The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-07-31 00:00:00

;rg/ ,„$ ►e,; 31, 1855..1 A i t e V' i 41311 P rjil i e d !sent -SUPP 1 I , tt • tre hi „t is. Not h, 41 ' was a hazardous (r e l y 2 ••• pursui it tsibi' s the mountain-hunter to all but in . 11 .8 and -e Precipices, and to brave the fury of famished d to be L I NA " 1111v es, but he is constantly expose an ava -401,4N1T Ch i a torrent, or buried beneath (..,. ieti .k. I "e ° ,,,. t s latter peril Juan's father bad . fallen a 'N h...sued beneath a mass of snow, he perished, U 'and '''''llllhiss ° II no other heritage than his dog, his i'l4al C g r a ndmother Gertrude, an aged woman, 'hit ti,, -. ' thtall;a,nnurt. g herself. Juan, at telii:4l-4-1;;?1,12,e,1ad of - eigh - teen,l i o n ied his . grandmother .goti, , 'lad . ii supplied to him the place of l ' lt de i rr teht' a% 3 ll.l' '''' B4 l ‘v c a li Y ed il giving him , birth, and he 11ad been th e I , lr i aße r , and resolution be, and his years, crow o Jl carh,',"Le charge of their maintenance. He and b e Z his eiraiiied to the chase, and success now acss o r is ! str ook ° rts. The number 11 41 8 f oot dow n by his hand te . s i . of , izards, eagles, ffied The sure -40 ~,, . .n. l ts to t on . d the certainty of his aim. Lel4 l `ation. ,' value of these spoils, Gertrude knew E 3'es. e l'ehikj , ° li t she trembled for the safety of her with tears in her oolo e ',.`'St ay a,411,d otten_said to him, 4 1(11,1 41 4. 0 ,, v JoAnne to-day, Juan ; you will perish 04 1 . 1 do i €f l t her, like yor poor father ; a v n e d in wh tl a ie t 1 1 ''' alone, without any one to lo r -Ta if X ll l th e l ad 11 ' pr o lad would answer : " Calm yourself, 4 / 4 •,.. 118 did j• Iti nce will watch over me for your sake." t rd . u 7d IA ilaa l work h ar d d ur i ng th e wee k f or hi s itin,,tlZ- Par ellt's support, and on Sunday I loved '7444,111 entering. m y little church ; Gertrude Ili b t he arm Of her handsome boy, and both Yee a : e prayers with the utmost devotion.. L tl Passed on, and Juan was returning one f sr 'es, whither he had gone to dispose o ei ,' I ,,it was winter, and the north wind blew 'ltlir st r. ; but the young hunter stepped on 1 t „ , 01 1,3* a lively tune. Suddenly a cry o . f . 'cli" his ear, but he knew not whence it e iN (14• 'al'" he cried, trusting to his dog's sa ,elt it out, b oy !" Le creature set off in the direction of a 'e, and his master followed ; the cries and Juan recognised the voice of a th e •'s• He redoubled his speed, still pre-' d og. At l ength ' he reached an ope! iere was Csar struggling with a wok, ground lay a Nvoman7with a huge shout forward, of fastening on her neck. With a shout forward, and at the sound the fierce crea ler head, and fixed on him two eye-balls th e and hunger. Without a moment's Ax",,ell intrepid hunter seized her by the itl' th. e h and, and thrusting the other into c,„---44 1 ,„, 1 fi vl,c-u• her tongue, and dragged it as 448 1$ 1 ,:„ After a fearful struggle, he sue ' tkae l 'ile strangled beast ee his faithful teed of i °o ked round o i ptieground. aid ti as sistance. N ., o t i o to attend to the his s antagonist also Ito k ize hunter hat, time „. 