Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-07-05

itsss'SFis y llyol
God gives me strengY
shall not want home.
And so, with mutual blessings ailcV(U1 49,
they parted.
Cesar followed his master to the wars, and
Gertrude, on the day of Juan's departure, took
up her abonc in Marguerite's cottage. The old
woman managed the domestic affairs, while the
young one carried her milk, butter, eggs, and
poultry to market. In the evening, as they
both sat at their spinning wheels, their CONVEX
sation naturally turned an Juan "Where is
he now' what is he doing while we are speaking
of him ! " Sometime their anxiety was assaug-
ed by the arrival of letter, filled with hope
and tenderness; but at length one came which
increased their sorrow. 1t bore the stamp of
Algeria. Juan announced that his regiment
had just landed in Africa, and was Immediately
to march on the town of Zaatcha, where num-
Der Of insurgent :Arabs had intrenched them
selves. Some sharp fighting was expected, as
the rebels were known to be desperate. Under
this affecting intelligence, the two women
found their only consolation in religion-in
committing their dear one to the care of God.
Every day, on her way to the town, Marguerite
was accustomed to pause for few minutes at
the spot where she had first met her betrothed,
and where, during the happy days of their
courtship, he had raised rustic seat she used
to kneel beside that simple memento, and pray
fervently, nor did she ever arise and 60 on her
way without feeling strengthened and encour.
aged.
Every evening, on her return, her first ques.
tion to Gertrude was, " Has Juan written "
And the old woman would silently shake hel
head with despairing gesture, which seemed
to imply, Juan will never write to us again 2
One day, as Marguerite was returning from
Bagneres, she was overtaken by violent thun
derstorm. There was no place of refuge neare
than her own cottage; and with her garment
dripping, and her eyes nearly blinded by tn
driving rain, she hastened towards it. Wha
did she spe! A blazing, lightning stricken pile
surrounded by terrified crowd ofsillagers. -
"Mother ~ cried Marguerite, darting on
wards, "where are you'll"
A cry of agony from within the burning col
tage was the reply
Mother, courage! I'll save or die wit
you p" And before the astonished spectator
could detain her, she rushed through the flames
A minute, which seemed an age, of agonizin
suspense, elapsed, and Marguerite reappeared
dragging forth her pious burden, and formin
with her own body rampant against the flames
Scarcely had she allowed the old woman to fa
INTO some of the arms ready to receive her, whe
the heroic girl sunk down herself inanmate.
when she opened her eyes, continued tn
curate, she was in an apartment in my house
whittier | had caused er to be curried Ger
ftrude and had watched for three days an
three nights by her bed, awaiting the momen
of returning consciousness. Her first sensatio
was that Of torturing pain in the face. Sh
raised her hand to it, and felt that it was 50 en-
yeloped in bandages as to leave only the mout
and eyes free. A cry escaped her lips. "Oh,
remember the storm-the flames am disfgur
ed for life,-is it not so "
Gertrude and were silent. 1t was but to-
true; the devouring element, leaving her body
protected by her wet clothes, untouched. ha
seized on her face. The beauty Of featurs an
delicacy of complexion, which had procured 70
her her graceful sobriquet, were totally de
stroyed.
Until the bandages were removed, which tn
servant did not as yet judge it prudent to do, h
could not tell the extent of the dis6guremen
but that it would be very great was certain
Our silence, and the tears which we could nj
repress, acquainted the poor child with her mil
fortune She raised her eyes to heaven with
touching expression of resignation. " 1t is I'll
will, my God," she said, g but let not Juan 81
me thus"
"Juan " repeated Gertrude, we shall SOC
embrace him.
:" Is he comingi"
7" In ten days--see yourself" She handed
letter to Marguerite, which the latter read wi
eagerness. 1t was written by the hand of Oh
of his comrades, and informed them that Jua
who had received q severe wound at the seige
Zaatcha, was now conyalescent in the hospital
had obtained, as reward for his services,
, cross of merit, his discharge, aud pension, ar
, would be with them in ten or twelve days at Il
, furthest.
Having finished reading the letter, Margneri
fell into a profound reverie, from which neith
? Gerhude's fond caresses nor my attempts
consolation could arouse her.
"Oh, sir /" said she at last, ait Is not. i
/ deed it ia not, for its own sake that l vail
beauty, but--but how can Juan love mo VIII
he sees me in this statel"
!. At that moment the surgeon entered, q,
having felt his patients pulse, he began silent
h to remove the bandages. As soon az Margueri
Q felt that her wounds were exposed, she asked +
!. q mirror.
1 "Not yet, my child not to-day" said b
r doctor, She tried to raise her hands to feel b