The mountain Democrat., 1865-11-04
woivss In Frame a. .

lated to me an adventure which he bad
net with In the early part OF January,
1875, whilst travelling, and GlSo i stOfy.
associated With il. yirr.i ~, 7spat ,o .
! shall feel highly hOnOred If madame
will take interest in anything that may
have beiallen my humble self. So to be
gin with the adventure (cODueDce6 Xo0
sieur le CapitaineL I must tirst tell you
that bad been invited to visit some old
friends Of mine Who ere residing in the
sOuth Of France, In the department Of Ar.
tiege, on the Spanish frontier.
Ny friend Monsieur de IL Tour owns
very pretty chateau situated on the
borders OF an extensive forest sRd not far
from the town Of p. had never
been so fer south, and It was pleasure to
me to be. carried into scenery which vas
quite new to me, and to traverse Q eoun.
try With whose characteristics | was IN.
familiar.
Advancing towards the place Of my
destination, the aspect Of the district 10
its immediate vicinity became exceedingly
grand-a broken, undulating, yet richly
cultivated plain, backed bv sombre for.
est Of pine wood, and the Pyrenees rising
beyond like giant pbantOms in the clear
frosty winter sky. &
must explain that bad missed the
train from S., and vas obliged 10 take
the diligence to E., which happened
to be just starting when I arrived. Not
much caring TO be shut up with couple
Of combative, snutf. taking, greasy gra-
Eiers inside, and wishing to look about me
on the journey, ] mounted by the side Of
Monsieur le- Conducteur. Assisting him
to move a sack before I could get sitting
room, | remarked to him that il was very
heavy. .
Yes, Monsieur said he, 1t is full Of
stones, and farther on you will see why
cucumber myself with what must appear
to you to be such very unnecessary lum-
ber.'
Leaving me TO ruminate over his dis.
closure. he remained for awhile SILENT
On reaching the boundary OF the forest,
through part Of which our road lay, be
began to look about him cautiously on all
sides; and as We were advancing toward
. point where the way was rendered very
dark and gloomy by the density Of the
wood, be opened the bag Of stones, and
selecting some large ones, cried: ..~
"rhere-there are our friends, pointing
to rising knoll on our left, over which a
pack Of wolves we're hurrying down upon
Us; we must give the rascals welcome.
So saying, be begau pelting the hungry
locking beasts. who. though thus deferred
from attacking the horses, yet surrounded
our vehicle, and escorted Us for some dis.
lance on our journey. Atlength we got
clear Of them, and were able to breathe
our frightened animals.
Does this sort Of thing often occur ?
4 have Travelled these roads now fol
twenty years, answered the conducteur,
and | never SAw more than q stray vol
or so, in cold weather, until this winter;
but this is the third time, during the pres.
ent season, that have been favored by
the company of the brutes iR any mum
ber.' '.
We entered the town just in time to see
the pale sun set behind the thick screen
of pine forest at its farthest end; the con,
trsst, formed by the deep neutral tint OF
the distant foliage, against the positive
light and color Of the sky, was strikjngly
fac, and worthy the pencil Of your Mon
sleUF Turner, madame.
i could not procure any means of con.
veyance to the Chateau des Bois, my
friends abode; che landlord Of l'Etoile told
me that his carriage which had been sent
for me had returned home, after finding
that did not arrive BY the last train
which stopped at F. for the day
Thinking it would be, tiresome to spend q
long evening atabat aSA luminsry alone,
and without books, and finding on inquiry y
that the distance was incohSidetable,
determined to find my way on foot, ia.
king with me one Of the inn servants as
guide. --..t '' -
The man was provided, saw, with q
lantern and stout big stick, and was &C.
cODpanied by an immense dog We walk
ed on in silence for some time, till leaving
the streets we gained the open country,
when, the increasing gloom and loneliness
Of our path. now leading through wood,
inducing . greater desire for sOciAbiity,
we walked closer together and began to
converse.
My guide had lighted his lantern, and
called his dog nearer TO his side.
That is a fine wolf hound said l.
Yes, but he is more than that to me,
monsieur
How ? exclaimed ].
If monsieur will care to listen;I will
explain why set so high value on the
good creature answered the man, fond
ling the rough head Of his canine cOmpan
ion. III it had not been for this dog,
monsieur, - but will tell you the
wnole story from the beginning. and then
you will fully understand why ROllO is so
precious to me and to my family
And now for the story, madame.
you must know, monsieur, began my
guide, that lived with my wife and our
two children in cottage not far from the
great forest, on piece of waste ground
somewhere about hallway between the
town and q little village called Verney,
yOnder to the right; lonely situation, but
convenient for my occupation of tree fell
hing and wood cutting. Well, ] was out
at work on the day when what ] am 60
iRg to relate took place. My wife, how
ever, told me ell about it in the evening
when ! went home-W hat am saying?
home, | had uone-when, after seeking
her long. found her in the house Of one
of my neIghbors and friends ia Verney.
No, when after my days toll I returned
to the spot where cur cottage had stood,
and where expected, as usual, to see my
wife come to the door to meet me, giving
lne 4 glimpse Of the bright CHEEKY fire as
she opened it to let me in, all was gone,
and in place Of all that should have com
forted me. nv wife'a warm greeting and
the glad voices Of the little ones welcOm-
ing nv approach, found desolate hearth