Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-12-02

shores of the bay, when it was possible to
make a shortcut from point to poi1t-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
lay far out to seaward, 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-a little
river only worthy the old barrier be-
tween France and Bretagne-and our way lay
clear before US. so at least /, in my limo
cence, opined; but | was startled at the We
hemence with which the oldest residents COM
bated the project. The sands, they said, were
VIGOROUSLY treacherous and insecure; they
were full of shifting quicksands of fabulous
depth and tenacity; the tide, at certain states
of wind and sea, in over those flats with
a speed that even vell-mounted horsemen
could not evade; fifty persons, on an aver
age, persisted yearly on that fatal coast,
through some imprudent confidence III their
own judgement or activity, &c. In short,
even with a guide, the Greve de st. Michel
was best avoided; and without guide it was
madness TO venture upon it.
| 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 If the
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-fish. Not so, however, did
my brother-in-law elect. His lip curled scorn-
fully, and he could hardly listen with patient
politeness to the Cas5andra-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
yelous and to exaggeration of the peculiari-
ties of the country, English residents are apt
to be. He was of 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 a 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 Parsons boding remarks and
her lovers confidence that there was no risk
and that the dangers of the Grove, at low
water, must be purely fancifui.
| don't say that Hilton was perfect char
acter. He was, as | have limited, rather hot
of temper and excessively obstinate, though
of a generous and kindly nature. His petu-
lance increased with the well-meant but iniu-
dicious efforts of our friends to dissuade him
from the wild idea of crossing the sands. He
would, do not doubt, have given 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 l not in
terposed.
- No, no, Emma, said |, 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 l 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 a dudgeuu that lac - ould
90 alone, write his letters and have time to
smoke a cigar and play game Of billiards at
the Cuercle, before we returned He would
not listen to word of advice, though two or
three old Breton fishermen, added their warn
ingS to those of our company.
There are many dead Christians in the
cineticre OF keryaen," said one white haired
old sailor, speaking III thin and piping voice
but solemnly and Impressiyely enough d" but
there are more who step III unblessed graves,
without shroud or coffin, under the Uses of the
Bay The tide has turned, too, and the wind
Is westerly"
All, all 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 hundred but contemptuous rejoin-
der, and frightened his horses girths. The
good horse neighed and paved the beach inn
patiently.
Harry said M sister, now alarmed for
the first time, and with imploring eyes fixed
on her lovers tace-'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 ncttled 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 coniuring 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 Emma's 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
lis reins ana spurred off waving his hand in
adieu to Emma, and drily remarking that we
gave ourselves great deal of unnecessary
anxiety about the safety of a person so insig-
niicant as himself, but that the laugh would
be against Us, when met at Avranches by
5ca-tIme.
So saying, he rode off at brisk canter,
splashed into the Couesnon, and, fording the
shallow water with perfect ease, gained the
opposite bank, and took his wav across the
sands Twice he looked back to us, with a
half playful gesture of Ieaye-taking, and then
a rising headlaud concealed him entirely from
our view.
Follow him, George oh, pray let Us fol-
low him " exclaimed Emma, struggling to
keep back her tears.
But TO this l 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 dam
I ger, If he were indeed in danger. Of this
+ telt by no means assured. Popular tradition
/ Is generally vague and full of exaggeration,
/ and did not repoSe unlimited faith in the
/ appalling statements had Just heard Heart
/ liy wished that Harry had been wise enough
To avoid what MIGHT r,r0ya worry ,,frl,- -,,,,>-