Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-24
THE STONE CUTTER,

In the little village OF bOurBOyne.
where ! was born, my father was a
stonecutter, He was a simple man.
honest plain and silent, having in him
self much Of the spirit Of the stone
sculptors' OF former times. Like them,
he built little country churches before
which travellers OF today stop. aston
ished and thoughtful asking what OBJ
scure architect has so beautifully car
r.ed out the style OF the gothic ages.
In spite Of his ability my father be-
came neither rich nor vain. remaining
pQc. and happy and never calling him
self anything but a simple stonecutter
/ was brought up TO the sound Of the
song and the hammers which marked
its rhythm as the st0necuttcrs worked
and sung, from morning 20 night. From
the time that ! was old enough 10 walk
! passed my time ms the stoneyard.
seated on stone. waiting with admira-
ton and delight the movements OF the
men and listening 10 the different
sounds produced by the varying quality
Of the stones under the mgllet and
chsel. The men filled me with de.
lighted enthusiasm: they were SO mus
cular so brown so free In their natural
grace as they worked bareheaded under
the suns rays.
There was one who impressed me
more than any Of the others, and whose
memory Is vivid in my mind to this
day lie was a fine figure Of a man.
tall, strong healthy, and his face
seemed 20 have absorbed some express
sion from his profession, II was so
stern, calm and Interchangeable. HIS
name ! think was Lacraze, but he was
called silence by the others on ac-
count OF his rarity Of speech. lie was
liked by everyone. however, for In his /
silence there was nothing churllsh. but |
simply the revelation OF quiet nature. |
silence took his meals with the |
other workmen at a little boarding /
house In the village. The house was /
an example Of the old-fashioned coun- |
try inn, and through It's wide halls and 4
big rooms there now resounded the 1
laughter Of a pretty girl
Why Silence should have fallen In
love with lS-year-old Mariette when he
must have been much older than she
and more subdued and reticent. II Is
hard 10 say. / was at the age when
one Is not particularly Interested in
these things The fact remains that
this seemingly cold, hard man per-
formed for the girl a thousand litte
acts OF tender thoughtfulness ana
color at a smile or word from
her ! remember that he went every
evening when work was over TO nick a
bouquet that she might have in nor
window bunch Of her favorite feld
towers.
Soon the condition OF his heart was
secret 10 no one. his companions bav.
ng surprised many a look OF admira.
ion thrown 10 Mariette. ana then
mere commenced a series OF mockerlas
ind rough, good-natured TESTS. OF which
le was the victim But he. wrapped
n his silence and his dream. worked
away and paid no attention 10 What
vent on around them. They used m
mink that he did not even hear them
ak, but the day came when the"
ound out their mistake.
Mariette herself seemed IN bayo
ound pleasure in tanning this savage
md finally showed quite openly bv bor
miles and glances, that she Wished -
ncourage her lover still further 7,
vas understood that they were IN he
married. though / think nothing ba6
zen arranged definitely between tb f',,'
ApouI tnls time a new workrnan
anne to the yard, an Italian na,na1
tanco, who became from tho ronor,
y MS arrival a personal enemy m Sne
nee IL is no wonder that fbls 1,n.
ne case as Rance was concejted t "aS
ma runner after girls, rumor even ye
Eating That he was a breaker of bser,a'
ie looked the part, too with ble Nal ~
yes curry hair and handsome face N
lie took his meals with Inc otho.o =
nd II was plainly seen that Nsria at,s
'as not insensible to the Ianruish,,n'se
'oks ne bestowed upon her. AN '' Luz
,nder little attentions to Silence cos ne
$50 ana she became changed q, 80
very one noticed II. Her laugh c ,,l'' r.
,ss OFTEN and rad no longer a s 1o,,le Y
lneous ring. She was duiet ana 5'o on q
Mt as her old lover, to whom sb NV , sI, y
o attention. cue PAID :,
one day, a day shall never ,o-o., Il
Dr. l was there sitting on NV 'e s,ssI r,
nd saw, It al, Rance came in,o S'V yn
ara with a flower on his coat '0 'he +,
Where did you get the aov,.,, l.
sked some one. '''"elF'
Mariette gave Il 10 me for a l,.., =
piled Rance In bis careless way y'''' y