features and deep look
indicated violent passions. His rejection
did not seem to affect him very much, as,
after two days given to his thoughts, he
resumed his occupation and acted as If he
had forgotten Jeannette entirely.
At the same time a recently appoin ted
brigadier of douanes (sergeanu of custom
house sOldiers) came to live in the village
where Jeanette and her family resided.
The splendor of the uniform and the per-
sonal appearance of its wearer did won
ders in the young girls heart, and as her
handsome face and good reputation did
the same with the brigadier they soon IN
derstOod each other, and the result of such
an understanding was that the 26th of
June Mile. Jeannette Moriot was to be-
come Nine. Pierre Paul Russelot.
This day was chosen because they want
ed to add the pleasures of the feast of St.
John to those Of their wedding day, in or
der to associate with their happiness the
young people of the neighboring villages.
More than any other the matchmaker
appeared to be pleased at the idea of the
promised good time and as he had been
invited privately, in order to show his
gratitude for the kind invitation extended
to him and also to fulfill a duty of polite
ness he called on the brigadier, Offering
him his services and friendship, which
were accepted with thanks.
The happy day came at last All the
guests were puuotual to the rendezvous,
and the feast opened under the most hope
ful auspices. After the termination of
the civil and religious ceremonies the bride
and bridegroom, followed by a joyful
crowd, descended on the banks of the
Doubs, where a lunch was served, after
The boats, waving the French and Swiss
flags, crossed the water in every direction,
and laughing and singing resOunded ev-
erywhere.
The brigadier and Jeanette, obeying
the secret thoughts of their souls, tried to
keep away from their noisy guests. They
marched along the left bank of the river
hand in hand quite a distance. At the
moment when they believed they were
completely alone voice coming from the
DOubs, singing a song of love, made them
aware that they had a witness to their
bliss.
They approached and saw the watch
maker erecting a tent on his boat made
fast to tree.
.'HeyI my friend, " said the brigadier
''Why are you not joining the others at
the dance and games?"
4 expect my affianced, - answered the
matchmaker, with a strange inhexiOn in
his voice.
Your affanced viii not come, replied
the brigadier, ''as a young girl cannot ab-
sent herself from the feast"
THAT may be true - said the watch
maker. Then I shall go to meet her -
And after moment of silence he con-
tinued:
'Win you become my travelling COM
panions? I offer you place in my boat. -
Russelot and his wife had marched
long way. Jeanette was tired. They ao-
cepted the offer of the matchmaker.
The loving couple entered the boat.
They sat down at the stern and the tent
protected them against the rays OF burn
ing sun and hid from them the sight of
the banks Of the river. The matchmaker
took the oars. With a strong pull he
brought the boat in the middle OF the cur
rent, then he resumed his singing and
seemed to forget his precious freight.
Appreciating his discretion, Jeannette
and her husband thanked him warmly,
and soon they returned to their dreams of
love, and, being entirely absorbed by their
supreme felicity, they saw and hearkened
nothing of the things of the world.
The boat glided gently, the matchmaker
kept on singing, and they, arm in arm,
repeated words of love, expressing their
confidence in a bright future
All of a sudden the boat Obeyed to a
more rapid impulse, and the matchmaker
ceased to sing. He abandoned his hold on
the oars, rose to his full height, and, ad-
dressing the young couple, with terrible
voice exclaimed;
''There is my affianced, my own-the
mournfuI affianced of those who have
nothing to expect on this earth"
And throwing the oars far away from
him, he continued:
1.-The heart loves only once, Jeannette,
and in order to love you again in heaven
consign you to death.
Before RusselOt and Jeannette had time
to realize their situation the boat, attract
ed by the whirIpooIs, disappeared in the
foaming waves of the cataract.
A few days after the occurring of this
tragedy a fisherman found in his net a
wreath Of orange blossoms. 1t was the
wedding wreath of Jeannette. York
News.