The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1859-01-29

lug DAYS. lie knew that in the course Of ma
turc, he would not see them grow up to man
hood: so that all lie could do for his children,
all of anxiety he could save for his Jeanne, he
must do quickly.
Aymon Terrail was entering his cghtlcth
year, and felt the near approach of that power
which had spared him thus long. The wife ne
had so loved the children so dear to his aged
heart, must be left, and with manly courage,
such as in his youth he had faced death with
upon the battlefield, he met him now. Only
a few days before the last scene ne called ms
sons around him, in presence OF Their gentle
mother and desired them to choose their future
life. as far as mortals could choose what may
never be granted them. One chose to occupy
the chateau another to live like his uncle who
presided over the Abbey d'Esuay, and third
to be like his uncle, the Bishop of Grcnobe.
There was another child boy of thirteen,
with eyes that slonc out of the soul and looked
into the soul, and with one arm thrown around
his mothers neck, and with u voice like sky.
lark's, who cntreatcd his father to permit him
to bear arms, like those noble ancestors of
whom the tales of their deeds had ever rung
like music on his car. AT the sound Of the boys
speech, Aymon Tcrrail wcpt like child, but
not for grief.
"trhou shalt my Picrrc!" he answered "God
give thee grace to do so. Thou art like thy
grandfather, the Lraycst knight in Christcil-
dom; and thou shalt follow his profession"
The lad .oyfuly withdrew, without marking
the mourniul smile Oh the lip Of his mother;
and with dignity which would have become
one twice his years, yet tempered with modes
ty he began to talk with his brothers about
the future Of them all.
The next day saw grand dinner party at
the Chateau dc Bayard, Of which the sons did
the honorS, on account Of the fathers inability.
The guests were noble, and included Aymon
Tcrrail's brothern-law, the Bishop and several
of his kindred. After dinner, at which Pierre
had distinguished himself for his manly courte-
sy, Tcrrail asked their advice MS to where the
boy had best be placed to take the initial steps
in his profession.
Send him to the King of France said one
'Placc him IN the house Of Bourbon" said
another.
II will take him to our good Duke Of Sayory
as his page" said the bishop, "and send for my
people at Grcnoble to fit him for his prcscnta
ton tomorrow"
On the following morning, therefore, thanks
TO the pcrscycring knights Of the thimbc,
Pierre, dressed in splendid suit of velvet and
satin, and mounted on little, spirited horse
which the bishop had given him, rode past his
fathers window as brave and fearless as when,
in after days, he curbed his fiery war-stccd on
the field of Taro and Brescia. 1t was the
grand starting-point in the boys eycntlul life,
that morning; and long after the fathers aged
head was laid low, and the earth was pressing
on the bosom Of his gentle mother; long after
one Of the little band Of brothers had become
abbot of Josaphat in Charities, and another
bishop Of Glandevcs in Provence, and Pierre
himself had become known as the brave Che
Waller de Bayard, the knight "sauS pcnr d Saas
Ircpr0the'-he looked back to that bright morn
Ing OF his innocent boyhood with a sigh that
the freshness and beauty Of lifc's morning hours
should be mildewed and bighted by the world.
Alas for the knight with the heart as pure
as pcarl.o Alas, that every pearl hath its
flaw, more or less perceptibIc, or hidden away
III its depths so far that only by holding it up
to the light we can discover it, and then it
looks all the more hideous for the surrounding
beauty.
Catherine Allcgri, noble NIancse lady
4 whose family were hther, like the chcvalicr,
"sans rcproche," met him in the height Of his
fame, when all France was ringing with his
praises and when his own head, perhaps, was
turned with the Overwhelming admiration he
was receiving The Spanish blood which she
inherited from her mother, flowed warm and
passionate in her veins; and the first sight Of
the eyes that looked ont Of the knights soul
into hers, scaled the fate Of the unhappy lady
! He loved her, but there was no true marriage,
he thought, for one who lived in the battle field,
and he would bind himself to no ties When
the brief loye-dream ended, there was heart
broken by shame and disgrace, a fair head
bowed to the grave, and a motheress infant in
the darkencd house of Allegr while it left
stain upon that lofty character which we would
iain believe faultlcss.
Before the storming Of Brcscia the chcvacr
visited an astrologer. This man assured him
that he would not fall in the battle, which he
predicted for Good Friday or Easter Sunday
following, but that within twelve years from
that event he would be slain by artillery.
"Otherwisc" he added, "you would never end
your days in the field for you are so beloved
by those under your command, that they would
sooner die than leave you in jeopardy"
Strangely enough, all things correspondent
to the prediction But we feel convinced that