The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-12-10
ACROSS THE sANns.

FAaNCEo a. BAhER.
Kenosha, Wisconsin.
ACROSS THE SANDS.
From 'Once a week"
That was a happy week which l spent a
Avranches eleven years since, in the midst O
the preparations and pleasing hustle which
the humblest wedding seldom fails t.
call forth. 1t was to attend Emma's wedding
that | had, with some difficulty, obtained
brief leave of absence. Emma was my sister
and she and | were alone in the world, witt
no nearer relation than the kind old aunt witt
whom Emma had lived since our mother died
This aunt's name was Pierson, and she was
one of the English residents at Avranches
whom economical living had aIlured to the
coast of Normandy. AT Avranches, ther
Emma had lived for two years, and in thai
bleak air the early delicacy of her health grew
more and more perceptible, until aunt Pear
son became alarmed, and consulted a physi
clan. The physician looked grave, and talk.
ed of the seeds of consumption, of prudence
and Of a warmerc climate, 1t was one of these
prescriptions easier to give than to follow.
For Aunt Pearson was ~poor-Emma haG
nothing, or next to nothing and |, her broth.
~ q NOSO4 AACuICLldiII VI NIdTlIcS, possessed
little more than my pay. We were the child
rem OF a ~clergymen, who had been too good g
parish priest to die rich, and the kind aunt
herself had but a modest annuity wherein tC
maintain herself and niece, while a migration
to. the South would have overtasked her slen.
der purse. Under these circumstances | was
fejoiced to hear that Emma's long engagement
to Henry Hilton was at last to be brought t.
a happy close. Harry, who had been a school
friend of mine, and visited at the Vicaragt
when we were all children together, was q
good fellow and a clever one, though a little
tiery OF temper and stubborn of will. He low
ed Emma very fondly and faithfully, and they
had been long troth- plighted, conditionally
on the young mans getting his fathers con
sent. And, by degrees, old Mr.. Hilton, {
rich merchant at Bordeaux, senior partner il
the great house of Hilton and Valiant, hac
been won over to receive as his daughter-in
law a girl who had no portion but a sweet ma
ture and a fair face. The young folks were
to be married at once, and to set up house al
Bordeaux, with Mr.. Hilton, who was a wild
over, with no other child than Henry, already
d junior partner in the firm.
DR.. Briggs, the English physician who play
ed the part Of Galen to the little British colo
and who accommodated himself with 6
pretty good grace to the fve-franc fees tina.
IN that needy community were the substitutes
for guineas, congratulated me on my sisters
prospects.
Miss Lethbridge," said the worthy ole
man, 'has a good constitution, apart from the
hereditary predisposition to phthisis, and sht
has youth on her side. In the mild air of tn,
southern coast, she may recover her strength
and live long and happily. But another win
ter in this cold and rainy climate would
Well, never mind that now. I have sale
enough, at any rate, to assure you that my
congratulations on you sisters marriage arr
not a mere compliment"
My leave of absence, as | have said, wal
short, since Fl. M. S., on board of which
| was junior marine officer, was to sail very
soon for the West Indies, and | had only OBJ
tanned permission to attend my sisters wed
ding,a as an especial favor; and even nay broth
erin law elect was anxious to get back Il
Bordeaux, and his desk, as early as possible
Ills father and his junior partner were more
than commonly deep in business details thu
young man had a good head for accounts anc
considerable abilities, and he was DESTROYS O
proving to his father that he was not migrate
tul for the latter's compliance with his wishe.
as related to the marriage itself. Therefore
it had been arranged that after abrief tour
among the Pyrenees, the newly married pail
were to proceed to Bordeaux, and that Harry
was to make up for lost time by redoubled
assiduity i'll serving the interests of the firm
Of Hilton & Valiant.
The wedding was fixed for Wednesday, ant
my place was bespoken in the m0Ue-pOSt fo
the evening of that very day-an arrange
ment which gave me time to sleep a night il
Paris, and to see a few of the wonders of tn,
French capital before l scampered back tx
Portsmouth. And on the Saturday preceding
1T, we planned an excursion to Kervaen,
small town on the Breton side of the rive
Couesnon, and formerly a frontier post be
longing to the old Celtic duchy.
Our party was rather a large one. Mrs
Pearson had many friends in AvranChes, an
as soon as it was mentioned that we designed
an excursion to the Breton borders, several o
the English residents had expressed a wish tx
accompany US. There were, therefore, fou
or five carriag es, besides two or three boys
who were home for their holidays, and wer
wild with excitement as they g~aIloped on thei
shaggy and sure-footed ponies, Hilton rodt
a fine English horse, a new purchase which
he had made in Paris, and which he INTENDED
to take down with them to the south. Ant
| drove Emma in a queer little %iangling DO
ny chalse Of native construction while Aun
Pearson shared a ~Uoitsre de louage with tire,
friends.
The day was a beautiful one. We D
some hours pleasantly enough at Kervaen
and dined among the ruins of the fort. Tn,
beauty ofthe day had faded, though yer,
gradually, Clouds, like huge skeins of un
travelled wool, that covered the violet skv
were not unwelcome as a screening of til,
sun. We had started early, for, though th,
evening was fine, the road was a long one,
winding among the curves and undulation
Of the bay.
Are those Norman fellows never coming
back with the carriages ?' said Hilton, looking
at his watch, impatientIy. Il have letters t
write that must go to England by to-nighti
post"
But nobody else was in any particular hur
ry to start, and we continued to lounge abou
the ruins. Even Emma did not seem, 70
once, to sympathize with Hilton's wish to b
moving, and she scolded him playfully 70
his impotence.
But Hilton was seriously bent on gettin!
back to the town. He had received tina
morning, two letters, bearing the London post
mark, and it was absolutely necessary tina
the young merchant should write by return