Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-26
! CIR Feast :
: Ot Gpprian. !
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YES. WhenY'
"When you stop drinking" and Mictte
returned to her work.
ooh, that! You always say the same
thing"
because there is always the same
thing to say"
"Miette, assure you all last week
drank nothing but water"
"But you made up for it on Sunday"
"Who told you that"
"What is the difference as long as l
know"
"Well, | remember that did drink a
little, but that is your fault, too-you
worry me So"
"Howg
"Marry me, and you'll see that l stop"
81 prefer to marry you after you have
stopped"
"You will discover some day that you
have been unjust to me-"
1--WE shall see on st. Cyprian's day"
This was day celebrated by the coun-
try people in honor of their patron saint.
LET us see il on the day of the fete
you can go all day without drinking"
"And if do will you marry meE'
perhaps"
"Wel goodby," said he, a little en-
couraged, going toward the door.
LET me advise you not to be so friend
~ with Cassoulet," said Miettc.
"Why. he is my very best friend re-
piled Marcel as he left, whstling ostcnta-
tiously, but carrying a heavy heart.
The poor boy loved Miette more than
all the world and would have sacrificed
his life for her gladly, but some way he
had not succeeded in giving up wine in
spite of his many good resolutions 1t
was so strange that it was so easy to
take just one glass, that one followed an
other more readily still
As he walked along the road he thought
of his fine acres Of land, Of his pretty
home, where he had lived alone since the
death of his parents, and reflected how
little he cared to work there for himself
alone The thought of Miette there keep
ing the house for him made him renew
his vow to win her by not touching an
other drop of wine.
These vows he would undoubtedly have
! kept had it not been for his friend Cas-
| soulet, who was anxious to supplant him
| in the affections OF Mette Seeing him
! determined not to drink, Cassouet would
begin to sing the praises Of Miette and
! then impress upon Marcel that she cared
more for the young men Of the town than
| for a simple farmer like himself and that
| she meant some day to throw him over
| and marry one Of them. Finally Mar
cells jealousy would become aroused, and
he would drink to quench its fire. OF
| this Miette was always certain to hear,
| for Cassoulet looked out for that.
She was very gay and pretty on the
day of the fete as she stepped from the
carriage, with her parents, on the bank
of the Rhone opposite the place where
the celebration was to take place. Mar
Gel was waiting there for her. accompa-
MED by his inscparablc friend, Cassou-
let. They crossed the river in boat
and found upon reaching the other side
that the great crowd Of people assembled
for miles around were already eating
luncheon under the shade of the biz
trees.
AS soon as lunch was over the dancing
began. \ large platform had been built
and covered with an awning, and at one
end sat a provincial orchestra, composed
of two violins, a flute and Il harp.
Marcel danced many times with Mi
ette who smiled sweetly upon him. IL,
was radiant with joy. forgetting the sus
picions aroused by CaSsoulct, and seem
ed nearer than ever before to the realiza
ton of his desire. At luncheon he hH,
refused anything to drink, and now h'
promised to do so not only all day, bu
all his life. He was rewarded by a lool
of tenderness that made his happines
still deeper.
Those who were not dancing sat at lit
tie tables under the trees, and, when no
with Miette, Marcel was here with tn
inevitable Cassoulet, who did not fail T.
call his attention to the young men from
the town who talked and danced will
Miette.
"See," he said, "how gracious and ami
mated she is when she talks and hoy
she smiles at them"
1t did not take long to light the fires o
jealousy in the lover, who thought h
could see that her smiles were not 70
! him alone. No; she was a cOquette; sh
did not love him; she never had love
him. He was all for going to her at ono
and reproachng her publicly, but hi
. friend dissuaded him, and they retire
( instead to a neighboring inn, where Cas-
soulet offered him the consolation of
. bottle of wine.
! Here they remained until Marcel be
came decidedly muddled, and it was tim
to return to the others, who were mai
l ing preparations to go home. He an
Miette, with several others, crossed tn
river, very wide and deep at this poin
h in the same boat, and Miette perceived
q with a pain in her heart, her lovers COZ
. dition. She was silent and sad. Whe
!, the boat reached the middle of tn
stream, Miette dropped her handkerchie
/ into the water. Reaching quickly an
d instinctively for it, she lost her balanC
h and the next instant had disappeared
?. the waves.
r A cry of horror arose from the boa
n but before all had realized what ha
\ happened Marcel, his faculties complet
~ restored by the shock, had stripped o
his coat and leaped into the water. AT
e err what seemed an eternity he reappea
Is ed with the girl in his arms. She wi
e put into the boat and before they reache
lie the opposite side had recovered col
le seriousness.
"A Marcel drove home and remained unit
she was able to see him, later in Il
evening. Then, in mutual explanation
both learned of Cassoulet's treachery.
" What took place between these tv
,e men was never known. Cassoulet lie
T. the vicinity the next day and was new
o. heard of again, and several weeks lat
IN Marcel and Miette were married.
w On the wedding day Marcel repeat,
10 his VOW never to drink again, and tn
,e time he kept it.-From the French.
10 Had Her Doubts.
81 don't believe professors know
Sc ,,orr, ,,,,,oh cold Mania