The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-03-17

a small fivef-the pouha sepa-
rates rrahoe from the canton OF
Neufrhatel. IN Switzerland. This
stream forms in iia tranquil course
several lahea whose banks rise huns
dreda Of feet above their waters.
With eantsnariun pine trees crown
inE their aummita Amid these I'M
msnae salitudes L. les nrenets, a
village built atO0 feat above the
level af the river. A noise which
mIuEieH Itself with the hoarae voice
of tie wind passing through the
forests. f. heard Tor miles around.
This noise IL made by the Doub ,
fslilnH 90 feet down into bottom
less abyss Every year the seth 81
June the young people ~ the sur
rounding villages. dressed IN their
best clothes. descend the valley, en-
bark IN fleet of newly painted and
taatefuliy decorated boats and con
fiae theWaelves 60 the current II
the tivefi bat as soon aa abe terrible
cataract - niHnaied. ana the sound
eemiuE from the Eulf IL heard. a
auu IL fired aud the boats scud away
from the abyss ana death,
In the village % les fireneis Jean
ustte Mofiot lived with her father
and mother She was Rn handsome
as the landscape Of her native place
aud pure a. the air She bfeatheh.
she had a legion 81 lovers and al
though rs years o. age. had refused
al offers ~ marriage.
Among the discarded was a
matchmaker. whose accented feat
ures and deep look indicated violent
passions. Tits rejection did not
seem % affect him very much. lie
acted as n he had forgotten Jean
uefte entirely.
Al the same time a recently APP
pointed brigAdicr Of douanes fscr-
came 10 live IN the village. The
spirndnr Of the uniform ana the
personal appearance OF the wearer
aha wonders IN the young Eins
heart. and her handsome face ana
good reputation ava the same with
TIE brigAdiaf. ana tho result was
that on the seth OF June Madsmol-
neiie JeanBetts Moflot was 10 be-
eoma MadaTus Pierre Paul nuaweiot
This day was chosen because
they wanted 10 add the pleasure q
the feast OF st. John 90 those 81
sissss wedding day.
Mofs than any ethsr the watch
maker seemed 20 be pleased Al the
idea % the promised good time.
The happy dny came az last; All
ths guests we're poncsusi 10 the
rendezvous. and the feast opened
under the nost hopeful auspices.
The hrlEadtsf and Jeanette. obey
ing the secret thoughts ~ their
souls tried 10 keep away from
their noisy Eussta They marched
alaas the left bank % the river.
hard IL hand. quite a distance, ~
the moment when they believed
fhsy were completely alone. they
heard A Voice coming from the
fSouhs. singing a song u love. They
appruasbe he'd and saw tho watch
maker erecting a tent on his boat
made fast 10 n tree.
sIleYf my friend" said the
aistxaaler. awhY are you not Join
lns ths others at thu dance aud
.eamsur"
I expect my affianced' an
auefrA the matchmaker. with a
strange infection In hts voice, !
SHALL 80 Co meet hsr. VIII you be-
eorna my travelling companionsT 1
offer Yoa a place Ia mT boat"
nusmeiot sud his gifs bad march
81 a loag way Jsanneiia van tired
Ihuy accepted tha offer. They Hat
aawa at the stern and the tent pro-
tested them against the rays OF the
burning sun and hld from them the
sights u the banks n the river.
The uatohmaker took the oars re-
stunned his singing and seemed TO
fafaet bic precious freight
Approaching bis discretion. Jean
hatte ara her husband thanked him
warmly. aud aoon they returned 60
thsif dreams % iovS. The boat
sllaei gently. the matchmaker kept
on singing All % a snd1ea the
boat uhsyed q a more apid impulse
and the matchmaker ceased 20 sing
lie abandoned hfs held on the cars
rass TO hts fun heighi. and. address