The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-02-23
The chevalier De Bayard.


de Bayard in Dauphiny, was the noble and
beautiful residence of one who was allied by
birth to the best families in that province. OF
bis ancestors, the fields of Poictiers and Ar
gncourt, where they "made their mark' in
bood-led letters, attested to their Valor; and
the father of the occupant of the chateau fell
with six mortal wounds. Such an ancestry
could not give birth to towards; and well
Aymon Terri proved that he was worthy Of
his "forbears.' Connected AS he was with the
noblest and best blood-with those who styled
themselves the "scaret nobility ty''--and with a
reputation for courage and bravery that none
disputed, it was matter of sincere grief and
sorrow when Aymon Terrail returned from the
first battle of Spurs (that of Guinezaste) with
such fearful wounds as TO con6ne him for life
to the chateau.
Already more than fifty years old, Aymon
Terrail could not but regret that in his early
years he had not allied himself to some one
who could now have cheered the evident desc
lation to which he was doomed. But the grand
old chateau was no. to remain dull or gloomy
because its master was disabled; and as soon
as ~ had recovered from the fever of his
wounds, his halls were thronged with the choi-
cest of the nobility, who brought their sons and
daughters with them to greet the old soldier in
his home.
Among the last was a meek-eyed gentle girl.
who had almost passed the period of her young
maidenhood In her youth, it was said, she
had refused several splendid offers for the sake
of nursing her father, who had long been
prey to disease from violent fall which par
italy obscured naturally fine and cheerful
mind. She was still in mourning for him, he
having died some months before, and her
friends earnestly desired her to go into society
to dissipate the effect Of her loss.
What Aymon Terrail naturally supposed
would make him repulsive, only served to ava
ken the deep pity of Jeanne d. Argentia; and it
needed but a word to forego all the charms Of
society which, after giving them up until after
she was past thirty, she could easily resign
again. Jeanne became the faithful wife and
the tender nurse of Il man whom she honored
and loved through years that brought happy
and pleasant memories after the scared form
was laid in the earth; and surely man never felt
such deep love and gratitude to woman for
tightening and cheering an existence otherwise
hard to be borne
-Four sons, bright and beautiful, were born to
them, and in their youth and happiness, Aymon
Terrail lived bis own life over again as happy
careless boy. Kind and indulgeht, yet ever
setting before them the path Of right, lie made
their childhood happy; while they in turn shed
beauty and radiance over his de fining days.
He knew that in the course Of natla are, he would
not see them grow up to manhood; so that all
he could save for his Jeanne, he must do
quickly.
Aymon Terrail was entering his eightieth
year, and felt the near approach of that power
which had spared him thus long The wife he
| had SO loved, the children so dear to his aged
heart, must be left and with a manly courage,
such as in his youth he had faced death with
upon the battle field, he met him now. Only
a few days before the last scene, he called his
sons around him, in presence of their gentle
mother, and desired them to choose their future
/ life, as mortals could choose what may never
j be granted them. One choose to occupy the
chateau, another to live like his uncle, who pre-
sided over the Abbey Esuay, and third tc
be like his uncle, the bishop of Grenoble
! There was another child, boy of thirteen
with eyes that shone out of the soul and looked
into the sou and with one arm thrown arounC
j his mothers neck, and with a voice like a sky
/ lark's, who entreated his father to permit him
to bear arms, like those noble ancestors oil
whom the tales of their deeds had ever rung
j like music on his ear. AT the sound Of the
/ boys speech, Aymon Terrail wept like child
but not for grief.
Thou shalt my Pierre!" he answered, God
give thee grace 10 do so. Thou art like thy
/ grandfather, the braycst knightin Chrlstcndom;
aud thou shalt follow his profession"
! The lad joyfuly withdrew, without marking
I the mournful smile on the lip of his mother;
and with dignity which would have become
one twice his years yet tempered with modesty
i he began to talk with his brothers about the
future of them all.
The next day saw a grand dinner party at
the Chateau de Bayard, Of which the sons did
/ the honors on account of the fathers inability
The guests were noble, and included Aymon
TerraiPs brother-in-law, the bishop, and seve-
raj of his kindred. After dinner, at which
Pierre had distinguished himself for many
courtesies, Terrai asked their advice as to where
the boy bad best be placed to take the initial
steps in his profession.
tSend him to the king of France" said one
"Plaee him in the house of Bourbon, "salo
another.
4 will take him to our good duke Of Savory
as his page" said the bishop, "and send fol
my people at Grenoble to fit him for his pre-
sentation tomorrow.
On the following morning, therefore, thank:
to the preserving knights of the thimble, Pierre
dressed in splendid suit of, velvet and satin
and mounted on little, spirited horse whicl
the bishop had given him, rode past his fathers
window as brave and fearless as when, in afte
days, he curbed his fiery war-steed on the felc
of Taro and Brescia. 1t was the grand start
ing point in the boys eventfu life, that morn
ing; and long after the fathers aged head wa
laid low, and the earth was pressing on th'
bosom Of his gentle mother; long after one o
the little band of brothers had become abbo
of Josaphat in Charrres, and another bishop o
Glandeves in Provence, and Pierre himself hat
become known as the brave Cheyaer de Bay
ard, the knight ''sans peur ct sans reProche'
he looked back to that bright morning of hi
innocent boyhood with sigh that the FRESHNESS
and beauty of lifes morning hours should b.
mildewed and bIighted by the world.
Alas, for the knight with the heart as pur'
as PEARL" Alas, that every pearl hathits flaw
r,ora or 1.rs parcentihle or hidden away in If