37 inotionless on the . ground, having i7cess of terror. Her deliverer raised faii ii ,;''s arms, put back the rich brown hair -11,,,0ver hr face, and perceived that she ~..4,kt very lovely girl. Taking a handful 'zilch lay on the ground, he rubbed it on '; al ld then succeeded in putting some le into her mouth. By degrees she re ds unclosed, and she drew a deep s i g h. I?" she murmured. ion • a friend" , then, who saved me ?" Ikewas Providence, who was pleased to , and I ti „, , 4 1 4 . him with a look far more eloquent than ffi a s k e ll with confiding simplicity, as she still ed him to let her lean on his arm as far t erti - e ' I was going t o th e t own, " s h e sa id , ttb,,, ll dilk when those dreadful wolves at ' 4 111 Y pia and but for your timely ~,. You ood , dog,, would surely itzverrsilation thus • th al d s t h h o a t t Zar e grer n i l t e e il l e i e v d ed d in id tl n ie o h t am fla l g et . tl rnall c e was an orphan, and had no pro- , one cow, and some hens. t Port one with the . profits of i 4 in n ' l er sPinning. Her perfect cant -11 h e telset beauty charmed the hones _ 'l3l-10t that, were be possesced of A ~,1 c ~,,,,, hi A I. # lii k."4-'-` ties Par. 4 0. 1 I . i(i N er r , i ' wit il ,r I N N . th fl o , ` l' l ,- 14 t , e e it lel' ' 4 4' 5 v 'lle i il eiV " '(,` f to` e ars P r o eol, k V , ' ti llk , 41 13 Pa 01`'Vlet* I:ll'ct4,lel ise4 O t i y ly ee it '° Ctil. (k tt l% W) . l iSt l l ( . ; . l e , i l t i , -.o h V tic k '. o le ' ' a citv.' e,,,, „T h 4; -,a p, „ , , , O . 1 1 4 k (1,.,„,, k ek i f , -,iv, t ,, , p e ill ...,,,j e _.. . is ifi t , ./ .ll e I NI% " .1, ii l' • . ~,.,'l le . ot t a_ ve, 0 7 11 1 'ter, 11 1 t ,4 b di str . IL 0. la, .!? th es! The 1,4' at d e (1( a tbei 4 31 4 t. °11 th tiler( ~.., • t ,_ , the,, a 1 14 14,, lie a b ° , o ffr t ~',li.hed et col (k.giti for i''it ' a li t" vii, hr I P• N t li)t)' 1 ; t 1 , l'a h 0 111 4 i it XU ‘'lti l e t. y,. 11 a lltl i , Ol ie t ee(l 4 I %t i.t tY , .ed • loy l % of o - I n (1 A :',„,,,ifilt .. s.),(l°» RitShi ! ,,e p ,. . ~4,7 e., „, „ / 10 1 `,. 4 ,11t , . fi .„ .(l e;l ' d t il eed gat 11.1.. :' 1, 41) ' wand of c rir",:o t 'tkq' h o th 5 0 a, froili lay ~ i , t ,:ti, i es cc f iy4 ki 4f 11 i t . o . lc I t a yo ali e is t ie l' it t/ 1 1. 11 t lin o . 4 0 w itl i , t2,110v, an 10 15 1° , 1 4 ime, whic y ~liitt,,, .aire, e ; i 1 / 4 \ e l ee j 0 40 ,e. I , „It it e Yelid s lii i "fri t)o , h Iv• 4111 1.. ' all . P t f• f,,,l,lNith a f : . 1 ,1 4 i Airlh Y°ll 6. 4, . , ti dl i ll 0 Carl' 1 ttl; 90"•,,, , , h andkrl,. ll l l .o''',i' k% i'E,, kid 'l hi g lei li t I lt , 4 % ell ) I',C e' ~...i, L I : , 110,,,sked , le . ' l * . 4411-tl'e' ‘, j. (1 41 tl lt °til e . tlie4 t," 1 41 , 4,, 1 1) 3r 1 .. 5 , , ~,ith4rget 'a l 1 1. 4 411 t k e t of ~% , e j , , Iti , „ till 1 e 80,:v . , i Ite, a ttip;A rga t 1P t i ; i llei d 1 / 4 r, te 4 that efiftili 44 g s kal it . c e, , 4 ii k ed. to 10 1 - a to al % oe 4 ~.1 , 1 at ali, :Iti lef 4114t1. . . i ; 1) Th. .EMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD all the treasures in the world, he would like to lay them at Marguerite's feet. On entering the village, the news of their adventure spread quickly ; and it was easy to see, by the consequent excitement, how much the young girl was beloved by her neighbours. Both young and old rushed forth to meet her ; and Juan was overwhelmed with thanks and praises ; nor was the poor Caesar by ary means forgotten. "Adieu, Marguerite," said Juan, when he had ac companied her to her cottage-door. " May I sometimes come to see you ?" " To whom should my door be open, if not to my deliverer ?" said the young girl innocently, at the same time extending ter hand to, Juan. He pressed it to his lips, and hastened away. When he reached home, he found Gertrude very uneasy at his prolonged absence. " Oh, my child !" she cried, " where have you been, and what are those stains of blood on your dress ?" Juan smiled. " Don't be uneasy, mother ; this blood is not mine, but that of an enemy I killed." And he told her all that had occurred, not concealing the feelings of admiration and love which he felt for her whom le had rescued. " Thank Ood, my child," said the old woman, "that your choice- has fallen on so worthy an object. I have often heard the beauty