Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-06-17

time a mutual understanding. Hademoiselle
was French woman, and V s.ich was not
burdened with diffidence.
Next evening it was gensfay known that
Ernest Delayiene and Louise dsIaondonte we're
affianced-to the astoniahment il all fortune
hunters, and the great joy Of alIiIOse who SYM
pathizad with truthful feeling, adsincere afFec-
ton. But the saloons Of MN. de Lastranpe
were no longer crowded--the hst Of interested
suitors vanished.
"Do you knew" said Louiss one evening, as
they were talking of the future, ]" that mean
to make regular patriarch Of you have de-
termined to introduce among all my farmers
and their neighborS the latest improvements, and
and to give them the benefit Of all agricultural
discoveries of England and France
"lt is useless making such. attempts" replied
Ernest, gravely,-" YOU will but lost your tenn
per and your time"
monsieur why, you sse y bad az the
"''Fool of Laboudie."
"Why," continued the merry girl, without
noticing his uneasiness, "you must know that
my castle is close to Laboudie. My uncle was
the Count de Plouveres."
ooh" replied Ernest.
"Well, there came from neighborlng town,
some two years back, young man belonging
to our place, who had studied agriculture and
who desired, it appears, to do so--who told the
ignorant farmers of what they might do, but did
not attempt to demonstrate his theories. Peo-
pie, naturally enough, laughed at his lectures
his disquisitons; especially, as | am told he
had land himself, and never thought Of trying
the sensible experiment Of showing his neigh
bors by practice, the advantages he believed
but did not know to exist Such well-meaning
men are worse than useess--they stand more
in the way of real progress than he most obsti-
nate devotee of antiquity-they are mere sent-
mental, and not practical reformer.
"Bnt why SO gloomy, Ernest Surely l have
not offended you? l see you are little unwel.
Good night. Go home, to bed, and tell your
old concierge to make you some tisane 1t will
soon be my office to take care of Monsieur, when
he thinks proper to be i'll.
Ernest took her proffered hand, shook it even
more heartily than usual, and went away. 1t
was early. Just before midnight, and when
the other guests were about to depart, the bonn
of Nine. de Lastrange gave letter to Louise
who, alone iu little boudoir where she had re-
tired, since none but card-players remained, at
once opened and read it:
81 write not in anger, but with deep sorrow.
love you too much to expose.ycu to a life ol
misery. You have expressed tps.Jsnch con-
tempt for person of ny characG Not to Ue
very unhappy when you know me better. You
will doubtless find, however. one worthy of you
.L.ll ss.k. after that severe lesson which
have now received, to win your esteem, now
that YOUR love is impossible. Remember me
kindly, if it be only because have sufficient
sense left me to save thee, in time, from ever
lasting unhappiness. This night, at eleven, I
start for home."
"What have done ?" cried Louise. Poor
Ernest! how generous how noble how good
Poor fellow how those thoughtless bitter words
must have gone to his heart must stop him.
but no, he is gone What a night he will pass,
travelling How cruel he must think me "-
And away she hurried to bed, as i by SO doing
the morrow would sooner come.
Meanwhile Ernest, whose mind had been en-
larged and elevated by more extensive studies,
went away on his road home, subdued, detected,
and yet not wholly cast down. Hesaw directly
the truth of oil that Louise had said; he perceiv-
ed where his own errors lay, and determined to
profit by the lesson. He arrived at home after
long journey, calm, serious and full of strong
conviction OF his own former pride, which made
his present humility all the more pleasing His
mother was delighted to see him; and when he
declared his intention of devOting himself in fu-
ture to the farm, she was doubly pleased. He
took up his former quarters; and then, after
DAYS rest, started for a long walk to recruit his
body, somewhat enervated by study and town
life. He followed the high road which led to
the Chateau of Plouvieres, along which were
several small farms and one or two very exten.
sive ones. lie walked along, his eyes fixed on
the ground. in deep meditation, until be was
suddenly aroused by loud voice;
"Halloo, there Monsieur Ernest | want to
speak with you,' said the very old farmer
whom lie had FIRST made an attempt upon, nearly
two years ago.
"What is it ?" replied young Delavigne, ria.
ing little haughtily-" what can you want of
the Fool Of LabOudie?"
"Sir," cried the other, as they approached
each other, 81 beg your pardon, and we all
beg your pardon. But do you not see that wa
did not understood your fine talk and We
could not believe what we did not see. BOt
then Mile. Louise, our guardian angel, bad inst
finished her model farm, and there she had all
the improvements of which you told us. Well
when we saw that really there were better wavs
than we knew Of you see we agreed to trv.
and I've bought new plough-here it is-,rd
it's little out of order, and it's just to ask vo,r
advice about mending it, that called you.n
"With pleasure" said Ernest who listenod
to the others words with deep interest," 20 i
ia nothinp-a couple of nails and scrov :. -
that is wanted"
Half an hour later the defect vas remed;oa
and the two were at breakfast togther. The old
man said that if Ernest would ~ open his lsc-
lures they would be well attsnde'Ofan evening,
and if confined to descriptions Iernng to THING"
the farmers began to understaniwould contin.
lpe 30. The young man replh that he would
done, himself acquainted wi what had been
following Sunaa. deliver his Is lecture on the
population in France cou,~'.K KaSwben ,,,,.l