Litchfield enquirer., 1855-02-08
HENRY ". HYATT, Editor and Proprietor.

My word, SIT; WHICH l take all my comrades to witness, and place under the safeguard of their honor"
 There ran through his auditory such a buzz of appreciation, that De Malatour. though with bad grace, was obliged to accede to the arrangement. It was then agreed that on the first of September, all present should assemble at the Chateau dn Clat.
 Whilst the young lord of the manor is making the necessary preparations for their reception, we shall explain the accusation of which he was the object, yet which had not branded him with any mark of disgrace among a class of men so punctiiious on the point of honor.
 The young Baron de Villetreton, Tn en- te.ing amongst the gentlemen who formed the household guard of the king of France, carried with him principles which remained uncorrupted amidst al the frivolties of one of the most lcentious courts Tn Europe. Such, however, is the charm of virtue, even in the midst of vice, that his exemplary con- duct had not only gained him the esteem of his officers and the friendship of his compa- nions, but had attracted the attention of the king himself One alone among his com rades, Monsieur de Malatour. took umbrage at this general favor, and, on the occasion of some triting expression CT gesture, publicly insulted him. Villeiretcn refused to chal- lenge him, as being contrary to his prnci- afdce in not fighting we'll known duellist should be redeemed by some action of eclat during the campaign just commenced. That moment had arrived and for his noble con- duct in taking the English colors at the bat, tie of Fon,enoy, he received the cross of St. Louis from the kings own hand on the field, the eulogium of Marshal Sake, and re- doubled enmity on the part of De Malatour'
 The first care of the young baron on arri- wing at his estate was to call his malor- dolno, an old faithful servant.
 |" have business with thee, my master,' said he, cordially shaking him by the hand.
 "Speak. monseigneur," replied the pa- reur, who was deeply attached to his young Tor: : "you know the old hunter is yours ;o his last drop of 3Iood.'
 "I never doubted it, my old friend. Did you receive my letter from Paris?'
 "ies, sir; and those gentlemen, your comrades, will have some work before ihem.'
 "Are thrre bears already on the heights, then !" asked Vile,reton, extending his hand in the direction of one of the lofty peaks, whose summit, covered with snow, glittered in the morning sun.
 "Five in ala complete menage-fathef, mother, and children; besides an old bach elor, whom the Spaniards had driven to this side"
 "In less than week we shall go in pur- suit of them. Do you know, pareur, some of my comrades are rather rough sportsmen: there is one of them who is able to smut candle with pistol at twenty paces."
 Easier, perhaps, than to snuff bear at four" replied the old man, laughing.
 "That is what l said also But as l should wish to judge for yself of his prow- ess, you must place us together at the samo post-at the bridge of Mature, for instance
 Huu!" said the pareur, scratching his ear :" It would better please me to have you elsewhere"
 "Why !"
 "Because, to guard this post, man ought 10 be in state of grace, for he will be be- tween two dea,hs--tIe bears and the prec- pice."
 "I know the one, and do not fear the other thanks to your lessons"
 'I am sure of that. But, with your leave l should like to guard the bridge myself"
 You are sure, then, that the bears will pass this way !"
 "Sure-yos but quite sure-no. Recol- lect that they are snllen and prudent beasts which never confide their plan of route 10 ahy one."
 "It is agreed on. l shall guard the bridge with my comrade. Now go, and have the trackers ready"
 "Very we'll, very well," murmured the on him."
 Eight days afterwards, all these invited, not excepting Monsieur de Maiatour-who, despite the delicate attentions of the host, preserved q cold reserve-were assembled a, the chateau. The magnifcent grandeur of the psrenees, their shining sunmi.s re- lieved against the blue sky of Spain, was an unlooked-ior pleasure to the greater num- Der of tho guests. who, for the most part. belonged to the rich and fertile plains Of the interior.
 The morning following their arrival, a body of trackors and scouts, provided with all manner of fdiscoriant tins,rumenis-,rum- pets, saacepans, drums. sc. 6sc. were assem- bled under the walls ot the chateau. with the pareur at their head while by his side stood the mandrin. who proudly guarded dozen large mastiits, held in leash hy his vigorous helpers. The young baron and his friends, armed with carabines and hunting-knives, had scarcely appeared. when, by a sign from the pareur, the whole troop moved silently forward. The dogs themselves seemed 10 the importance ofthis movement, and nothing was heard but the confused tramp of feet, blending with the no:se cf the distant torrent. of, al intervals, the cry of some belated ngat-hiri flying heavily home ward in the doubtful glimmer of the yet un- opened day.
 As the party reached the crest of the moun- tain which immediately overhung the cha teau, the first rays of the sun breaking from the east glanced on the summit of ,he pyre- nees, and suddenly Illuminating the land. scape, discovered beneath them deep val Icy, covered with majestic pine-;,ees, whici, ,narnured in tho fresh breeze of thu n,orn- ing.