Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-01-10

We are not very rich, but''-here his
voice iowered-"I can give a fortune TO
the person.I love-
Now. Pierron. how would Won do
thatE said Maria, raising her eyes.
We'll. l have an uncle who was ns
poor as we are once. lie has bought a
house now every year for 20 years
and nobody has ever been sick In his
family. l know n servant OF ours who
never Inherited anything and saved
zo'ooo francs In few years. and his
WIFE has TIE finest children In the
country"
What do you mean. PierronT'
"Wel. my uncle and this man OF
ours carry the sting OF a snake. and I.
brings them good luck"
That brings good luck-the sting OF
n snaKeT'
Yes: the sting OF a certain kind
which know about"
why don't you carry oneT'
Because TO have good luck one must
carry II without knowing it-some one
else must put II In ones clothes. So
my aunt hid the sting OF snake In my
uncle's belt. and the wife OF our serv-
ant slipped one OF them into her hus-
bands shirt At our house on Sundavs
when the men play tenpins or bowls
Tor money. their wives put Il sting in
their pockets and pretend not TO he do
Ing anything Mt all. and il their hus-
bands do not see them they always
win"
Maria did not dare TO smile at the lit
tie shepherd. she believed herself I'm
which the old country women had told
her in whispers rs they crossed them
selves
Well then. AIaderoiselle Maria. II
YOU viii think about what have said
this sumner?'
Il VIII think about il. Pierron"
The air was soft the fields were full
Of robins. the apple trees were strew-
ing the fresh youu- grass with flowers.
The sheep. after some aimless maneu-
vering. ranged themselves in column
and went down the road Of the pla-
tanes. Pierron was gone.
For long time Maria stood motion
less under the chestnut trees and saw
the fading figure Of the little shepherd
turn around toward her. For long
time she could hear the blcating Of the
sheep. then she thought she saw the
donkcy's back upon the crcs, of the hill
then she saw Only the dim blue
mountains
And when Picrron returned 10 In
Rihere the next autumn the kindly
glow In Nlaria'S great eycS was there
no longer.
Young girls in the valley. like young
girls in the mountain. without doubt.
sometimes admire 4 tall. strong fellow
who earns POO francs month in n
large city more than n slip Of Il shep-
herd. whose only possessions are the
stings OF Il snake in his belt That ia
why Maria dc In Rihere has promised
her hand during the summer TO a
handsome countryman. the lucky 10
seph de Tauzia. who was the coach
man of Il rich gentleman in Bordeaux
and who promised To take Maria 10 the
city when they were married. Maria
being previously hedecked with rib
bons and jevolry of course.
lierrOn's songs were sad that winter.
But the shepherd was a kindly sort
OF fellow, who never wished any one
H.
mittenS 10 Maria as he had the winter
before and some fine brown stockings
to the farmer and offered his fattest
and curlicst lamb 10 the young girl on
her nineteenth birthday. He greeted
the magnificent Joseph with respect
that elegant cOachman of Bordeaux
when he came 10 pay court TO his in
tended during the carnival. and Maria
never heard an unkind word from the
lips of the shepherd nor saw spark
OF malice in her old lovers eyes
But Pierron had forgotten how TO tell
his entertaining stories of the winter
before. He had forgotten how to en-
Joy the delicious chestnuts perfumed
with fig leaf which Maria offered him
with an indifferent hand as she offered
them To every one else In the house.
The shepherd watched the young girl
from q distance without speaking
word and if Maria surprised him he
lowered his eyes, said good night" to
his host. then went to his bed beside
the sheep in the barn. where he could
hear the gentle breathing of the whole
fock.
One day Maria came out into the
field to speals with Pierron. The spring
sun was warm. The poplar buds were
bursting IN the breeze. All the coun-
try folk were plowing for the sowing
time.
"Pierron. am going to be married in
three weeks. the first Thursday in
May. If you wish 10 do me a pleasure,
you will stay until the wedding and he
one of my hridcSmen."
"Oh. many thanks. MistresS~AIaria."
be stammcred but | think I cannot
stay SO lafe. My sheep VIII feel the
spring coming before your wedding
and when. they wish 10 go | must fol-
low thspi.'
lie DID not go tire neXt week. howcv-
er, 9s hehad told every one he would
Several times heJbacked his clothes and
washed his donkey for the great jour
ney. but he could not seem 10 leave 1t
/ was sheep which fell i'll or u lamb
lost on tie sheathS <which must be
%found before he could return 20 the
tfIO ,N.x