The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-08-10

cheeks, and when the salesman looked
at her he seemed equally disturbed. at
last in rather plaintive voice the man
asked:
$50 you still live here, Noeline p
ssOh, heavensP' replied the mistress
Of the mill, her heart throbbing vio-
lently. els it possible that it is you,
Jouanin
And for moment they remained 81
lent.
The water of the brook fell in re-
sounding drops on the iron wheel Of the
mill, as it had done long ago, when the
young shopkeeper courted the girl he
loved And suddenly behind the Chin
ney piece was heard the clear chirp Of
q cricket
Noeline felt slight pricking in her
ewes, which seemed like the birth Of a
tear.
Jouanin told her of his life. He had
succeeded well at Orthez. He had mar
lried there, he had had children, he had
a shop there, and at the present day he
and his family were happy. Only he
had felt desire to see his old home
IOuC0 AOIO dAoCA 90 O0A0 Va ~NoSA'S0S
and from economical reasons he had
made the journey as peddler, selling
thread, needles and other cheap wares.
ooh, was quite sure you would sue
coed, Jouaninl' said Noeline signing.
The cricket was still chirping behind
1.-The fireplace. The mistress of the mill
seemed overcome by a growing emotion.
"Well, them stammered Jouanin,
twill you tell me, Noeline, why you
would not marry me % years agoa"
She could not answer at first. She
pointed to the chimney with shame
faced gesture, feeling tempted to hide
her face in her apron, as she had been
won't to do in her youth.
''It was because of the cricket" she
confessed.
"The cricket?'
eyes; was fooll I thought you
would bring me bad luck. The cricket
stopped chirping whenever you came
to see me-.
cit stopped chirping2 And why3"
NCeline shrugged her thin shoulders
| to indicate that she did not know. And
they both remained thoughtful. Their
eyes did not dare meet in the light of
- the smoking rosln.
Before long, however, Larrieussec,
the farmer, whom Noeline had been ex-
} pecting, made his appearance.
, "Good EVENING" I salute your he
; said after the manner of the peasants
who give as many greetings as there are
} persons in the company.
And when he had recognized the
: young shopkeeper of old he cried:
"What, Jouanin, you here? What
the deuce did you come for?''
II came to talk over old times. That
does one good at our age"
/ eyes, indeed" replied Larrieussec.
''The good old times! By the way, did
not you and Noeline think of getting
: married in those days2'
, "You are right" remarked the mis-
} tress of the mill.
"And do you know what prevented
?" asked the peddler. "a cricket"
| "Pshaw! A cricket" exclaimed Lar
rieussec "But, let me think I remem-
Der now He burst out laughing.
"Oh, that was good joke !" he cried.
, "a good joke indeedI'
Then he went on seriously:
bah! You are happy, are you not,
both of your We are all happy here
p So there will be no harm in confessing
the little tricks of our youth. All, that
t was a capital onel Listen, Jouanin
We are as good friends as ever, are we
9 cause watched you and scratched the
r outside Of the chimney there toward
o our field every time you came to court
Noeline. You see, you were not the only
t fellow who was in love with her, and
know some one who was horribly jeal
e GUS of you!'
i Then, seeing that this revelation haG
f chilling effect on his auditors anG
Q that Noeline's eyes rested on him sadly
a he said very generously:
f "But that isn't all. l came to tel
e you that l accept your price, 10 francs
sous bag Will that do, Noeline ?"
Q And Noeline answered in low tone
"It will do, Larrieussec
e Upon this the farmer bought some
j spools of thread for his wife of the mer
T. chant of Orthez and paid for them al
once without haggllng
j.. "Adieu / salute you he said as ht
: left.
e The two old lovers remained alone.
d They did not say much. Jouani1
9 slowly rearranged his wares Noelin,
watched him while unconsciously turn
: ing and twisting the old silver cross
which still hung at her throat, between
g her poor misshapen and bony fingers
b For moment, quite weak and despair
t ing, she felt tempted to imprint kis
: upon Jouanin's grizzled hair, once 81
r fine and so fair. but she restrained her
t self. Her lips were too old to bestow
caress upon a man.
i "Well, then, good night, Noelinep
said the peddler, lifting his box to hi
d shoulders.
f "Good night, Jouaninl'
= They shook hands in some embarrass
: ment and then separated.
t He followed the moonlit path throu Il
d the grove She, standing at the door O
! the mill, looked after him, while be
f hind the chimney piece the cricke
chirped calmly, clearly, indefatigably
9 as if it would have told Noeline Of al
. the happiness which might have beef
d hers From the French For Short Sto
t ries.
~ "A Trick of the Camera.
i One of the many camera fiends o
this city has recently been showing hi