Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-04-27

ding kindness, and Madame Marenpo much more
submissive and respectful than could have beer
anticipates; but the truth was. that her soul was
hurdened with remorse, and she longed to repail
the mischief she had occasoned by rendering
her former enemy some signal service M. Ca.
mus, however, would give her no opportunity OF
doing this; he was so exceedingly dignifed, So
reserved, and placed 50 many impediments in her
way, that Madame Marengo fretted and fumed in
the excess of her impotence. "This only in
creased" as the schoomaster expressed it. 'the
strong necessity which existed for him to keen
Madame Marengo at a proper distance. For YOU
sec, my dear sir" he would observe to Paul he
was always wonderfully polite cit would never
do to al low such people to be familiar with me,
merely because they happen to be little good
natured, and all that Madame Marenpo has
good points, | allow; but must confess that to
me she always smells of the barraeks,'r
Matters had gone on thus Cor about Il month.
during which Madame Marengo had more than
once been strongly tempted to quarrel with NJ.
Janus Tor not allowing her to serve him in some
way or other, when luckily for her, but, as it
proved, rather unfortunately for him, she found
an opportunity of displaying her zeal The
schoolmaster il dangerously i'll and as the doc
tor declared that he had contagious fever, the
school was deserted in no time Annette atten.
ded on her father with the greatest devotedness,
out IN lew days she was laid up with the same
disease. Now was the time for Madame Maren
go to show her friendship. Paul was very will
ling to do everything in his power for the poor
schoolmaster; but the cardeuse declared that he
was only IN the way and so managed, that the
whole burden of waiting on NJ. Camus and his
daughter soon rested on herself She did every
thing cleaned the rooms, prepared the necessa-
ny t'Sdnes, attended on the two patients with I'M
wearied zeal, paid the rent and the doctor with
out saying anything about it in short she would
even have given the lessons to the pupils, if they
had not all gone away And her zeal was so
exemplary, that every one admired it, excepting
the Fortress, who declared. with wink that she
was as knowing as Madame Marengo, aud could
see through her arts; which meant that the car.
deuse enteraned matrimonial designs OIL NJ. Ca.
mus. If such was indeed the case, Madame Ma
rengos expectations did not seem likely to be
reailzed, for though Annette was soon out ofdan-
ger her father grew worse every day. His mind,
however, was perfectly sound and it is only
just to say, that if his heart had long been obdu
rate, It now seemed to be entirely softened in ia.
vor OF his kind nurse. Though Madame Maren-
go had lived amongst soldiers, and in barracks.
ana though her manners were not irreproachably
gelteei, she had Il true and honest heart and
WIN all her outward roughness, none knew bet
ter thah she did how to render service in a deli
cate manner The schoolmaser saw all this.
and he now wondered why or how he had ever
hated Madame Marengo.
One evening, when the schoolmaster was re-
VolVln@ those thoughts in his mind, he suddenly
turned towards the cardeuse, who was sitting at
uie mead OF his bed, and earnestly observed,
MADAME, if die think can intrust Annette
10 your care: KNOW" he added, with patron
izlng air, which even now he could not quite
cast away SHAT might confide he; to a more
educated and accomplished lady, but | doubt
whether could find one with kinder heart"
NJ. Pascal Camns spoke this in the tone of a
man who coniers great favor; and though, af
ter his death, Annette would be a portoness or
phan 1t did not occur to him to look on the mat
ter in any other light. 1t will perhaps be saving
more IN Mad tme Marengo's praise than we
might otherwlse express, TO state that she took
precisely the same view the subecs She on.
ly saw the moral trust reposed in her, and she
was deeply affected 1t was the first time, too,
that the schoolmaster had ever addressed to her
word OF praise: the tears rose to her eyes, and
Ill the height OF her emotion she begged NJ Ca.
mus TO forgive her all she had ever done against
him. Then she confessed to him that she had
been the cause Of his losing his pupil and that
numbers upon numbers of times she had called
nm, behind his back, ian old Cossack" This
irreVerent apPellation rather shocked NJ. Camus ::
but he made heroic effort, and as Madame Ma.
rengo was evidently deeply pentent, he declared
lhaI ne forgave her. 1t was his duty, he said, as
aChrstan, for he felt his end approaching.
Madame Marengo assured him that he was much
better, but M. Pascal Camus persisted that he
was dying. GAIL men of genius" said he sol
emmy, 'ioretell the hour of their death it is not
therefore astonishing that | Should be able TO
predict NINE. shall die" added he, after
moments pause, "at seventy seconds past eight
O'CLOCK tomorrow morning. Mind, Madame
Marengo, at seventy seconds past eighth
wen, do drink some of your tisane there's a
dear" interposed Madame Marengo rather a
larmed at the sick mans look. NJ Camus was
Inc most docile OF patients; he took the drink,
ana as II was OF soporiic quality, he soon sank
into deep sleep Madame Marenro was no,
very superstltious but she had heard of such
thlngs as deathbed predictions, and she had
strong faith in her own presentinents, Now
she happened TO feel particular presentiment,
winch told her that NJ. Canus would really die
at tle appointed hour-great, therefore, was her
anxiety during the night. NJ. Cumus never wa
kened once; this looked extremely suspicious
morning came, and still the patient slept; eight
o'clock struck, and Madame Marengo's heart
beat high; she watched NJ. Camus with teyerish
anxiety; the seventy seconds passed, and still
he dld not waken; in Short NJ. Camus did not
oPSh MS eyes Until quarter past ten, Though
rather pleased to find himself alive and well, he
was exceedingly surprised there must be some
mistake; the clock did not go right; this was
the first prediction of his which had not proved
correct AT this moment the doctor came in
lie declared that the patient was much better
favorable crisis had occurred during the night
NJ Camus Immediately frightened up; this ex
planned everything; he pas to have died at sew
enty seconds past eight, but favorable crisis
having occurred the consequence was, &c. &c
Madame Marengo's presentiment admitted of q
similar explanation, and both were perfectly
satisfied
NJ. Camus now recovered rapidly. In less than
month he no longer needed Madame Marengo's
assistance, and was able to attend TO his pupils.
lie then discovered that they had all lett him.
Their parents declared, much in the same Ian
guage which he had once applied to Madame
Marengo, that both himself and his school.room
smelt OF the fever This was sad blow for the
schoomaster; but it happened that, ut that very
time, Paul asceraned that the savings bank,
IN which he had deposited few hundred
francs, saved from his earnings, was remarkably
unsafe place for money. He Immediately ex-
pressed wish to invest it IN some safe specula-
ton In short, though not without much pres
sing, Paul induced M. Camus TO accept of loan,
part OF which was to be applied to his immediate
wants, whilst with the rest The school room was
to be fitted up in style. This produced a won. !
derful effect: pupils Immediately hocked in. the