Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-05-07

you choose to name, since it is only at that
price that am to gain your good opinion"
care you playing comedy, sir ?"
"Quite the contrary. Aud even rep at
that this extreme haste shows more the cour-
age of the nerves, than Of the true courage
a rising from principle"
What guaranty have l, should accept
your proposition, that you will not again en-
deavor to evade me?'
Z" Ny word, sir; which take all my COM
rades to witness, and place under the safe
guard of their honor.
There ran through his auditory such buzz
ofapprobation that DeNIalatour though with
a bad grace, was obliged to accedo to the
arrangement. 1t was then agi eed that on
the lst of September all present should as
semble at the Chateau du Clat.
! Whilst the young Lord the manor is max
| ing the necessary preparations for their recep-
ton, we shall explain the accusation of which
he was the object vet which had not branded
him with any mark of disgrace among the
class of men SO punctilious on the point Of
honor.
The young Baron de villetreton in entering
amongst the gentlemen who formed the house
hold guard of the king Of France, carried
with him principles which remained uncor-
ruptcd amidst all the lriyolitics OF ono Of the
most icentious courts in Europe. Such how
ever, is the charm of virtue, even IN the midst
of vice. that his omllary conduct htd not
only gained him the esteem Of his oIl-
GERS, and friendship of his companions, but
had attracted the attention of the king him
self One alone among his comrades, Mon
| sieur de Malatour, took umbragc ut this gem
cral favor, and, on the occasion of some
trihing expression or gesture, publicly insu ,
ted him. Vlletreton refused to challenge
him, as being contrary to his principles, hut
determined that this tocmng cuwardice, in
not fighting well-knnwn duciIist should lie
redeemed by some action of orlGi during the
campaign Just commenced. That moment
had arrived and for his nobl, conduct in
taking the English colors at the battle of
Fontcnoy he received tho cross of st. Louis
from the kings own hand on the field, the
| culGgium Of Marshal SAKE. and rcdoublcd
cumity on the part Of De Maatour.
The first care of the young baron, on ar
irving at his estate, was to call his major
domo, and old faithful servant.
II have bu iness with thee, my master, :"
snid he, cordially shaking him hy the hand.
speak, monsieur replied the pareur,
who was deeply attached to his young lord;
"you know the old hunter is yours to his
las, drop of blood"
II never doubted it, my old friend. Did
you receive my letter from Paris -
ayes, sir; and those gentlemen, your COM
rades, will have some work before thum.'
| "Are there bears already ON the heights
| then ?' asked Viletreton, extending his
hand in the direction of one of the lofty
peaks, whose summit, covered with tnow,
| glittered in the morning sun.
"Five in ala complete n,cndge-father
mother and children; besides an old bachelor,
whom the Spaniards had driven to thit
side"
"In less than week we shall 20 in pur-
suit of them. Do you know, pareur, some
Of my comradls are rather rough sportsmen!
there is one of them who is able to snuff a
candle with pistol at twenty PAGES"
"Easier, perhaps than to snuff bear al
four, replied the old man, laughing.
" That is what l said also But as
should wish to judge for myself of his row
ess, you must place us together at the sam(
postal the bridge of Maure, for instance ~
d" Hem - said the pareur, scratching his
ear; lit would better please me to have
you elsewhere.
"Why ?''
&" Because to guard this post, man ough
to be in a state of grace, for he will between
two deaths-the bears and the precipice."
81 know the one, and do not fear the other
thanks to your lessons"
Il am sure of that But, with your leav,
should like to guard the bridge myself"
"You are sure, then, that the Lears will
pass this way?'
Sure-ycs: but quite suro-no; Recol
lect that they are sulen and prudent beasts
which never conGdc their plan of route t,
any one"
at is agreed on. ] shall guard the bridg
with nv comrade Now 20 and have til,
trackers ready"
Very well, very we'll" murmured tn
pareur, as he retired u shall have my ey
on him
Eight DAYS afterwards all those invited, no
excepting Monsieur de Malatour-who, de
, spite the delicate attentions of the host pre-
) served cold reserve-were assembled at tn
chateau The magnificent grandeur of tn
Pyrenees, their shining SUBMITS relieve
against the blue sky of Spain, was an unlock
q ed-for pleasure to the greater number c
: the guests, who, for the most part, belonge
to the rich and fertile plains of the interior
I The morning following their arrival a bod
r of trackers and scouts, provided with all mar
9 ner of discordant struments-trumpets
: sauce-pans, drums, &C., &C., w,re assemble
4 under the walls of the chateau, with the pu
1 reur at their head; while by his side stoo
a the mandrin, who proudly guarded doze
: large mastifs, held in leash by his yigorou
: hel pers. The young baron and his friends
armed with carbines and hunting knives, ha
IS scarcely appeared, when, by sign from tl
pareur, the whole troop moved silently fo
# ward. The dogs themselves seemed to unde
stand the importance of this movement, on
i nothing was heard but the confused tramp
feet blending with the noise of the distal
10 torrent, or, at intervals, the cry of some b
% lat I'd night-bird, flying heavily homeward
h the doubtful olimmer of the vet unopen,
!. day.
n As the party reached the crest of the mou