The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-10-25
SELECT TALES.
BASQUE BLOOD.
A BROTHERS. VENGEANCE.


We had arrived at part of the noun.
tains where the gorge opened out into a
green valley about half mile ~die, wa
tered by brawling Gave, las the moun-
tain torrents are calleJ,) we'll cultivated,
: and dotted with cottages. At one oI
these my friend knocked, door was open
ed by ~ young woman Of about twenty.
two or twenty three yea,s Of age. She
was excessively handsome, and would
have been still more so, but for her per-
fectly bloodless complexion her figure
WIS well made and tall, and she seemed
superior 10 the peasant woman had. be-
fore seen. She saluted my friend with
great cordiahty who forthwith presenter
me TO her rs a petitioner E,r some milk.
She seemed ayerse TO conversation, so that
l had plenty Of time to make my silent
remarks.
There were two other women in the
room: one evidently her mother; the 9th
er might, from the likeness, have been -
younger sister. The thrrewomen were
all dressed in innurning. The house was
like the generality Of the more decent
houses in these mountains-two stories
high. In the room, where We were seat
ed, was large hearth, on which snm-
small wood was burning; and before which
child oftwo or three years old was play.
ing. The young woman refused to take
anything for the milk she had given US,
and returned, with slight tinge of pride
~ thought, the few sous put into her
child's laud-I call the child hers; be.
Cause, j, evidently was so. .,.
We thanked her and left the house
"And pray tell me the story that see be-
longs To these people," said to the doc
tor.
very WELL" said he in return; and thus
began: - -. :, .s.r7s.
The overthrn~ Of Lou;, p;.;lirpo's s".-
ernn"nt fcrty-eight, gave rise, as you
must be aware, To many plots, real or i'm
aginary, against lie dignity and safety Of
the inimt republic. In one Of these. JAG
ques Lacoste (the father Of the young wo-
man You have just seen) was mixed up.
He WAS arprehended, tried, and ira nspor-
teal To Cayenne for six Years.
The execution of ,iiis sentence reduced
his family, which had been enc of the
most prosperous Of the small proprietors
Of the valley, almost 10 indulgence, and
awakened item from their former life Of
ease an,l well rewarded industry to one Of
nnreinitting labor. The family consisted
Of the mother, son, anil two daughters
the eldest Of whom, Julie, WAS about eigh-
teen when this cruel event bcfell them. =
From u child, julie had attracted atten-
tion, not only on account of her great
beauty, but for natural quickness Of in
telleci, aud the kindness and sensbility
of her disposition. Her abilities hal not
escaped the notice of l,. village priest,
who took some slight pains in cultivating
them. From him she learnt TO speak
French (tI,e Basque or Boarna!s, rs you
will know, being the jsrgon of this dis
trict,) TO write, and 10 read, of which lat.
ter requirement she made good USE
Humble rs sich advantages were, they
raised her Ear above her conpanions-ot
which she soon became the admiration
aud oracle. Tie exercise Of the intellect
pal powers has always an effect on he
eountensnce; on jules naturally kind
face. kindness and sensibility became more
strongly stamped while the merriness oI
her eye WAS tanned 10y hook Of thought.
fulness, destroyed, at times, by deInure
coquettish glance which would be fixed
on you from under her eyelids. Kind and
useful in hers sphere, Of the world she
knew nothing she had never wandered
beyonI the valley, or the gorge in which
She valley terminates II she hat heard
.,of places larger than her own village, il
was frota some travelled soB of the noun