Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-28


our young friend, naively passing his fingers
through his hair. llaughingly assented, and lis
tened with attention, when, after this explosion
of feminine or haif-civhzod vanity, he went on to
relate how Madeleine was the daughter of the
richest proprietor on the island, and how her
father had promised her in marriage 10 an old re
tined admiral whom ancy had led to establish
himse duiing the latter years Of his life at Bre
That
Y . | was not the man to let this sacrlfc3 take
place with tho sncakug complaccncy of yoqr
towns folk, I said the sa;Ir (who, by the way,
told ME that his name was Cornic). "T went
and asked Madeleines hand, and was, of course,
refused, because my wealth was not sufficient.
objected that wealth was thing to be got, and
Il man that had all his limbs and strong will
to command them, with the hope Of Madeleine
in the future, was capable Of doing wonders
The old man said something Of the sacredness
of his promise to the admiral but as he had
resolved not 10 let lis daughter be married for
IA couple of years, intimatcd that if | could
make good offer within that time, why, he
would take the matter into consideration. So
set off on my voyage to Trebisond: not, you
may be sure, without having had some private
talk with Madeleine and obtaining from her a
promise that she woud never marry the admiral
until gave up all claim to her hand. For as
you may imagine, my dear sir, Madeleine did
not hesitate moment between mc and the crus-
ty old sea wolf who had cast lis eyes on her,
and whose mode Of coartship was to watch her
through telescope from Ills window as she went
in and out of her hoasc or wandered towards
the fields. | am quito surc she will keep her
promise still woman nature is weak. have
heard 10 news from Brchat since | left and
now that am so near am afraid to 60 over.
| have tried to learn in Paimpol some news Of
the dongs on the island bot nobody knows
anything of thcu,. 1t is true thata wicked old
woman has told Inc that Madeleine Eosc was
married to NJ Rcnard, week Or two ago ; but
this must be lalscEool. Neither she nor her
: father would dare to deceive me So lam terri
be, sir, when am angry There is no know
ing what might do. We are not Bretons ut
Brehat. We come from the South. We are
Basques or Sranards. You know how these
people treat the mistress who has betrayed them,
and the man who is her accomplice.'
Young Cornic had risen, and was walking
rapidly to and fro along the cdg' of the rock,
making threatening gostculations towards the
far out yslind Of Breilat ! noT upaerSstood
J, .tiiist -o t,anted me, having conf'lAncs-T Know
not for what reason--in my discretion and will
ingness to obligc, to go over to Brchat and as
certain the truth OF the report which had ag-
tatod him. He feared that if he went himself
o he might be led to commit some crime AS my
h journey had no particular goal, it was not a
: very great sacrifice on my part to consent. |
= took his Instructions, promised to return on the
Y morrow, went with him to PIimp"l, hired II
n baiqIc, and. the weather being Gnc in IL few
| hours reached Breut.
A wall of crumblng granite encircles the
s principal island, and allows nothing to be seen
hills, always crowned with rocks As you ad-
vance inland, however, the country becomes
S more pleasing. In few parts of France, indeed
0 is the soil more industliously made use Of The
g fields extend to the very base Of the rocks, and
are covered with rich vegetation Between
, them run narrow pathways, quite sufficient for
tl e 4; |, ..I IL,
; cart, nor even Il siuge horse There are II good
2 many COWS and carriage is perGorm.d By means
of asses. Hamlets composed Of neat and clean
houses, and with names ending in " ker " and
4" ce" are scattered here and there The most
, considerable is called lie Boalg and it was to-
c wards this that directed my steps from tho
e landing-place.
This was of course no hotel or respectable inn
IS OF any kind, but managed to obtain hospitali'
n y in a cabaret, where saw solnc sailors drink
e ing The hostess was surly old lady who
+ looked at Inc askancc as | commenced an early
3 dinner, for which had promised to pay well.
Is She could not make out what wanted at Bourg;
1f but did not choose to indulge in any inquiries
| was obliged to begin the conversation myself
M and soon found that without plump questioning
h | should never reach the point aimed at
II had asked who were the principal inhaLitantt
rs of the island had been asked in return
!, what wanted to know for =! At length,
y boldly mentioned the name of NJ Bose, and sue
t. ceeded III learning that he had gone to France
- perhaps to Paris
TO "And Madeleine" said /
ID The old lady came and stood full before M
u and looked, with something like fury, in N
counenance.
at "What business had |, she at length asked
Ie 3" to speak OF the bride Of Kcrwarev. !'
Ig These words at once told me that poor Cor
lie MICS fate was in reality decided. | remaine
n silent, and the hostess thinking she had sufi
III GENTLY rebuked me. went away to attend to he
ry domestic duties, but, it scclued that her mn
'e continued to work upon the thoughts had sug
rs gestcd She came back to me with gentle
s. expression Of countenanco sat down near me
I'd and said,
e. "What Curiosity can II stranger have abou
st the bride Of kerwareya "
IN | replied that did not know what she mean
We that | had once heard that NJ Bose bad pref
he ty daughter and that | had asked about hen
ne simply because had nothing else to ask about
no In that case" replied she, . take my ac
mt vice and do not speak Of her to any one else i
III this island The friends Of NJ Bose are hume,
ly GUS and quarrelsome. | have no time to te
60 you her story now, but will say somethin
81 about it this evening, before you go 10 bed