Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-03-12

hat country when the htat ol tue day
5 past aud the Captdin saw no bell OF
knocker, and walked in.
lie walked into n lofty stone hall, re
cool and gloomy after the
glare Of q Southern days travel. EN-
tending along the four sides of this hall,
was a gallery, leading to suites Of rooms;
aud 1t was lighted from the top. Still,
no hell was 10 be seen.
Faith said the Captain, battling.
of tile hukmg Of his boots;
: this is ghostly beginning
lie started hack, and felt his face turn
white. In the gallery looking down al
him stood the French officer; the officer
whose picture he had carried in his mind
50 long and so far. Compared with the
original at last-in every lincament
how like it Was.
lie moved, and disappeared, and Cap
tain Richard Doubledick heard bis steps
coming quickly down the ball. lie en;
tered through an archway. There was
Il bfigh, sudden look upon his face
Much such look rs it had worn in that
fatal moment.
Monsieur lie Capilainc Richard Doub-
ledick 3? Enchanted to receive him
The servants were all out in the air
There was little fete among them III
the garden. In effect, Il was the feie
day of my daughter the little cherished
and protected OF Madame Taunton.
lie was 80 gracious and so frank, that
Monsieur lie Capitaine Richard Double
dick could not Withhold his hand. 'Itis
the hand of a brave Enghshman, said
the French officer, retaining il while be
spoke. i could respec; brave English
man. even as my foe; how much more
as my friend also, am a'soldier'
He has not remembered me, as have
remembered him; he did not take such
note of my face that day Us ] took of his,
thought Captain Richard Boubleditk.-
How shall tell him?'
The French officer conducted his guest
into a garden, and presented him to his
wife an engaging and beautiful woman;
sitting With Mrs. Taunton in whimsical
old fashioned pavilion His daughter,
her fair young face 6eaming with JOY,
came running TO embrace him; and there
was a boy baby to tumble down among
the orange-trees on the broad steps, in
making for his fathers legs. A multitude
of chldren-visitors were dancing TO
sprightly music ahd all the servants and
peasants about the chateau were dancing
too. II was a scene of innocent happi-
ness that might have been invented for
the climax OF the scenes of Peace which
had sc0thed the Captains journey.
He looked on, greatly troubled in his
mind, until resounding bell rang, and
the French officer begged to show him TO
his rooms. They went up stairs into the
gallery from which the officer bad look
ed down; aud Monsieur lc Capitaine
Richard Doubledick was cordially well
coined 10 grand outer chamber, and
smaller one within, a!l clocks and draper
/ les, aud hearIhs; and bfazen dogs, and
/ tiles, and cool devices, aud elegance and
vasiness.
/ You were at Waterloo said the French
officer
Il was, said Captain Richard Double
dick. Aud at Badajos.'
Left alone wijh the sound OF his own
stern voice in his ears, he sat down 10
consider. What shal. ID, and how
shall tell him. At that time, unhappi-
ly, many deplorable duels had been
fought between English and French ofii-
Gers arising Out of lhe recent war; and
these duels, how to void this officers
hospitality, were the uppermost in Cap
tain Richard DouJledict's mind.
lie aas thinking and letting the time
run out in which he sh0hid have dressed
for dinner, when Slrs. Taunton spoke to
him outside the door, asking if be could
give her the letter be Lad brought from
Mary. Ills mother, above all the
Captain thought, How shall ! tell her ,
You sill form a friendship with your
host, hope said Mrs. Taunton, whom
be hurriedly admitted, that viii last for
lie. lie j. 80 trIe-heaued and so gen
erous, Richard that you can hardly fail
to esteem one another. II be bad been
spared, she kissed, (not without tears)
the locket ia which ,he wore hs hair,
he would have appreciated him with his
own magnanimiiy, and would have been
truly happy that the eyii days were past,
which made such man his enemy
: She left the ON and the Captain
walked, fir; 70 one wiadow, whence he
could See the dancing 10 the garden, then
I 10 another GiGdow, wbeBce be could see
the smiling prospect and the peaceful
, vineyards.
Spirit u ny icbaried friend said he
J i Is It through thee these better thoughts
; are ri.ing IN my mind j. il liioa who
hast shown ne, al the say hase been
! drawn % meet this man, the blessings Or
! the altered time Is il ll,0a Who hast
} sent tby stricken mother 10 me 10 stay ny
I angry hand l. II from thee the whisper
eotnes. that this man dld Bis duiy - thou
didst--and ~ I did, through thy guidance,
which bas wholly saved me, here on
eanh--aud tliat be dsd n0 more ="
lie sat down. uilh BE face buried in
his hands, and when b. rose %, made
: the second strong resolution If his life
: That neitber to Tie Fuueh 0fliarr. nor
10 ihe mother d bis depaued friend. nor
10 any soaI whiie either of abe iso we're
= living. s0sld he breathe ahat only &c
r knew. AID when hs touched lbai French
: I'D asfas.. sufff. s.s.4. ia