The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-05-20
"CHIMES OF NORMAN
DY" A PRETTY STORY

The story of the "Chimes of Nor
mandy" is a story of the simple every
day life of Norman peasantry during
the seventeenth century.
Poor, from the many and bitter wars
which devastated their little farms,
their very poverty seemed to demand
that they turn to the beauties and'pur-
ity of home life for their enjoyment
Such a people cherish and love their
folk lore and legends, and it was with
chiIdlike interest that the legend OF
the Chimes OF Normandy, was whis-
pered from mouth to mouth mongst the
youth of the village of Cornvile. 1t
ran thus:
Henry, the marquis of Cornville,
has been an exile since childhood. He
was born in the old ancestral castle,
but the cruelties of war caused his
father to take him away. The village
folk anxiously await his return, firmly
believing that the chimes in the belfry
of the castle will remain silent until
the home coming of their master, at
which time they will peal out melody
of joy.
His father having died, Henry re-
turns just as the villagers open their
annual hiring fair. The curtain rises
on a group Of village g0sslps, chatter
ing over the various happenings of the
old fashioned neighborhood. Their talk
centers on Serpolette, a cOquettish
damsel who stirs up most Of the vii
lage's mischief. Sepolette happens
upon them; turns their gossip into ridi-
cule and greatly enrages the gossips.
Gaspard, an old miser, to whom the
care of Henry's castle has been en-
trusted. comes nightly to count over
his gold. also to see that ghosts appear
at the windows, frightening the youth
of the village into the belief that the
castle is haunted. lie desires to marry
his niece, "Gernlaine, to the chief
magistrate of the province the old
Bailli. This arrangement does not suit
Germaine, nor does it suit Jean Grent.
icheux, young fisherman who pre-
tends to have saved Germaine's life
from drowning on a certain occasion.
To escape the authority of old Gas.
phrd, Germaine hides and later takes
advantage of the privileges of the Hir-
ing Fair. which by custom and law al
lows any one seeking servants to enter
into Bond of, Hiring" which takes
precedence over all writs. Germaine
becomes tn e servant of Henry. SerpO-
lette. seeking to gain the love of Hen
nv, also becomes his "bondwoman, :"
and claims to be the ''marchioness. "
Grenicheux enters his employ as coach
man.
The second act opens with Henry's
determination to search the old castle
and rid out the ghosts" which have
for so long spread terror throughout
the village. Much against his will,
Grenicheux is locked up in an old armor
to watch
Old Gaspard comes on one of his
nightly visits to count and fondle his
gold. Hearing what proves to be a
human voice he becomes hewildered,
and moment later goes entirely crazy
when, for the first time since theteXile
of Henry, he hears the castle chimes
begin to ring.
Henry succeeds in bringing Gaspard
into possession of his right senses sutli.
ciently TO recognize his old master, anC
to declare that Germaine, and notsSer,
polette. is the true Marchoness.
reconciliation of all parties brings
the romantic story to close anC
proves true the old legend, when the
long lost heir returns we'll clang the
bell.