St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-06-03
THE BLIND
EYES OF LOVE
| >OR half an hour Jacques Lassale and
b y L. Gus EFT

| EOR half an hour Jacques Lassale ant
| had been sitting On the terrace o.
| the Hotel Beau-Rivage, in Geneva Di
rectly before us, isolated in his radian
whiteness and outlined against the hori
| zon like gigantic iceberg, Mont Blanc
| rose from the midst of the Alpine foot
| hills, proudly brilliant snow noun
tain, glittering like a jewel in the rain
bow lights of the setting sun.
Fascinated by the majesty of the spec.
tacle and the mysterious attraction OF
great distance, l was dreaming fantas.
tic day-dreams, miles away. from this
world when l was suddenly recalled tc
life by the sound of Jacques voice.
Why. that is certainly the De Latre-
villes!" he cried
do you know them?' inquired, alb
sently, in the tone CT man who has just
walked up and who does not want to ad-
nit that he has been asleep.
why, of course, and so do you! You
know Latreville OF our class, who was
so frightfully wounded in the Soudan."
"Oh, yes, remember him, but never
heard that he was married or that he
was wounded"
We'll, both things have happened to
him" And Jacques ran to greet the
newcomers.
Above the terrace, at the door of the
hotel, a carriage laden with trunks had
just stopped A correct looking valet
descended from the box seat, and from
the inside appeared young man, tall
and slender, who bore himself with mill
tary precision, and yet with an air OF
uncertainty
l Immediately recognized him as my
old mess comrade, De LatreviIle but it
seemed to me thai his wavering glance
did not meet mine. He took his serv-
ants arm and walked toward the steps
hesitatingly. holding his hand before
him as if to feel his way.
A second after remarkably beautiful
woman got out of the carriage, jumping
lightly to the ground with the ease Of
bird. She was tall, with fnedly modelled
features, heavy golden hair arranged
in low knot, large, dark eyes and deli
cate crimson lips.
Indifferent to the stir which the ar
rival of such distinguished guests had
aroused, her glance followed her hus-
band as he made his way up the steps,
watching him with the solicitude OF q
mother or an elder sister. When De
Latreville had reached the top she ran
to join him and held out her hand to
Jacques.
You here?' What good fortune!'
Jacques bowed deeply. and, leaving
the terrace, FASTENED to join the group
and welcome my old comrade whom
I had not seen since our schooldays AS
l approached, saw that he glanced in
my direction without appearing to recog-
nize me.
How do you do Latreville? Do you
not remember me, Maynan, Corp. May
nan, of the Sixth?'
"Ah, is it you, my old friend? What
good luck to meet with you here. l am
provoked that l did not recognize your
footsteps, but as for seeing you, it is
l am blind
Heavens, poor chap!" l murmured,
much distressed
Eyes, left my eyes in the Soudan.
and must admit that it makes it trife
to get around But don't
mind the rest" he added, smiling. Be
sides, have an Antigone, who makes
ne forget that / am not complete. Is
not my wife here? want you to meet |
her."
Here am said Nine. de Latreyille, |
in low. gentle voice.
my dear Jeanne, let me present Capt. |
now, perhaps - and
one of my comrades at Saint Cyr, like
his good Jacques. How lucky we
chose this place to come to! We will
i've over some of our old memories.
md talk the bahut together, will we
lot?"
1 was surprised and saddened at his
easy tone, which seemed to be forced |
could not imagine that man, strich-
n with such terrible affection, coz
lemned to uselessness before he was
10, could be anything but buried be-
heath the weight Of an incurable despair
When we arrived at the terrace, after
arranging with the De Latrevilles to