The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-17
Our Daily $bcrl Story

Tt was there I had been used to see- ing her. bent all the day long over the water, and while she washed the clothes led my fiocks to the pastures. Well, the whole countryside was gos- siping now how she had taken the to marry her, they said, and take her away at once. All envied her. By the gods. was not her father giving one hundred sheep with her and get ting one thousand in return. And so Rousse's whole bearing now was one of pride. I approached her. When saw her so plump and fresh, with her pretty cheeks and almond-shaped eyes, the earth trembled under my feet. E-I, Roisse? I cried softly. very softly But she did not hear me. %
 The river murmured about her feet Some linen were spread in the low bushes and ping laurels. Not another living thing was about Only the tur- tle-doves that came down to sip the water.
 T placed myself before her. Good day quoth I, loudly. She lifted her eyes, and her face flushed scarlet. I have nothing to do with you and your greetingsr she answered. and low cred her face. My heart melted in me like lead in the furnace.
 What have done. you should
 
 have I done, my RousseT But not a word, not a sound, in reply.
 "Oh, how little the Rousse standing before me resembled the one enshrined in my heart! All the suffering of that evening, when I had discovered her treachery, came back. It seemd to press on my bosom, and I began to cry like a child before her.
 "'What have I done to you? What have doneY I repeated, my voice but faint in the midst of sobs. ae She burst out into laughter. and straightened herself. She was all laughter, and here eyes were fixed strangely on me. as though she really never had been mine. as though she had never belonged t6 me. as though with these hands, you see. had never pressed her against my heart. As | though I had never heard from her a thousand vows arising from her love for me. a
 "'The man Marry. she cried, does not draw pistol on guest under my fathers roof -~
 "She laughed again. She looked at me with disdain, ay, with these self same eyes that just little time ago had shot caressing glances at me.
 T stood there, frozen into marble Her words had dried up my tears. l bit my lip till the blood came. I A'OWs iOWs SHe dIICT d pause what are you thinking about poor fel- low! Look at your sheep. down there | They are going into the river!
 My desire was to clasp her in my arms. to say 10 her that all and every thing might go to the devil. To say need but thee only, beloved. Oh my life! Dost listen to me. I yearn for thee, beloved
 Yet 1 hung down my head. and ran away. without another word. I was like a man tortured in his sleep by q demon of nightmare. I gathered my flock in their fold. and went off with out knowing where I was going. Hell was boiling in my breast. All its dew ills were within me.
 "Those meeting me on the road sait ! good day to me- and jostled me ir passing, but I did not heed them. | recollect, was so torn with Iury and my eyes started so from thelr sockets that child seeing me took fright, anC began to cry. And then. unlucklly foi the stranger, he came toward me walking with two men.
 T swear, l know not what I was do
 ing. My Gcd judge me- if I did Blu 1t was all at an end with him.
 T threw myself upon him. Befor, he had time to draw his pistol, blew his brains out. He fell, without z moan. his whole length on the ground
 Neither you or I'll have her, I cried as l turned away. The gendarme. started after me; they have not vel got me. and never will. What has be- come of Rousse. I have not seen hel since. heard, she has become ser, want in the town, down there, anC drinks hard. Plague on the women. And the shepherd emptied his glass
 wished the company goodnight, anC forcing the silver butted pistol in his belt disappeared among the trees oi the garden.