Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-05

| III WHICH ne louru himself with some as
tonishment. No house, much less church
or village, was visible, and not human
being was to be seen.
Captain Smith. said Jeanette, ap-
preaching hepnzzled warrior with some
hesitation, "a slight contretemps has occur
rcd. The friends who were to .haye met
Us here, and helped to convey our precious
charge to a place Of safety, are not, Us you
perceive, arrived; perhaps they do not
think it prudent to venture quite SO far
1T is quite apparent they are not here,
observed Mr.. Smith; but why not have
proceeded in the cartl'
What, Captain! Betray yourand mad
ame's secret to yonder Spanish boor. How
you tall5'
'Well, but my good girl, what is to be
done? VIII madame get out and walki'
Impossible--impossible' calculated the
amiable damsel I'VE should be both re-
cognised, dragged back to that hateful
Badajoz, and madame would be shut up in
convent for life 1t Is but about quar-
ter of mile added Jeanette, in an insist
ing, carcssing tone, and madame is not so
rery heavy
The devill' exclaimed Mr. Smith, taken
completely aback by this extraordinary
proposal. You can't mean that | should
take that inter-that chest upon my
shoulders?'
Mon Dieu. what else can be doneF re-
piled Jeannctte with pathetic earnestness:
unless you are determined to sacrifice my
dear mistress-she whom you pretended
to love so-you hard-hcarted, iaithless
mani"
Partially moved by the damsers fearful
vehemencc, Mr. Smith reluctantly ap-
preached. and gently lifted one end Of the
chest, as an experiment
There are a great many valuables be
sides madame, said Jeanette, in reply to
the captains look, 'and silver coin is, you
know, very heavy.
'Ahr exclaimed the perplexed lover
1T is ducedly uniortunatc-still-Don't
you think he added earnestly, after again
essaying the weight olthe precious burthen,
that if Madame were to wrap herself well
up in this sail cloth, we mi s'it reach your
friend the priests house without detcc-
tioni'
Oh, no--no--non rejoined the girl
Mon Dieu! how can you think OF exposing
madame to suclrhazardi
How tar do you say it isl' asked Cap
tain Smith, after rather sullen pause
Only Just over the fields yondcr half a
mile perhaps,
Mr.. Smith still hesitated, but finally the
tears and entreates Of the attendant, his
regard for the lady and her fortune, the
necessity ithe position, In short, dcterm-
med him to undertake the task A belt
was passed tightly around the chest, by
means Of which he could keep it on his back
and after several unsuccessful efforts, the
charming load was fairly hoisted, and ON
the Captain manlully staggered, Jeanette
bringing up the rear.
Vahently did Mr.. Smith, though perspir-
ing in every pore of his body, and dry as a
cartouch box-tor madame had emptied
the only flask he had, toll on under bur-
then which seemed to grind his shoulder
blades to powder. He declares he must
have lost stone Of flesh at least before, af-
ter numerous restings he arrived, at the
end ofabout an hour, at the door of a small
| house, which Jeanette announced to be
the private residence Of the priest The
door was quickly opened by "a smart lad,
who seemed to have been expecting them;
the chest was deposited on the floor, and
Jeannctte instantly vanished. The lad
with cosiderate intelligence, handed Mr.
Smith a draught Of wine. 1t was scarcely
swallowed when the key turned in the
lock, the eager lover, greatly revived by
the wine, sprang forward with extended
arms, and received in his enthusiastic en-
brace whom do you thinkl
'Corahe, half suited for the want Of air
and nearly dead with fright! suggested Mr..
Tape.
That rascally Sous-Lieuteuant Victor!
half drunk with brandy and water roar
ed Captain Smith, who had by this time
worked himself into a state of great ex-
| element. At the same moment IN ran
Jeanette, and could hardly believe my
eyes, that Jezabel Coralie, followed by half
dozen French voltigeurs, screaming with
laughter! | sawI was done continued
Mr.. Smith, but not for the moment pre-
cisely how, and but for his comrades,
should have settled old and new scores
with Master Victor very quickly. As 1t
was, they had some difficulty in getting
him out of my clutches, for was as you
may suppose, awfully savage. An hour
or so afterwards when philosophy, pipe,
and some very capital wine--they were
not bad fellows those volugeurs-had ex-
ercised their soothing influence, | was in
formed Of the exact motives and particu-
lars Of the trick which had been played
me. Coralie was Victor Dufour's wife,
He had been wounded at the assault of
! Badajoz, and successfully concealed in
that Andalusian woman's house; and as
the best, perhaps only mode of saving him
from Spanish prison, or worse, the
scheme Of which had been the victim was
coacocted. Had notDu!our wounded me,
they would, was assured, have thrown
themselves upon my honor and generosi-
ty--which honor and generosity, by the
BY, would never have got Coralie's hus-
band upon my back, III be sworn'
You will forgive us, moncher capitaine?
said that lady with one of her sweetest
smiles, as she handed me cup Of wine.-
In love and war you know, everything is
fair
"A soldier, gentlemen, is not made of adj
amant | was l confess, soitened; and by
the time the party broke up, we were all
the best friends in the world
And 50 that fat, jolly looking Madame
Dufour we saw in Paris, is the beautiful
Coralie that bewitched Mr.. Smith,; said
Mr.. Tape thoughtfully-'WelP
She was younger forty years ago, Mr..
Tape, than when you saw her. Beautiful
Corahes are rare, / fancy, at her present
age, and very fortunately, too, in my opin-
ion, continued Captain Smith, for what.