Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-03-29
A Maid From MOntreuil
By Fitzgerald Molloy.

- france.
a town built upon hill and sur
rounded by Notifications, that 1 saw
1or the first and last time her whom
shall never forget.
No sound disturbed the apple
scented air of this summer morning.
no cloud crossed the blue above: the
sun fell full and warm on the white
washed, shattered Widowed house at
one side of the empty square, leaving
IN welcome shadow the medieval
church, with it's gray porch and
weather-beaten towers, through
whose apertures the bells are seen.
had been looking at the MANNED,
worn and weary-looking figure of a
SAINT on whose loneliness a swallow
had taken pity and built himself a
nest. in the niche which sheltered
both, when turning leisurely round /
caught sight of figure just entering
the square-the spectre-lilze figure of
a tall. thin, elderly woman, slightly
stopped. wearing a white muslin dress
suited to her girIhood, a white veil
upon her gray hair, a bouquet of flow
ers in her gloved hands.
Quite alone she almost darted
across the open sunny space, her
tread 1.-THE and graceful, with some
thing of gayety in her movements,
and something of expectation in her
haste Cnheeding me, she passed
close to where 1 stood, when saw her
yellow face without lines or wrinkles,
and with childlike expression. her
fine dark eyes lighted by hope, her
h-5r
with a spray of white flowers, her
rather wide mouth, with its parched-
looking thin lips. open and showing
the loss of several teeth.
The quietude with which she had
waited now became disturbed She
lifted her head, made an impatient
gesture with her shoulders and half
arose. but as she did a noise was heard
in the vestry. a latch was raised, a
door opened and an able, a worn. sad
looking old man with wrinllled face
and thin gray hair, advanced and
stood before her. He had neither sur,
plice nor stole over his black, thread
bare cassock- She at once rose up
and threw back her veil.
Il ana first to arrive. my father" she
said, in a hurried, anxious voice, low
cred almost TO a whisper, -but ne will
be here Prcsently-presently.'
NO; my child, / fear he will not
come here to-day the priest an
swered, soothingly, sadly.
But this is the day we fixed on so
long ago, and, oh, how long it has
been coming round. He will certain
ly be here soon
Il think not" replied the able.
But l know he will. He waited for
the day with such hope, and last night
he sat with us. my mother and my
self, until Igte. He brought me these
flowers to wear to-day. and when we
parted he said ii would be for the last
time
1T WIS for the last time, Marie; for
the last time"
She paused and the attitude of her
head showed that she was puzzled by
the words. to which she made no re-
ply
Now go home, my child, the able
said
What can keep him?" she asked,
sob in her throat.
DO you not understand me, Marie?
lie can never come back to you; it is
Gods will
Gods WILL she repeated, in a be-
wildered tone, but he loved me and I
love him: L love him better than all
the world besides
You will meet him again. soon il
may be. but not here. not here" the
able said, his sad voice full of COM
passion
Yes here-here-here" she an
swered. emphatically, hurriedly- He
said last night when next we met it
would be at the altar, and that we
should part no more. l know he
would not leave me, he loves nae too
well: but if he does not come to-day
he will come soon, and / will keep my
love for him warm-warm; deep down
in my heart"
Her voice broke in a sob, and she
hung her head. Age had been power
less to chill her faithful heart
Pray to God, my child, and He viii
comfort you," said the abbe's soothing
voice.
Our marriage-it was to take place
on Friday. and this is Friday, my
father. What keeps him from me?''
she asked. her thin voice full of tears.
full of anxiety. IF not to-day, surely
he will come next Friday?'
You must go home now. Marie;
YOU must go home" the able said,
firmly.
1T is empty" she answered, dis
consoIately.
And may God grant you peace" he
said, making the sign of the cross
above her.
As / fingered there I saw the able |
leave the church, whereupon our eyes |
meeting. he saluted, and after some |
exchange of civilities ] asked about |
the unhappy woman I had just seen
in bridal array.
"Ah. poor Marie Beaucost," he said, |
svmpathetically. Il have known her |
since she was a child. l was cure !
here then; that is more than 40 years
ago"
But has she always been insane?"
NO; it was a shock and disappoint-
ment which caused her to lose her rea-
son. She was a handsome girl and had /
MANY admirers, one of whom, young
man named Bessen, she greatly IA
vored, so that he looked upon her as his
future wife. She, poor child, had no
intention of giving him such serious
hopes; yet she might have married