Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-25

door which covered the mouth of it, he disap-
reared in an instant. Genevieve with difficulty
suppressed shrek of terror. She followed
however with desperate courage, CROPPED her
way down the well, by means Of some broken
stairs, and pursued her husbands steps, guided
only by the sound on hollow damp earth
Suddenly distant light and voices broke upon
her eye and ear; and stealing along the wall, she
hid herself behind one of the huge bu,tresses
which supported the vault above; she beheld
whar she was half prepared to see; party OF
ruffians, who were assembled round a board
drinking They received the Baron with re-
spect as their chief, but with sulen suspicious
looks, and an ominous silence. Geneyieve
could distinguish among the faces many fami-
liar 10 her, which she was accustomed TO see
daily around her, working in The gardens or at
tendingin the chateau; among the rest The con-
cierge, or house steward, who appeared to have
some authority over the rest. The wife ofthis
man was the nurse Of Genevieve's child. The
Baron took his seat without speaking. After
some boisterous conversation among the rest,
carried on in an uninteigible dialect, a quarrel
arose between the concierge and another vii
lain, both apparently intoxicated; the Baron at
tempted to part them, and the uproar became
general. The whole was probably preoon-
certed plan, for from reproaching each other,
they proceeded to attack the Baron himself with
the most injurious epithets; they accused him
of sign TO betray them; they compared him
to his father, the old Baron, who had never
flinched from their cause, and had al last died
in it; they said they kney well that large par
ty ofreguiar troops had lately arrived at Saint
Brieu, and they insisted that it was with his
| knowledge, that he was about to give them up
to justice, to make his own peace with govern
| ment, sc.
The concierge, who was by far the most in
| solent and violent Of these mu,ineers, at length
silenced the others, and affecting tone of mo-
deration he proposed, and his proposal was re-
ceived with an approving shout, that the Baron
| should give up his infant son into the hands OF
the band; that they should take him to he ISL
| and Of Guernsey, and keep him there as pledge
OF his fathers fidelity, till the regular troops
were withdrawn from the province. How must
| the mothers heart have trembed and died "a
| way within her! She listened breathless for
her husbands reply. The Baron had hitherto
with difficulty restrained himself, and attempt
| ed TO prove how absurd and unfoInded was
| their accusation, since his safety was involved
in theirs, and he would as their leader, be con-
sidered as the greatest criminal Of all. His eyes
| now flashed with fury; he sprung upon the con-
cierge like reused tiger, and dragged him by
the collar from amid the mutinons group A
struggle ensued, and the wretch fell, stabbed to
| the heart oy bis masters hand; a crowd of fe-
| rocious faces then closed around the Baron
Geneveve heard-saw no more-her senses left
| her.
When she recovered she was in perfect ST.
| lence and darkness, and felt like one awakening
| from terrible dream; the first image that
clearly presented itself to her mind was that Of
Nv ohi IN ha Of hos ruf4
their daggers at her husbad's throat The
maddening thought swallowed up every other
feeling, and lent her for the moment strength
and wings; she rushed back through the dark
ness fearless for herself; crossed the couri, the
galleries;-all was still: it seemed TO her at.
frighted imagination, that the chateau was for
saken by its Inhabitants. She reached her
child's room, she flew to his cradle and drew
aside the curtain with desperate hand, ex
pecting to find it empty; he was quietly sleep
ing in his beauty and impotence: Genevieve ut
tered cry of JOY and nkfulness, and feI! on
the bed in strong CONVERSIONS
Many hours elapsed before she was restored
to herself. The first object she oeheld was her
husband watching tenderly over her, her first e.
motion was JOY for her safety-she dared not
ask him to account for it. She then called for
her son: he was brought to her, and from that
her, With the quick wit of woman, or rather
with the prompt resolution of mother, trem-
bling for her child, Geneyieye was no sooner
sufficiently recovered 10 think, than she had
formed resolution and acted upon ii; she &C
counted for her sudden illness and terrors, un-
der pretence that she had been disturbed by
frightful dream: she believed, she said, that
the dulness and solitude Of the chateau affected
her spirits, that the air disagreed with her
child, and that it was necessary she should IN
stantly return TO Paris The Baron first at
tempted to rally, then TO reason with her: he
consen,ed-then retracted his consent; seemed
irresoIute-bul his affections finally prevailed
over his suspicious, and preparations were i'm
mediately made for their departure, as 1t ne In
tended to accompany her.
Putting her with her maid and child into
travelling carriage; he armed few OF his most
confidential servants, and rode by her side till
they came to Saint Brieu; he then turned back
in spite of all her intreaties, promising to re-
join her at Paris in a few days He had never
during the journey uttered word which could
betray his knowledge that she had any motive
for her journey, but that which she avowed; on
ly at parting, he laid his finger expressively on
r.