Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1902-09-06
TOLD NEAR
MONT PELEE
[Original.l

A few years ago visited Marti-
nique. Mont Pclee was then consid-
cred an extinct volcano and of no mo-
ment except as an object of interest
for strangers to climb It's sides and
look into Its crater. st. Pierre was
sleepy town, whose inhabitants, ener-
waited by the climate, spent IrSpst Of the
time chatting about Ia belle France
and wishing for the means with which
to visit Paris. l went into little res
taurant one evening to get n dinner
and, having dined. lighted cigar and
sat smoking till I should finish the bot
tie of light wine before me. man
sat Mt table near by eying my bottle
lOngingly. l had drunk all Of 1t l
wanted and was glad Of an oppOrruni-
ty to favor some one with the remain
der. I invited the man to my table
and babe him help himself. lie did so
and while slipping the wine told me In
broken English the following story:
"Thecs house Away solemn house to
me- Why? l come here often some
time ago. know the people what live
here before thees house was restau-
rant. Ferry fine house then. NJ. Bour.
dolon dine here with his daughter.
Mile. Bourdolon. He rich man-not
richest man here, but rich. His daugh-
ter fine girl. She step ferry light, like
spirited horse. Msieur Bourdolon
want Lucille to marry rich man like
himself. Lucille want marry ferry
fine poor man. Thees max big fight
between father and daughter. NJ. Bour-
dolon tell Jean lie Fevre. the fine poor
young man. that If he come near thees
house he shoot his head off.
"One day rich sugar man come to
NJ. Bourdolon and say, M. Bourdolon.
| like to marry your daughter N.
Bourdolon say, M. Vignon, how much
you WORTH Five hundred thousand
francs That ferry much money in
them days; NJ. BourdOlon himself not
worth that much. So he say: M. VI
gnon, you so ask my daughter. You be
careful. Lucille ferry good girl. but
ferry spirited girl. She want lots Of
coaxing.'
I'M. Vignon dress himself ferry fine.
with boutonniere and wax mus
tache, and put on lots perfume 80 he
smell like flower garden. Then he
come to thees house and come in
thees room. which was parlor. Up
stairs Papa Bourdolon argufy with his
daughter to persuade her to go down
and leestin to NJ. Vignon. Lucille fer
ry quiet; don't answer noting. Her
pa say: Good girl, nice girl. You do
what your papa wish Lucille go
downstairs, come into thees parlor and
shut the door.
an. Bourdolon don't stay long here.
and mex day he go see Papa Bour-
dolon and say, 'M'sieur, l t'ink not
get married just now What you
meanY say Papa Bourdolon, ferry
hot. 4 t'ink I like to live bachelor
some time longer You t'ink my
daughter not max you happy? My
daughter ferry good girl. ferry obedi-
ent girl. She go down last night to
accept your offer like little lamb
Your daughter, m'sieur. ferry fine
girl. l not speak disrespectful Of your
daughter, but l t'ink l don't want
marry Just now If you insult my
daughter, you insult me. We so out
tomorrow morning on the side Of Mont
Pelec with rapiers, and you gif me
satisfaction 'M'sieur. no insult you
or your daughter. Mademosclle too
good for man like me. MademOiselle
should marry great warrior. great gen.
| eral She might fine lady. When she
come in parlor last night, say:
"Mademoisclle, by permission Of your
| father | come to express for you
| adorable sentiments. l hat long ad-
mired you. mademoiselle, you SO beau
| tiful. so gentle, so good. l would like
| tax you on my bosom like little pet
lamb. offer you my heart, my hand
and my poor fortune, all of which are
not good enough for SO divine l got
no further. Your daughter fine girl.
beautiful girl, brave girl. She deserve
general for n husband. What you
tlnk she do? She not speek; she not
look at me. Her eyes all time on the
floor. Sudden she TAX long knife from
the folds of her dress and throw it at
me so hard that when l dodge so 1t
can't stab me 1t strike on window
casing and stand there. buried an inch
In the wood. BY Gar. she might fine
girl. Mile. BOurdOlOn!
"If you no t'ink tell truth. II you
no t'ink thces ferry fine young lady do
what say. look up there pointing to
the window casIng). and you see place
where the knife stuck In the wood"
raised my eyes. and there. sure
enough. was Il deep cut.
mex day NJ. BourdOlon shut up
mademoiscllc In thees house.
II not come here till the great earth
quake, ten years ago. Everybody
frightened to death. run by here,
and Mile Bourdolon stick her head
out Of window and call to me to go get
priest Somebody dieT l ask. Go get
priest run and meet priest. 'Fa-
thcr.' | say. come quick to give abso-
luton I bring priest in here in thees
ferry room. NJ. BourdOlon not here.
He gone to look after his property.
Nobody here but Mile. Lucille; no. one
more-.Ican lie Fevre. That priest had
to marry them two. Just when he fin
fish there was terrible rumble of the
earthquake. and mademOiselle say,
That the kind OF salute for BRIDE
Then she show Jean the cut and laugh
and say: / pretend to be crazy mad.
l cnuId have hit him II | had chosen,