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

FACED gesture, feeling tempted 10 moe
her face in her apron. as she had beer
wont to do in her youth
''It was because of the cricket, sht
confessed
''The cricket?''
eyes; I was fool I thought yor
would bring me bad luck The cricket
stopped chirping whenever you came
to see me. -
cit stopped chirping? And why?'
Noeline shrugged her thin shoulders
to indicate that she did not know. Ani
they both remained thoughtful Thei1
eyes did not dare meet in the light ot
the smoking rosin.
Before long, however, Larrieussec,
the farmer, whom Noeline had been ex-
pecting, made his appearance
Good eveningl I salute you'll" 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 here2 What
the deuce did you come for?'
81 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 days?"
"You are right. remarked the mis-
tress Of the mill
'sAnd do you know what prevented
us?" asked the peddler CA cricket!'
''Pshawl A cricket" exclaimed Lar
rieussec "But, let me think! 1 remem-
Der now He burst out laughing.
''Oh, that was good jokel" he cried.
GA good joke indeedl"
Then he went on seriously:
"Bah You are happy, are you not,
both of YOU? We are all happy herel
So there will be no harm in confessing
the little tricks of our youth. All, that
was a capital one Listen, Jouanin:
We are as good friends as ever, are we
not. old boy? Very well. 1t was be-
cause watched you and scratched the
outside of the chimney there toward
our field evexy time you came to court
Noeline. You see, you were not the only
fellow who was in love with her, and I
know some one who was horribly jeal-
Gus of youp'
Then seeing that this revelation had
chilling effect on his auditors and
that Noeline's eyes rested on him sadly,
he said very generously:
''But that isn't all came to tell
you that accept your price, 1o francs
sous bag. Will that do, Noeline?"
And Noeline answered in low tone;
''It will dc, Larrieussec.
Upon this the farmer bought some
spools of thread for his wife Of the mer-
chant of Orthez and paid for them at
once without haggling.
"Adieul / salute you'' he said as he
left.
The two old lovers remained alone.
They did not say much. Jouanin
slowly rearranged his wares. Noeline
watched him while unconsciously turn
LUZ anu uW1olluio tuC Olu DIV C1 S1Ooo,
which still hung at her throat, between
her poor misshapen and bony fingers.
For moment. quite weak and despair
ing, she felt tempted to imprint kiss
upon Jouanin's grizzled hair, once so
fine and so fair. but she restrained her
self. Her lips were too old to bestow a
caress upon man.
"Well then, good night, Noeline"
said the peddler. lifting his box to his
shoulders.
"Good night. Jouanin'
They shook hands in some embarrass
ment and then separated.
He followed the moonlit path through
the grove. She, standing at the door of
the mill, looked after him, while be-
hind the chimney piece the cricket
chirped calmly, clearly, indefatigably,
as if it would have told Noeline Of ali
the happiness which might have been
hers.-From the French For Short Sto-
ries.