and virtuous industry of Mar guerite conimended. She is called by her neighbours the PearFof Campan." It never occurred to the affectionate grandmother that the fair girl in question could possibly be insen sible to 4he attractions of her boy ; and, indeed, the event pinved that she was not fir wrong. Marguerite was of too innocent and frank a nature to play the coquette with him who had risked his life for hers, and the preliminaries for their marriage were speedily arranged. On the morning preceding that on which their banns were zo be published, the sound of a drum was heard in the; peaceful valley of Campan ; and the prefect of the district proclaimed the. drawing of 'conscripts for the army. Poor Juan ! his was amongst the first of the. selected names, and at the moment the shock nearly stunned him. However, he had been taught not to shrink from his duty, and having calmly made the needful preparations, he drew his betrothed aside, and said : " Listen to me, Marguerite. You promised to be mine ; I am going away for some years, perhap s for ever ;it is right that you should be free--. 4 give you back your vow." " And I," said the girl, " will not take it back. Whether our next meeting, Juan, will be here or in that better world to which, I trust, we are both look ing, I will never marry any one but you." The young man pressed her hand in silence. • "But my mother !" he said at length, while two unwonted tears rolled down his cheeks ; " she,is old, infirm, un able to work for her support "- "Your mother, Juan," interrupted Marguerite, "is she not henceforth mine ? So long ak God gives me strength to work, our mother shall notwant a home." And so, with mutual blessings and fold tears, they parted. Cwsar followed his master to the wars, and Gertrude, on the day of Jua n ' s d e p ar t ure, t oo k up 4er abode in Marguerite's cottage. The old woman managed the domestic affairs, while the young one carriel her milk, butter, eggs, and poultry to market. In theevenings, as they both sat at their spinning -wheels, tieir con versation naturally turned on Juan " Whele is he now ?—what is he doing while we are spearing of him ?" Sometimes their anxiety was assuaged ‘)3r the arrival of a letter, filled with hope and tenderness ; but at length one came which increased their sorrow\ It bore the stamp of Algeria. Juan announced thal hi s regiment had just landed in Africa, and was Im mediately to march on the town of Zaatcha, when a number of insurgent Arabs had intrenched themselves. Some sharp fighting was expected, as the rebels woe known to be desperate. Under this afflicting intel ligence, the two women found their only consolation in religion—in committing their dear one to the care of God. Every day, on her way to the town, Mar guerite was accustomed to pause for a few minutes at the spot where she had first met her betrothed, and where, during the happy days of their courtship, he had raised a rustic seat ; she used to kneel beside that simple memento, and pray, fervently, nor did she ever arise and go on her wad without feeling strengthened and encouraged. Every evening, on her return, her first question to Gertrude was : " Has Juan written ?" And the old woman would silently shake her head with a despair ing gesture, which seemed to imply : " Juan will never write to us again !" One day, as Marguerite was returning from Brag neres, she was overtaken by a violent thunder-storm. There was no place of refuge nearer than her own cot tage ; and with her garments dripping, and her eyes nearly blinded by the driving rain, she hastened towards it. What did she see ? A blazing lightning stricken pile, surrounded by a terrified crowd of villagers. " Mother !" cried Marguerite, darting onwards, " where