The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-02-06

| prrture, took up her abode in nMarguerite's
cottage. The old woman managed the
domestic affairs, while the young one
carried her milk. butter, eggs, and poul-
try to market. In the evening, as thoy
both sat at their spinning wheels, their
conversation naturally turned on Juan
Where is he now2 what is he doing
while we are speaking of him p Some,
times their anxiety was assuaged by the
arrival of a 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 AT
RIGA, aud was Immediately TO march on
the town of Iantcha, where a number of
insurgent Arabs had intrcncbcd them.
selves. Some sharp fighting was expect
ed, as the robels were known to be des.
perate. Under this affecting intelligence.
the two women found their only consola.
tion in roligion-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 min
ules at the spot where she had at first
met her betrothed. and where during the
happy days of their courtship, he had
raised a rustic seat she used to kncel
beside that simple memento, and pray
fcrvently nor did she ever arise and 20
on her way without feeling strengthened
aud encouraged.
Every evening, on her roturn her frst
question to Gertrude was Has Juan
written p And the old woman would
silently shake her head with despair
ing gesture, which seemed to imply
Juan will never writefto us again
Onegday as Marguerite was returning
from Bagneres, she was ovortaken by
violent thunderstorm There was no
place Of refuge nearer than her own cot
tage; and with her garments dripping
and her eyes nearly blinded BY the driv-
ing rain, she fastened towards it, What
did she see A blazing lgbtning-stricli-
en- pile, surrounded by terrified crowd
Of villagers
Mother p criel Marguerite, darting
onwords, where are youP
A cry of agony from within the burn
ing cottage was the reply.
Mother, coinage I'll save, or die
with you And before the astounded
spectators could detain her. she rushed
through the flames A minute, which
seemed an age of agonizing suspense, O.
lapsed and Maguerite roappearcd, drag
giug forth her pious burden, and forming
with her own body a rampant against
the flames. Scarcely had she allowed
the old woman to fall into some of the
arms ready to receive her, when the he
roic girl sunk down herself !inanimatc.
When she opened her eyes contin.
ued the curatc. sho was in an apartment
i'll my house. whittier l had caused her
to be carried. Gertrude and | watched
for three days and three nights by her
bed, awaiting the moment Of returning
consciousness. Her first sensation was
that Of tortur;pg pain in the face She
raised her hand to it, and felt that it
was SO enveloped in bandagcs as to leave
only the mouth and eyes free A cry
escaped her lips 'Oh. | remember the
storm-the flames; l am disigured for
lifc--is it not p
Gertrude and werc silent 1t was
but too true; the devonring element,
leaving her body, protected by her wet
clothes untouched, had seized on her
face The beauty of feature and delica-
cy of complexion, which had procured for
her the graceful soabriquot, were totally
destroyed.
Until the bandagcs we're removed,
which the surgeon did not as yet judge
it prudent TO do, he could not tell the eX-
tcnt of the Disagreement. but that it
would be very great it was certain. Our
silence. and the tears which we could
not repross acquainted the poor girl with
her misfortune. She raised her eyes to
heaven with touching expression OF re.
signation 1t is Thy will, my Gcd.' she
said but let not Juan see me thus
Juan = repeated Gertrude we shall
soon embrace him.
Is he coming?'
In ten days-soe yourself She
handed letter to Marguerite, which the
latter read with eagcrness Il was writ
ten by the hand of one of his comrades
and Informed them that Juan, who had
received a severe wound at the siege Of
Xantcha. was now convalescent in hospi
tai had obtained. as a reward for his
services, cross of merit, his discharge,
and PENSION and would be with them in
ten or twelve days at furthest
Having finished reading the letter,
Marguerite fell into a profound reyerie,
from which neither Gertrude's found ca
resses nor my attempt at consolation
could arouse her. oh, SIR said she at
last, 1T is not, indeed it is not for its
own sake that | value beauty, but-how
can Juan love me when he sees me in
this state Z? At that moment the sur
geon entered. and having felt his pa
TENTS pulse, he began, silently, to re-
move the blndages. As soon as Mar
guerie felt that her wounds were expos
ed, she asked for mirror.
Not yet, my child ; not to day said
the doctor. She tried TO raise her hands
to feel her face Hold her arms down.
cried the surgeon to the old woman and
myself We did so, involuntarily turn
ing away our eyes from the sight of those
swollen and mutilated features, once SO
lovely.