Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-07-20

wa No"i"SO, "iu dttHouSi eHo ntu SO'iOV w"
viction that she owed it solely to her young
brother reflected bravery, it is a reputation
which young girls prize so highly that, rather
than forfeit it, they will rush recklessly int
real dangers, frolnawhich, i; thy escape, it il
by thcir good fortune, and not by their boastet
courage. ..H.4
Alix could not endure to allow to others that
she was afraid, No, no, she must not permit
that to be said, nor must she expose herself tc
the Jcels and laughter of those who would de.
light to hear that she was not first at market
She must 60 by the wood path and must 60
early. And SO thinking, she laid her down to
rest.
The part of France in which Alix was born
and brought up is full Of historical remains and
therefore abounds with traditions, the more
mystical and terrible from the dash of Paganism
with which they are mixed up. Not forest,
ruin, Or grotto, is without some picturesque lc-
gond, which the young listen to from the lips OF
the aged with shudderng delight; and all that
Alix had ever heard of the forest of Beauregard
or of any other haunted wood in the province,
rose with disagreeahle tenacity to her mind on
this particular night. She remembered the dark
ness and gloom of the old trees, the thickness of
the us,wo,l AMI shud lJrJl as she thought
of the possibility Of m,otns the Coulcuvrc- Fec
the AIeusina Of Proycncc-or the Chcvre d Or,
who eontdcs the secret rsting-llace of liddcn
treasures to the wandering traveller, only to af-
hict him with incurablc melancholy if lie prove
himself unworthy of riches. AS the dread Of
these supernatural creatures increased uron Eer
with tie silence and tai knees of night, she hid
her head beneath the countcr-I ane, and wisely
resolved to dare all that human beings could dc
to yex her, rather than encounter the tricks and
Temptations of those uncartl!ly onc6-and then
SIC slept.
Light to sec, However, is nearly allied to cour-
age to dare ard wien Alix arose at carly dawn
her Icrturhations and tremblngs had vanished
and her midnight decision was overrulcd by the
impulse Of the morning. She dressed herself
quickly, but carcfully ly, in hcr most becoming at
tire; and very fine specimen of the women Of
the province she looked-noted though they are
for the regal style of their beauty-when
equipped in her plated retticoat; her bright
fchu not pinned tightly down, but crossing tho
bosom in graceful folds, and fastened in kno
at the back her thick glossy bands of black
hair contrasting well with the glow of her check
and with hcr Madras silk handkerchief Which
covered without conccaling the luxuriance O
her lorg lar. Holding in her Land her large
market basket, not unlike in shape to Il coal
scuttle or girsey bonnet, with a majestic ra,h
cr than tripping step, Alix began her walk
looking nolc like one Of the Roman matron
from wi en- tradition tells that her race was de-
scc,dcd tlan roor peasant girl.
As she reached tic turn from the high road tt
the wood, she qnickcntd her stels and resolutc
ly took the forest path; willie, as if determined
to prove to herself that she was not afraid sht
ever and anon gave forth snatch of song, in {
voice as cllar ard shlill as that of the bird
lNitttI III ti4C NO oNNlLCdu W tolli ti'
CON mon ln,n of raise with Which the dcni
zens Of earth and sky salute the newborn day.
Tie morning was unusually sultry and op
Ircssi,c, altl ough tie sun was but newly risen
Alix felt herself overcome with fatigue whcl
scarcely halfway through the forest. She wa
SO iatigucd tia size found it necessary to 81
down; but just as she had selected n scat in
quiet shady nook which promised to be a pleas
ant resting llace, she discovered that it abutte'
cloesy on the opening to one Of the grottos tha
tradition had marked out as the former habita
ton of hcrmits or saints, whose spirits wer
still believed to haunt their old dwclling-places
She no sooner became aware Of the grotto Vi
cinity than she rose hastily; and, snatching u
her basket, set off down one of the alleys of til
forest, without taking time to consider wher
sic was going when forced to pause to recoye
her breath, she found herself in spot she hat
never seen before, but one go lovely that sll
looked around with surprise and admiration.
1t was a little glade, in form almost an am
pithcalrc, carIeted with turf as soft and elasti
as We vet; its green, cnamellcd with fowcis
and on zach petal, each tiny blade of grass, dew
drops were sparkling like tears of happiness, il
the sun $ returning rays. Around this littl
circle, mighty old trees, gnarled and rugged, tn
fathers Of the forest, were so regularly range
as to seem the work ofart rather than of nature
and this impression was strengthened by the az
enuc like alley that spread from it towards tn
north. Immediately opposite to this openin
on the southern side of the amphithcatrc rol
a rampant of grey rocks, marbled with golde
veins, from whose hoary side sprang forth tt
rock rose or pink cystus, and under whose moi
shades the blue astcr, ore Of the airest of earth
stars fourishcd luxurantly. AS Alix' 8 eye fe
on the trees, and grass, and flowers, she set hi
basket down carefully at the foot of maijest
oak, and, forgetting fatigue, heat, and supe
stitious terrors, busted himself in gathcrir
the dew-gemmed flowers, until her apron WI
quite full.
Then, seating herself under tho oak, she b
} gan with pretty fastidiousness to choose II
: most perfect of her treasures to arrange into
bequet for her bosom, and one for her hair
While thus engaged, she half chanted, half r
cited her Salve Regina
Hail to the Queen who reigns above
| Mother of Clcnency and Love
We from this wretched world Of tears,
Send sighs and groans unto thine ears
Oh, thou sweet advocate, bestow
One eptying look us below 4!
| The hymn and toiletwer concluded together
and then, but not till then, Alix remembers
D that there was market at Maillot, ut whic
, she must be present, instead of spending IL
8 day in such joyous idleness. She sighed al
4 wished sha ,uere n ladr tLo ,o,,.s Il