The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-22
THE CRICKET.

complexion and a BODY ana limbs SO
diminutive that they seemed reduced
copy of those Of an ordinary woman,
but possessed of pair of large black
eyes which sent the blood to the head
of those upon whom she turned them
such was Noeline Fargus, the young
mistress of the mill of Espibos. A
ramshacllle old structure, built a-strad-
die of brook, isolated in a grove Of
alders. leaning to one side, dilapidated,
eaten away by the ivy that covered it,
supported here and there by large
beams that looked like crutches, but en-
dowed with an alert and joyous clatter
which made it resemble talkative peas
ant woman. Such was the home Of
Noeline--the old mill of E,spibos.
The mill, decrepit as it was, had its
faithful customers. It's mistress, though
small. had goodly number of lovers.
Among these two were chiefly to be
distinguished Aristide Larrieussec, a
big, chubby checked fellow, the son of
neighboring farmer, and Jouanin La
Gaze. fair haired youth, who was sery-
ing in the quality of an apprentice at
the largest shop Of the neighboring vii
lage.
Aristide, the farmer. often prowled
around the mill, his pockets full of
fruit for the object Of his affections.
The two ate it together seated in front
of the milestone, while the iron wheel
turned by the water sang its unceasing
rhythmic song, and the white -four fell
silently, covering everything around as
with frosting of sugar.
Jouanin, the shopkeeper, was less for
tunate. He hardly saw Noeline except
on Sundays after mass, when she came
to buy needles and thread at the shop
in the village. At such times Jouanin
was flushed with joy. He displayed be-
fore the kind eyes of the young girl all
the spools Of thread and all the papers
Of needles which the shop contained,
and long time was spent in making
a selection, while occasionally the fin
gers Of the two touched each other in
the midst of the articles they were
handling.
Sometimes, too, Of Sunday evening
Jouanin would obtain a couple of
hours leave of absence and bring his
rod and line to fish in the brook of
Espibos- He hardly ever caught any
thing, Because the brook contained few
er fish than any other in the neighbor-
hood, but Jouanin would choose his po-
sition so that he could watch at the
same time the window of the mill and
the float of his fishing line. He consoled
himself for the immobility of the latter
by locking at the charming things
which wers to be seen at the former.
At nightfall Noeline would generally
come to look for her ducks on the banks
of the brook, and the grasp of the hand
which the lovers exchanged in that
Sabbath twilight was so sweet that
Jouanin dreamed Of it till the follow
ing Thursday.
The mistress of the mill had no hesi-
tation in choosing among her lovers. 1t
was Jouanin whom she preferred to all
the others. She hardly thought Of any
thing but him. Him alone she trusted
entirely, with him alone she felt per-
fectly happy.
I Fair haired Jouanin was therefore
authorized to pay his court, and Noel
ines mother soon invited him to come
and eat chestnuts at the mill during the
long autumn evenings.
The first time, however, that the
young shopkeeper went to visit his
sweetheart a strange thing happened.
The cricket which always chirped be-
hind the kitchen chimney remained 81
lent.
.sTbat is singular, thought Noeline's
mother.
And the young girl on her part turn
ed quite pale.
And when Jouanin came for his Sec
ond visit the same thing happened. AS
soon as the wooer opened the door the
cricket ceased chirping.
Upon this Noeline's mother crossed
herself, and her daughter clasped her
trembling hands beneath her apron.
: Every time that Jouanin entered the
house the hostile cricket refused to let
itself be heard and in listening closely
one could hear peculiar sound, an in
explicable scratching in the chimney.
as if the little creature were revolving.
Noeline cried a good deal. and her
mother was much depressed.
Like the majority of peasant women,
they both attached great Importance to
the chirping Of their cricket. They were
aware that the song of one Of those in
sects in a house insures to its inhabi-
tants happiness and prosperity. The
fact of its remaining silent whenever
Jouanin was present was regarded as a
sure sign that the poor lad would bring
misfortune upon any one who had any
thing to do with him.
And yet Noeline knew very well
that her lover was good, honest and IL
dustrious. She thought she could reac
many promises OF happiness IL his low
Ing gray eyes, but the cricket oid not
agree with her It might have proved
dangerous not to heed It's warning, and
when the timid shopkeeper came, with
bowed head and a lump in his throat,
20 ask Noelines mother for her daush-
,er's hand the old woman looked very
grave and the girl could hardly refrain
from sobbing in her apron. jonanln
was rejected. He was not given the true
reason. 1t would have troubled him to
learn that he brought bad luck to a
house that he entered