The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-05-20
NARRATION replied the g,ri shyfy.

Mar&arltOn, feplleQ the ein enyiys
as she nodded her head in consent
The next day Margariton was prompt
at the meeting. She had not said any
thing to Yves of her chance encounter
with the stranger, nor of her promise.
Not that she felt that she had done
wrong, but from quick instinct OF pru-
dence, as if it were presentiment OF the
pain she might cause her brother. II
was the first secret there had ever been
between them.
A week passed, and still another week,
and if the portrait had not advanced 1t
was different with the friendship be-
tween the artist and his model Friend
ship? Nay, Jean Vermeuil knew well
enough it was no mere feeling of friend
ship that made his heart beat so hard at
the sight of the beautiful girl.
He loved her with all the strength OF
his being, and resolved that, could he
win her love, he would marry her. But
what of the brother Yves, to whom Mar
carlton owed such debt of gratitude?
What would he say?
The villagers, who had known from
the first of the meetings at the spring.
took care that Yves should not be left
in ignorance. What terrible vengeance
would the hated Yves, they asked one
another, take upon the painter? They
did not know, but they awaited the out
burst of his wrath with cruel anxiety.
But there was no s.El on his face,
whatever he may have felt. Only that
night after he had kissed Margariton
good night the young girl heard him
toss uneasily upon his rough couch
before she went happily to sleep.
The next day his mind was made
up In the afternoon, when the
young girl went singing to the tryst-
ing place, Yves. hidden among the
rocks, was present at the meeting.
Not a detail of the pretty courtship
escaped his jealous eye-the warm
hand clasps and the tender glances
which, better than words, betrayed
their passion.
And no one heard the bitter sigh
when Margariton, radiant ip the won
derful happiness of being loved by the
man who made earth paradise to
her, cried:
Il must tell my brother Yves that
you want to marry me; me, a poor
girl, penniless and without education!
He will be glad, too, but not as love
you, Jean, my beloved"
Yves had changed greatly during
the last weeks. He no longer ate or
slept, and his eyes burned strangely
in. his pale face Margariton in her
happiness did not see the change, mol
did she notice, when she took her
brothers hand in hers and told him
her secret, that he braced himself
against the wall to keep himself from
falling,
"You love him and you ask my con-
sent, Margariton?" Yves asked, hoarse
ly. "You are free, little one, to do as
you will, but l am gratified that you
did not forget me utterly. You are
the one being on earth that l love;
you know it well, and your happiness
is all seek. Marry the man you love
little ore; be happy always"
Yves placed bag of gold In hel
hand.
"This is for your wedding dress,
he said. 81 have had it ready for yot
long time"
Then, with long kiss on the girl:
| forehead, Yves went out, but this tim,
he did not turn at her signals of fare
well.
Sitting proudly erect in his boat
balancing easily with the rise and fal
\ of the waves, a single fisherman wa!
darkly outlined against the sunset col
ored waters of the bay Alone upor
the beach, Jean Vermeuil watched
him in admiration.
what splendid fellow" he cried
81 must ask him to pose for me SOM
day."
He watched the boat glide easil.
upon the surface of the water, car
ried by the current out toward tn
open sea and to the heart of the gold
en- sun. Soon the man was but
black dot on the horizon. Then he dis
appeared forever.-From the French
in Detroit Free Press.