Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28
LILY OF THE VALLEY.

1t was May, the season Of the lily OF
the valley. Never can see them but they |
bring to mind the woods of Auberive.
where they abound and Auberive itself, |
a little mountain village where I lived
two years mt the period when enthusiast
| tic dreams of youth were seething In my
brain.
rho village nestled in the heart Of the
forest on rocky cminence ut the foot
| Of which wound the beautiful Aubettc.
| One Of the houses Or the road from
| Auberiva. half hidden under u grove OF
| fruit trees was at that time inhabited
| by an old couple named Malapert and
their grand daughter Michelire. Thoy
| had passed three score years ana the
| grand daughter was about twenty. An
| orphan. she had bcen brought up ny hcr
grand parents. formerly wood merchants.
| tut now retired from business with
small fortune. Mcheline cared for the
old people. doing the Homework. yet
| finding time to roam through the Forest
FOR which she cvinccd an especial fond
moss. IN her rambles she made the ac-
u,,aintancc of many charcoal burners and
wood cutters and continually discovered
new beauties In nature. On returning
home she brought harvest each time.
| stra wbcrrcs IN June. rasrbcrries ana
| cornell berries in September and during
| the winter months branches of holly ana
| sprays Of mistlctoc.
She was INDEPENDENT. of Il lively disposi-
| ton. vehement and possessed an untutor-
| ed grace which rendered her very attrac-
| tive. In addition she vas a pretty girl,
| rlinnt, we'll formed with luxuriant light
| hair. luminous gray eyes and very
white complexion. This milky whitcness
of akin com bincd with her extreme fond
| noss tor the lilies of the valley. OF which
she gathered great armfuls. had won TOR
her the namc "MuEuctte." meaning Lilly
90 the Valley" and the name had chung to
her.
IN to her twentieth year housekeeping
cares and t;c Plea s,ircs derived from these
innocent rankings through the forest
| Wcro sufficient tn occupy her mind ana
drive away the feeling Of solitude. The
day finally cane when her life appeared
h.r mind 1t was one SPRING tide when
| cnptv to her and new thoughts crept Into
the entire forest seemed stirred with the
breath of love The thickets filed with
nests tie .;igls of tho nightingale and
tho wood dove made the Young girl
prcy to al agitation never before ex-
pcrienccd In The evenings she saw the
PEASANTS daughters walking WITH inc
young men. Occasionally she attended q
wedding and. involunirily. wondered II
nor turn would ever come. She did not
conceal tron, herself however, that IN Ter
position she could not think CT marrying
| a peisant and in this lonely village of
Auberive opportunities we're scarce; the
notary was married tho taN collector was
oil Hnd ugly. Ono mist search IL n
roighbr village or in the city. The
gra ndparcnts did not appear TO realize
that Micholne had attained a marriage
able age. they considered her child:
she took care of them, chcered them MP.
II gave them pleasure to have her With
them. nd. conts nted With her society,
they concluded realistically. that she
must neccss lrily ho satisfied with theirs.
One May morning Muguctte was saunt-
ering aorg ;hc ighway ,eading from
Nivcy At Il cross rotd not FAR from
wood clt caring she paused "A moment be-
fore :; charcoal burners hut where four
tangled haired. black eyed children were
eating soup from Il porrinGer. While she
was standing thus the sound Of n foot
step caused her to turn around and she
saw . forester Of about thirty years. with
Il manly form and black beard gazing
} At her with admiration. 1t was Monsieur
N,increl. the forest ranger living at
N:voN. He was returning from visit To
a neiphboring town and having business
Mt Auherive he asked permission of the
: Young girl to accompany her to the vii
lngc. On the way they chatted freely and
Mugucttc discovered that lie not only
presented n good appearance but was a
thoughtful fellow. fran,' and syfnpathetic
. Mumerei in his turn. was surprised Il
, i'nl in this young girl. brought up IN a
village such unconscious grace ana keen
love Of nature. When they parted com
PAM at the edge of the fort.t they were
already good friends and Aere sorry II
, separate 50 soon.
do not know how il 'lanced hat they
met again. two days later. on the same
{ road. and gradually fell into the habit Of
! passing a few hours each week together
1t often happens that when young mar
Of thirty and a girl OF twenty are much
in each others society that Cupid soor
e makes himself one of the party. At The
I end of Il month both we've in love They
= dill not con 'ess it to each other but theil
= eyes already betrayed the fact and thu
. nEtta ted pausCS which sometimes occurred
I were yet more eloquent proof.
, Munerel spoke first II" was honest ana
= did not wish to compromise Michcline'
= reputation Icy his attentions TO her. One
!, JUL evening IS they we're returning nome
r he whispered. Madenioiselle Muguefte
}, have something to tell you" She trem
bled and her gray eyes auxiously Gics
I toned his black ones.
n 81 think" l." continued. that I am e
}. he given another charge and shall leave
Nivoy next MONTH.
= He saw tho girls lips culver ana me-
eyes fll 18th tears.
. "Nu-uettc he added in chokcd voice
, "l'Stcn. I'm going to ask you a question
: Will you marry me-.
SIZE quickly put both hands in his 'Oh.
e she stamrlered. ~ am proud and hapr,
. to bn chosen ny you. but my Srandrarct'!
must hc consulted"
) "Ccrtainly. stay at home tomorrow ant
u will call on them
u Tho following day Muncrel went to th
a it'll, house and frankly confessed his low
for Michclne. If the sky had fallen TN
y old couple would not have been NOR
e ps:cdnded
). 'Scparate us from Michelinc," stain
- m"rod the old nan.
- at is impossible. She is too young.
L. walled the grandmother. 'if you coul'
II - cannot. wish to be married befor
. leave this part Of the country ami re-
= lirvr that your grand daughter agree
y with me-
]. "Mcheline loves MS too much II aban
2 don rs" declared Madame Malapert.
-. "Ynur proposal Is an honor to us. Mon
sieur hut 1t IS untimely."
1t 'I'ossibv" vertured Munerel, cit wou
n bo advisable TO hear your grand daueh'c
cXnrcss her opinion
- she has too much love and r"Snco
i for US To De dscbe,iient. However wi
It inform her Ct your offer and ehr wi
r. nnswor you herself. Good-day. monsieur.
When the Young man had taken leave
. Michol.uc entered her grandparents pres
J. enc" with wildly beating heart. She foun
o her urandiathtr a prey to a fever-h ucl
tation ana ho: grandmother wiphE he
10 eyes.
- Are voiI poi; q to leave us for Il strAn
1t ger" cried the old man.
n II W. i)i hc very urg'lt"'"l 'or No