Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-03

shores OF the bay, Wllen 1t was poS9iple "
make a shortcut from point to pol1t-a
course doubly tempting when time was OF
such value.
Indeed, when | looked at the wide stretch
Of smooth sand, cleaning wet in places that
Law far out to seward, but in general as dry
and fat as a billiard-table, | felt disposed to
comply with Harry's desire. We had but to
ford the shallow stream Of Couesnon-al little
river ONLY worthy as the old barrier be-
tween France and Bretagne-and our way lay
clear before US. SO at least l, IN my lnno-
cence, opined; but was startled at the We
hemence with which the oldest residents COM
bated the project The sands, they said, were
notoriously treacherOus and insecure; they
were full Of shifting quicksands Of fabulous
depth and tenacity; the tide, at certain states
of wind and sea, ran III over those flats with
a speed that even well-mounted horsemen
could not evade; fifty persons, on an aver
age, persisted yearly on that fatal coast,
through some imprudent confidence in their
own judgement or activity, &c. In short,
even with guide, the Greve de St. Michel
was best avoided and without guide it was
madness to venture upon 1t.
| did not exactly believe all this chorus of
evil but put sufficient faith in the popular
opinion to consider that the tempting sands
had better be left in possession of the sea-
crows that were solemnly walking to and fro
beside the pools, digging ever and anon with
their sharp bills into the soft surface, in quest
of worms or shell-fsh. Not so, however, did
my brother-in-law elect. His lip curled scorn-
fully, and he could hardly listen with patient
politeness to the Cassandra-like predictions
of the old ladies who were the chief speakers.
He had, in fact, been too long on the Cont
nent not to be aware how prone to the mar
velous, and to exaggeration of the peculiari-
ties of the country, English residents are apt
to be. He was of a bold spirit, too, and not
easily turned from anything by the mere no.
ton of problematic peril. Thus he persisted,
the others demurred; and the result was an
animated discussion, in which Harry was in
the minority. He was only backed by the
school-boys, who were wild with delight at
the idea of such ".jolly fun as race home
wards across the sands, all the more attractive
because their elders held them in such horror.
Emma, induced, would willingly have gone
by that route, though she was sorely puzzled
between Aunt Pearson's boding remarks and
her lovers confidence that there was no risk,
and that the dangers of the Grove, at low
water, must be purely fanciful.
don't say that Hilton was a perfect char
acter. He was, as have limited, rather hot
of temper and excessively obstinate, though
of generous and kindly nature. His petu-
lance increased with the well-meant but inu-
dicious efforts Of our friends to dissuade HIM
from the wild idea of crossing the sands. He
would, do not doubt, have g ven up the
plan, though not perhaps with a very good
grace, had Emma asked him at first to stay
for her sake. But she did nothing of the
sort. On the contrary, she was disposed to
side with him, and when the rest vowed for
untold gold they would not tempt Providence
by such an act of folly, she was still inclined
to harken to her lovers voice, had / not III
terposed.
mo, no, Emma, said l, turning it off with
a laugh. After Monday next, when you
have promised to love and obey our head
strong friend on the chestnut charger, of
course you may risk your life as much as you
plesse. Till then | am your lawful guardian,
and shall not stir one yard from the Prince
Presidents highway; SO you must submit to
go home in safety"
Hilton declared in dudgeon that he would
so alone, write his letters and have time to
smoke cigar and play game of billiards at
the Cuercle, before we returned. He would
not listen to d word of advice, though two or
three old Breton fishermen, added their warn
lngs to those of our company.
There arc many dead Christians in the
cimetiere Of kervaen," said one white haired
old sailor, speaking in thin and piping voice
but sOlemnly and lmpressively enough; "but
there are more who step i'll unblessed graves,
without shroud or coffin, under the Uses of the
Bay. The tide has turned, too, and the wind
is westerly"
"Ah, alb it is wrong to tempt Heavens
mercy thus" cried the women, crowding
round Hilton's horse. In the name of our
Lady OF Sorrows, monsieur, take the advice |
Of the poor"
Hilton merely shrugged his shoulders, made
some good humored but contemptuous rejoin-
der, and frightened his horses girths. The
good horse neighed and paved the beach i'm
patiently
Harry" said my sister, now alarmed for
the first time, and with imploring ewes fixed
on her lovers face-"dear Harry, to please
me-
1t was too late. Had Emma spoken before
her influence would have carried the day, but
now Hilton was piqued and nettled by so much
opposition to his proposal, and his mind was
made up.
He was, as l have said, brave man; but
he had also that sensitive shrinking from the
slightest imputation of fear which is only felt
by the young, and which wears off with expe-
rience of the worlds ways. To recoil now,
when every one was busy conjuring up perils
and obstacles in store for him, would have
been bitter pill for his proud and sensitive
nature to swallow. Yet he hesitated for an
instant as he saw the tears in Emmas gentle
eyes; but most unluckily one of the Norman
coachmen broke in with tipsy gravity, and in
the nasal drawl Of his native province:
"C'est bien dangereuse, monsieur, savez-
yous-n
The spell was snapped at once. Hilton,
who had finished adjusting his girths, angrily
told the man to hold his tongue, gathered up
his reins and spurred off, waving his hand in
adieu to Emma, and drily remarking that we
gave ourselves a great deal of unnecessary
anxiety about the safety of person so insig-
nifcant as himself, but that the laugh would
be against US, when we met at Avranches by
tea-tlme.
SO saying, he rode off at a brisk canter,
splashed into the Couesnon, and, fording the
shallow water with perfect ease, gained the
opposite bank, and took his way across the
sands. Twice he looked back to u.s. with a
half playful gesture of Ieave-taking, and then
rising headland concealed him entirely from
our view.
FOLLOW HIM, George; on, pray let US fol-
low him " exclaimed Emma, struggling to
keep back her tears.
But to this decidedly objected. To over
take Hilton, well mounted, as he was, was out
OF the question, even had there been any
good object to be attained by sharing his dan
ger, if he were indeed in danger. of this |
felt by no means assured. Popular tradition
is generally vague and full of exaggeration.
and did not repose unlimited faith in the
appalling statements l had just heard. Heart
lily wished that Harry had been wise enough