Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-02
AeROSS THE SANDS.
Prom "once a Week. -

49, I had with some difficulty, obtained
,rief leave of absence. Emma was my sister,
and she and were alone III the world, with
no nearer relation than the kind old aunt with
whom Emma had lived since our mother died.
This aunts name was Pearson and she was
one of the English residents at Avranches,
whom economical living had allured to the
coast of Normandy. At Ayranches, then
Emma had lived for two years, and in that
bleak air the early delicacy OF her health grew
more and more perceptible, until aunt Pear
son became alarmed, and consulted physi-
clan. The physician looked grave, and talk
ed of the seeds of consumption, of prudence,
and of warmer climate. 1t was one of
those prescriptions easierfto give than to fol-
low.
For Aunt Pearson was poOr-Emma had
nothing, or next to nothing and /, her bro-
ther, Second Lieutenant of Marines pos
sessed little more than my pay. We were
the children of d clergyman, who had been
too good parish priest to die rich and the
kind aunt herself had but modest annuity
whereon to maintain her niece and herself
while "a migration to the south would have
overtasked her slender purse. Under these
circumstances, was rejoiced to hear that
Emmas long engagement TO Henry Hilton
at last to be brought to happy close.
Harry, who had been school friend of mine,
and visited at the Vicarage when we were all
children together, was a good fellow and
clever one, though a little fiery of temper
and stubborn of will. He loved Emma very
fcndy and faithfully, and they had been long
troth plighted, eonditionally on the young
mans getting his fathers conseA And, by
degrees, old Mr.. Hilton, rich merchant at
Bordeaux, senior partner in the great house
of Hilton and valiant, had been won over
to receive as his daughter-in-law IA girl who
had no portion but sweet nature and fair
face The young folks were to be married at
once, and to set up house at Bordeaux, with
Mr.. Hilton, was a widower, with no other
child than Henry, already a Junior partner in
the firm.
DR.. Briggs, the English physician who played
the part Of Galen to the little British colony,
and who accommodated himself with a pretty
good grace to the fye-franc fees that in that
needy community were the substitutes for
guineas, congratulated me on my sisters pros
poets.
g Miss Lethbridge,n said the worthy old
man, has good constitution, apart from
the hereditary predispostion to phthisis, and
she has youth on her side. In the mild air of
the southern coast, she may recover her
strength, and live long and happily. But an
other winter in this cold and rainy climate
would-W eli, never mind that now. | have
said enough, at any rate, to assure you that
my congratulations or your sisters marriage
are not a mere compliment"
Ny leave of absence, as | have said, was
short, since III. NJ. :. -, 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 we'd
ding, as especial favor; and even NV
brother-in-law elect vas anxious to get back
to Bordeaux, and his desk as early as possible
His father and his senior partner were more
than commonly deep in business details; the
young man had a good head for accounts and
considerable abilities, and he was DESTROYS of
proving to his father that he was not migrate
ful for the latter's compliance with his wishes
az related to the marriage itself Therefore
It had been arranged that after a brief tour
among the Pyrenees the newly married pair
were to proceed to Bordeaux, and that Harry
was to make up for lost time by redoubled
assiduity in serving the interests of the firm
of Hilton y valiant.
The wedding was fixed for Wednesday, and
my place was bespoken in the ht0iley0St for
the evening of that very day-an arrange
ment which gave me time to sleep night III
Paris, and 10 SEE few Of the wonders of the
French capital before ] scampered back to
Portsmouth. And on the Saturday preceding
1t, We planned an excursion to kervaen, a
small town on the Breton side of the river
Couesnon, and formerly frontier post be
longing to the old Celtic duchy.
Cur party was rather a large one. Mrs. .
Pearson had many friends in Avranchcs, and
a. soon is il was mentioned that we designed
an excursion to the Breton borders, several of
the English residents had expressed a wish to
accompany Us. There were therefore four
or FIVE carriages, besides two or three bows,
who were home for their holidays. and We're
wild with excitement as they galioped on
their shaggy and surc-tooted ponies. Hilton
rode fine English horse, a new purchase
which he had made in Paris, and which he
intended to take down with them to the
south. And ! drove Emma in a queer little
Jangling pony-chaise Of native construction;
while Aunt Pearson shared roilar6 he iostuqs
with three friends
The day was a beautiful one. We spent
some hours pleasantly enough at Keryaen,
and dined among the ruins of the fort The
beauty of the day had faded, though very
gradually Clouds, like huge skeins of un-
travelled wool, that covered the violet sky
were not unwelcome As screening of the sun.
We had started early, for, though the evening
was fine, the road was long one winding
among the curves and unduiations of the bay
= Are those Norman fellows never coming
back with the carriages - said Hilton, looking
AT his watch, impatientiy. Il have letters to
write that must 90 to England by to-nights
post
But nobody else was in any particular hurry
70 start, and we continued to lounge about
the ruins. Even Emma did not seem, for
once, to sympathisc with Hilton's wish to Toe
poyIng, and she scolded him playfnlly for his
lmpatIence
But Hilton was seriously bent on getting
oack to the town. He had received that
morning, two letters, bearing the London
postmark, and 1t absolutely necessary
that the young merchant should write bv re
turn 70 ms correspondents.
\ bare-leEged boy was induced, 6v the
promise ~ q ten-sous piece, to run to the
other end OF the village ana summon the lag
ging characters, who had put up their horses
At an auberSe of tolerable size, rejoicing I'M
der the title of Soka Legayt But this m :
senger did not return, and when Hilton and
went together 10 the roadside inn. We heard
the sound of the rustic music. which are the
inyariable accomplishments of 4 Breton fest
val and found that christening feast was in
progress This sufficiently accounted for the
truancy of our coachmen, who were ia the
thick Of the merry-maklng, having recognised
old friends among the company.
But there was something contagious in
Harry's uneasiness at the delay which this in
opportune banquet had helped 70 occasion and
| saw, with some annoyance, that our Jehus
had not failed TO do justice to the contents OF
the huge pitchers OF cider that were passed
necessarily from hand to hand, and that their
faces were red and their eyes dull from the
effects Of their rotations With a good deal