Anna Falque’s Path

Anne Falque was a beautiful girl from Villar d'Arène. Against her mother's wishes, she made a bright, scandalous dress for the Saint John festival. After her mother passed away, Anne wore the dress to the dance, ignoring her mourning period. After midnight, she and her friends headed back to the Alpe. In the dark, a mysterious red-brown mare appeared. The drunken youths climbed onto its back, but when a fourth rider realized there was still room for more, he cried "Jesus Maria!" The mare—a hobgoblin in disguise—vanished in a flash of fire. Maddened by terror and guilt, Anne jumped into the Romanche and was swept away forever.