are you ?" A cry of agony from within the burning cottage was the reply. " Mother, courage ! I'll save or die with you !" And before the astonished spectators could detain her, she rushed through the flames. A minute, which seemed an age of agonising suspense, elapsed, and Marguerite reappeared, dragging forth her pious burden, and forming with her own body a rampart against the flames. Scarcely had she allowed the old woman to fall into some of the arms ready to receive her, when the heroic girl sunk down herself inanimate. " When she opened her eyes," continued the curate, " she was in an apartment in my house, whither I had caused her to be carried. Gertrude and I had watched for three days and three nights, by her bed, awaiting the moment of returning consciousness. Her first sensation was that of torturing pain in her face. She raised her hand to it, and felt that it was so enveloped in bandages, as to leave only the mouth and eyes free. A cry escaped her lips. • Oh, I remember the storm— the flames ;I am disfigured for life—is it not so?' Gertrude and I were silent. It was but too true : the devouring element, leaving her body, protected by her wet clothes untouched, had seized on her face. The beauty of feature and delicacy of complexion, which had procured for her her graceful soubriquet, were totally destroyed. Until the bandages were removed, which the surgeon did not as yet judge it prudent to do, he could not tell the extent of the disfigurement, but that it would be very great was certain. Our silence, and the tears which we could not repress, acquainted the poor child with her misfortune. She raised her eyes to heaven with a touching expression of resignation. "It is Thy will, my God," she said, " but let not Juan see me thus." " Juan !" repeated Gertrude ; embrace him." I` we sh . all soon " Is he coining ?" "In ten days---see yourself." She handed a letter to Marguerite, which the latter read with eagerness. It was written by the hand of one of his comrades, and informed them that Juan, who had received a severe wound at the siege of Zaatcha, was now convalescent in hospital ; had obtained, as a reward for his services, a cross of merit, his discharge, and pension, and would be with them in ten or twelve days at furthest. Having finished reading the letter, Marguerite fell into a profound reverie, from which neither Gertrude's fond caresses nor my attempts at consolation could arouse her. " Oh, sir," said she at last, "it is not, indeed it is not for its own sake that I value beauty— but—but how can Juan love me when he sees me in this state ?" At *hat moment the surgeon entered, and having felt his patient's pulse, he began silently to remove the bandages. As soon as Marguerite felt that her wounds were exposed, she asked for a mirror. " Not yet, my child ; not to-day," said the doctor. She tried to raise her hand to feel her face. " Hold her arms down," cried the surgeon to the old woman and myself. We did so, involuntarily turning away our eyes from the sight of those swollen and mutilated features, once so lovely. Marguerite saw and- understood our movement. " Is it not so, sir ?" she said to me calmly ; " will it not be impossible for him to love me ?" Nine days passed on ; the wounds were regularly dressed, and were now nearly cicatrised. The tenth day was that of Juan's expected return ; but no one ventured to speak of it. Early in the morning, Mar uerite rose, and prepared to go out, saying that a walk ih the fresh air would do her good. I offered to atcompany her. No, thank you, sir," she said ; "my good mother aloe will come with me." And with one hand slightly leaning on Gertrude's arm, while .the other held a small package, she went out. They walked