The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-05-06

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him service, which might compensate for the
harm of which she was the cause. The very
snme day Paul was charged to bear proposals
of peace to NJ. Pascal Camus from Madame
Marengo. In his present humble condition
NJ. Camus found this exceedingly gratifying.
"You see, Paul. observed he with calm
dignity, "the moral power Of genius. have
At length compelled Madame Marengo to nc
knowledge, as she was bound to do, my supo-
riorlty. cannot, however, grant her request
without certain restrictions. She has brav-
ed me too long for this, and it would not do
TO let the people think that they have only TO
ask my forgiveness in order To receive it,"
Accordingly NJ. Camus clogged his con-
sent by so many veXutious and naughty clau-
ses, that Paul declared Madame Marengo
would never consent TO them. 81 don'r care,
sir" replied the inheXible schoolmaster; IL
did not make any friendly proposals TO Mad
anne Marengo; ifshe will not agree TO the
terms | offer, it is perfectly Indifferent TO me-.
But she will agree to them, depend upon it,"
he added with compliment smile; 81 saw il
in her eye the last time she attempted to in
suit me; that woman's spirit is conquered,
sir"
&. Though Paul comewhat doubted this MS
sertion, he mentioned to Madame Marengo
the conditions on which the schoolmaster had
agreed to receive her into his favor. To his
great surprise, she agreed TO everything But
NJ. Camus was not astonished; he had pre-
dicted that il would be so. When il was I'M
derstood in the house that Madame Marengo
and NJ. Pascal Camus were on good terms,
the news was henrd with that suspicious rs
constituent which might have been felt of
yore if peace had been proclaimed between
Rome and Carthage. The Fortress declared
for her part, that it was only hollow truce,
and most of the dodgers shared in this belief.
Matters went OH, however, much better than
these charitable individuals had anticipated.
Nj. Pascal Camus was all condescendng
kindness, and Madame Marengo much more
submissive and respectful than could have
been anticipated; but the truth was, TINT her
soul was burdened with remorsc, and she
longed to repair the mischief she had occas-
toned by rendering her former enemy some
signal service. NJ. Camus, however, would
give her no opportunity of doing this; lac was
so exceedingly dignIfed, so reserved, and
placed so many inpediments in her way, that
Madame Marengo fretted and fumed in the
excess other impotence. "This only increns-
ed," as the schoolmaster expressed il, "the
strong necessity which existed for him to
keep Madnme Marengo at n proper distance.
For you see, my dear sir" he would observe
to Paul-he was always wonderfully polite
sit would never do to allow such people TO be
familiar with me, merely because they hap
pen TO be n little good patured, and all that.
Madame Marengo has good points, ] allow;
but must confess that to me always smells
ofthe barracks"
Matters had gone on thus for about month
during which Madame Marengo had more
than once been strongly tempted TO quarrel
with Nj. Camus for not allowing her to serve
- mr. ftnr ,vl,an Ipoki lv f,r
her, but as il proved, rather unfortunately for
him, she found an opportunity of displaying
her zeal. The schoolmaster fell dangerous
ly ILL; and as the doctor declared that he had
contagious fever, the school was deserted
in no time. Annette attended on her father
with the greatest devotedness, but in n few
days she was laid up with the same disease.
Now was the time for Madame Mareugo to
SHOW her friendship. Paul was very willing
to do every thing 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 everything; cleaned the rooms, prepared
the necessary iiSanes, attended on the two pa
tienls with unwearied zeal, paid the rent and
the doctor without saying anything about it;
in short, she would have even given the les
sons to the pupils, if they had not all gone u
way. Aud her zeal was so exemplary, that
every one admired il, excepting the FORTRESS,
who declared, with n wink, that she was rs
knowing MS Madame Marengo, and could see
through her arts: which meant that the car
deusc entertained matrimonial designs on NJ.
Camus. If such was indeed the case, Mad
anne Marengo's expectations did not seem
likely to be realized, for though Annette was
soon out of danger, her father grew worse
y. i'll fy,If
ly sound; it is only just to say, that ifhis heart
had long been obdurate, il now seemed to he
entirely softened in favor Of his kind nurse.
Though Madame Narengo had lived amongst
soldiers, and in barracks and though her
manners were not irreproachably genteel,
she had a true and honest heart and with all
her outward roughness, none knew better
than she did how TO render service in del
icate manner. The schoolmastar saw all
this, and he now wondered why or how he
had ever hated Madame Marengo.
One evening, when the sGhoollnaster was
REVOLVING those thoughts in his mind, he sud-
enly turned towards The cardeuse, who was
sitting at the head of his bed, and earnestly
observed, "Madame, if ] die, l think ] can in
trust Annette to your cares ] know,a he adj
ded, with patronizing mir, which even now
he could not quite cast away, shat i might
confidc her to more educated and accom-
plished lady, but i doubt whether COULD find
one with kinder heart"
M. Pascal Camus spoke this in the tone of
a man who confers a great favor and though
after his death, Annette would be portion
less orphan, it did not occur to him to look on
the matter in any other light. 1t will per-
haps be saying more in Madame Marengo's
praise than we might otherwise express, TO
state that she took precisely the same view
ofthe subject. She only saw the moral trust
reposed in her, and she was deeply affected.
it was the first time, too, that the scllooimns-
ter had ever addressed 10 her q word orpraise