The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-11

- SOsstsASs ~ WOulu DC nara 10
say whether the appeal it makes
is due more to its atmosphere Of
rusticity or to its insight into fem
mime Psychology, under the stress
OF war. Pity, pity. pity-that is
the noblest emotion of war time in
women's hearts. 1t is then more
than ever the forerunner Of love.
M. Aicard. now near his seven
tieth year, Is one of. the most dis
tinguished writers in France. He
is member of the Academy and
an officer of the Legion of Honor.
For many years he was president
of the Society of Men of Letters.
He is a poet. a dramatist and a
novelist, and has been successful
In all three fields.
The southern spring time had all thu
ardors of summer. 1t was June al
ready The reddening wheat stalks
awaited the harvest and overweighted
bent their heads toward the earth, tc
which the seed grains, in order to
grow again, wished to return all the
more promptly. For all that which
lives must die in order to be requick-
ened.
They were very heavy those wheat
heads, and, balancing themselves, they
touched one another amorously, ca
ressingly-and that made a little rus
Ting noise. A song Of love, murmur-
Ing. rrythmic, came from them as they
were stirred by the evening breezes
and that song entered into the hearts
OF the young girls who, toward even
ing, went to the covered we'll to refill
with fresh water the glazed pitchers
which day of sunshine had made
lukewarm even In the shade of the
farmhouses with their shutters drawn.
Mariette comes to the we'll She
holds by the handle, like basket, the
green pitcher on the sides of which
the setting sun outlines sparkling,
reddish squares. The well is COW
cred from top to bottom with YER
dure. An ancient ivy, very thick,
which draws the bees envelops it, and
over the dome it's loose stems wave
like plumes. Under this cupola a little
door opens, the stone beneath which
forms a sill. 1t is like a little rustic
temple. dedicated to the spring. to
the water sprite who lives at the bot
tom OF this fresh cave dug vertically
by the hand of man. .
Marietta opens the door. The fresh
breath of imprisoned water mounts to
the lighted opening. It. wishes to be
freed, to exhale itself into the radiant
warmth of the summer, which is al
ready at hand.
Marietta always rejoices to open
the door through which comes to her
8 that caressing freshness, which
spreads across her visage and pene-
trates her whole body. Water is the
treasure of warm countries. One locks
it up jealousy and at the hours when
1t Is liberated one enjoys voluptuously
all it's charms.
That is why, on drawing toward her
the bucket attached to the pulley, to
see If it Is not inhabited by some pref
ty tree frog. Mariette smiles with hap
piness. Then she releases the bucket.
holding the rope firmly with her strong
young arms. The bucket descends to
the joyous wheeling of the old iron
pulley.
The bucket descends. strikes the wa
ter and fills. The young girl bent
over, her body vibrant, tugs at the
rope. The bucket mounts heavily, She
leans with both arms upon the rope,
releases it with one hand in order to
grasp it further up with the other
so graceful in all her movements that
she reminds one of wild animals in
freedom, who believe that they are
entirely alone and unobserved in one
of their native wastnesses.
She believes she is alone. But she
is not.
> Behind a pile of wood. under the
neighboring shed. some one has APP
preached very stealthily. 1t is Ton..,,
the young, sailor. Tonin, who likes her
very much and who wants to marry
her. She also likes Tonin, but she
prefers Victorin, who is two years
younger Victorin is only eighteen
years old-just her own age. She pre-
fers Victorin. or at least she thinks
she does. Victorin. will not be a sailor.
He doesn't love the sea, but the land
which one works and which gives in
return its yield. And then Tonin has
never told Mariette that he loves her.
Only she believes that things stand
that way. and the eyes of young girls
can see love even when it thinks itself
unseen. Love always reveals itself.
The bucket rises and is getting heav-
Ter. one would think. Tonin advances
softly. She doesn't hear him and sud
denly she feels herself. grasped about
her body by two strong arms which
hold her fast. In her surprise she
lets go the rope. But Tonin has adroit-
" taken the brecaution to put his foot
on the serpentine coil of hemp which
lies unrolled behind the young girl.
So the bucket doesn't fall
Let me go. Tonin! 1 shall tell
nv mOther!" 4,