Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-12-23
cost and charge of your maintenance

cost and charge of your maintenance
Right willingly will | do so sir cavalier
if you will liberate me upon my paroI,
seeing that here can raise nothing, and
that you have so adroitly rammaged with
in the folds ofmy doublet (expertly emp
tying the pockets therein) that have not
sou left. If you will accept my paroI
Of honor, ] will return 10 my estates, aud
there use my utmost endeavors to raise
the sum agreed upon
Now, by st. George! monsieur, if you
think TO escape me scot free, after brbing
me to save your paltry life at ST. Crispin's
massacre, you are mistaken! What sort
Of security, sir count, do you propose to
leave that you will perform your engage
meni?'
'AIack! most puissant knight, have
nothing to leave as pledge, unless you
would accept of fair daughter, now in
the convent Of ST.. Opportune, hard by
replied the luckess count.
And how know that she is fair? re-
turned the knight Perhaps she is, like
that old tabbard of yours, only parcel gilt.
Harkee, sir count, can she sew well with
her needle? Can she distI herbs for
wounds, aud brew, and make pastie>?'
i know no one who can bake or brew
better?' replied the count.
Humph! can she darn well with her
needle, for that is what chiefly want!'
asked the courteous English knight.
Heaven defend me from hoasting, sir
knight, but to say that Celine can darn
your hose, bake, and brew, would be to
fall far short of her accomplishments see
ing she can do all manner of curious
stitches to bIazon banners and broider
coats
'Broideres care little for, said the
knight, but if she can mend my doublet
will consult the matter, seeing that though
a belted knight, have to darn my own
hose and repair my doublet'
'Vaiorous knight, CeIine will not only
keep both in good repair, but she can
card and spin both wool and fax as well
as the nobIest dame in Normandy, having
been perfected in all useful accomplish /
ments by her aunt, the abbess of the con
vent St. Opportune.'
Our English knight upon hearing this
lucky piece of intelligence, rubbed his /
hands ia very delight, as he rejoned,
'By the mass! sir count, but your
daughter seemeth a clever one! Prithee, (
how old is sheF
Not yet seventeen, most Worshipful sir; /
lively as kitten, fair and graceful as a
lily; and sooth to say it much grieveth me
10 devote her to convent
And why should SO thrifty damselbe
cooped up i'll a convent, when a beled
knight like myself has to darn his own
hose and patch his own donbiet, for the
lack Of some one to mend them for him?
Now, harkee, sir countl must first see
his daughter of yours, aud if she is as
1air and we'll trained with her needle as
you say, and can make pasties and cons
iections. will accept her instead of the
-ansom for your paItry life. But suppose
the does not like me, have you any money
n your beggarIy Golfers?
sAlack! not sou, most valiant knight!
,ut the Lady Celine Vidal knows her
,lace too well, as the daughter of a noble
French family to gainsay her fathers
wishes in matter Of so little import to
herself. Therefore, as am in somewhat
If hurry to get back 10 my estates will
ret friar to draw out parchment con-
racting her to you, as well as an order
lpon her aunt the abbess, to deliver her
Ip to you as soon as you will that the es-
'ousals may take place.
To be Continuedl