The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-03-04
the KOURIGAN.
A TALE OF BRITTANY,


venture " descrihe when Rad in measure re
covered my salf-comman ,ls,V the poor VIE Knee.
ing besi lie the BODY the men who stood roui u
were trembling violently. she carefully w7rei ne
blood from tho ashv-rsie bro~. addressed him in
forms Of We most plain i've tenlsrne s-urgeutly en-
treated him ~ speak even one word to her-to re-
cognise his own ~ife--not, not 70 leave her IN
word, she seem Oh so ttle to comprehend the terr
bic reality, that for moment feared les the shock
had been too great Tor her nj to gistfir unnjur-
Cd Gradually, however, abe seemed to become
aware Of the vsoessucss Of her exerions. Starting
up, she extended her bloo1-sta not hands towards
VA ard gszed round with an impl0ring, help ess-
and inquifins look At length she slowly talterei
out
de.di-the doctor mus, know. Were IS the doc
tori"
She was told that the doctor would he herr j rect.
" and approached TO try TO withdraw her from
tho body. Rut my IN vcmeuL and few words
which accompanied n. sppcar'd suddenly " reveal
the full truth. Falling down again bys.de her life
less husband, she aid his head ~ her knee, and
gazed ct II with look Of agoui nng We, while her
tears fell In torrents upon his face, and mingled
with bis blood. Her LAMENTATIONS wero hoart-
rending, that We shrank back instinctivo,y none
dared venture to obtrude with ve,s woris NJ human
consolation upon such s'rrOw ~ hers. We hopct,
iecd. that Tie extreme violence ~ her a vel would
soon wear itself out; hut II seenod much more
likely that the intonsiy u her eliugs must over
tax her physical powers, and that the very stream
q life would eIhsust nselfin tins overwhelming
food. GraduAlly her words, her voice, her entirs
msnner became more and moro Mid and her &C.
cnslonl poals OF convulsvc laughter so jnded far
more dreadful than her lamentations mad done.
wa, quito convinced that We should soon have 70
restrain a maniac Al length, she grew more calm
while knecling beside the corpse, hsrSefliko nAr.
bic figure with hands u.htly clonchud but II was
tic cslinutsI OF ebbing sasonthe vacant look, the
low pteous val, tho whispered uncounected words,
that At last died away, leaving only the motion u
the lips-sll told the fearful truth.
These moments Of horror -thriling stiffness were
.r,Jg he aoft mia ~
little ono wanted his mother. 1hscry broke through
the almost torpid gree Of the sufferer recalled Der
ss-tootlug CONSEQUENCES aud preserved her intel
lect--her ufe, s. 20 turned quickly round I!Ws
Pierre had raised himself upin his cradle and srnil.
ing o. his mp,her through us tears stretched out
bis hands, As Il itaplo:nE her hep.
Ute ing a cry Of uusposkSble psthos which
seemed ~ come from the Inmost depthp OF ter souL
she spr.ng up aad caruug 10 the cradle, csugh,
up her child with ,enderest care AMI casped IL 70
her heart in q loving embrace None OF the men
who stood by could refrain from tears /. was -
though the sweet in'antiue voice had broken the
spell Of horror taat rested upon each.
At this moment, the doctor entered the room be
was led over TO Pierre lUuIs, whom We had aid
upon his bed Its busineEs there soon over.
lie placed h 9 hand upon the h0art, held mirror
before the mouth, then With a. luminous shake Of
lis head, and snrUs of his shoulders, he drew tho
coverlct over the blOcd-sisned head. JeanneS
eager eye narrowly watched u ply sciau and uD-
derstood too well his sign hcant gestures She stag
gered for moment. sprsug over 10 support hor
hut tho child bad again stiTrei, and cried for his
mother. With q desperate effort size summoned
up all her strength, scized the doctors hand, and,
drawing him towards the cradle, awaited his opinion
with fixed look aud folded hands. lie was quiet.
elderly, sensible, snd skitl man. After having
carefully examined the child, he put some questions
10 its mother, which she answered in n concise and
summary manner, like soldier upon duty.
1.-The child ~ out Of danger" he -lid at length.
"God lie praised for ever and ever" or cd Jeanne
a. she fell on her Knees beside the cradle, and son.
-. nal.
taking any farther notice Of what was passing
around.
while tho doctor remained 10 write prescription.
We all left the house, aud went uur .-vrrnl ways.
Oue Of the men confirmed, In a few words, my pre-
vious suppOsition. lie told mo that Pierre Louis,
and some other young fellows who were noted
Baltsmug lers had tak en- Advantage 81 the Psrsians
SUPPOSED state ofintu XcatUn 10 CARY o some loads
of salt TINT were under his TIL tho requests
duty should be paid. But this officer bad Awaltod
them at hls post, and when on rrpoa,o challenges,
they neither answorel nor desistcd from their Tie.
gal u ldertakiug, no aud one OF his mou fired. His
ball struck Pierre Louis who hca led the party and
on receiving tho wound he leaped up Ia the air, and
then fell down without uttering sound
Two days Gner, he was lsId IN his grave. !. In
company with the entire population Of SAle attend.
cd the remains of this poor fellow 10 his long home.
1t was long and SOLEMN procession OF men and
women Attirei IN their sunday dresses, and walk.
ing two abreast. Last OF all followed Gratlen, HE
taiterod garments oil beSInearol with the rcd earth
OF the moor, MS IeiLl Ni'"pluR low, ana DIS long
disheyoed hair hanging over his face. He did not
venture within the chvr hyArd but kuslt down out.
side aud ~ soon q the bessins was pronounced,
and tie clay shout TO be shoyeod over the coffin he
started up and quickly disappeared behind the
church.
went directly 10 see Jeanne. Her head wss
laid upon she pillow beside her infants and SIC
was quietly weeping. The child played with her
hsir, while nor thick falling bodewed his litls
hands. Then lie smiled sweetly At her, aud tried
by all kinds Of gentle tones TO gain her attention.
Ho appeared TO he making arspld recovery ! 70.
tired without exchanging sworI With Jeanne, BY
whom WAS quite uuOh-eryed.
| spent the succeeding wecka IN making excursions
into the interior Of the country, ana the sdoin.
ing islands On my return 10 SAL e. learned tina,
Jeanne on her chill's perfect restoration to health,
had gone 10 reside win her guardian at her carly
home. Whilst on walking excursion In tina,
neigh bourhoud, ! went out cfmy way IN order TO
pay a farewell visit TO tho wi low. As was dccend.
luz hill, however at short distance roco missed
Jeanne seated on9 mule, drea,cd In deep urn az,
her CHILD placed before her returning home by tho
same roau that We had formerly travelled together.
Gratien held the hri,Q and carefully led the mule,
occasionally turu,nS round towards the fearless,
melancholy, yet suhmis i've counteuance OF her wLs
had suffered 81 deeply and lost 50 much before
turning his care, far at least I'D the POOR imto-
Gle creature capable OF taking care .. any ono.
| could not prevail upon myself ~ go to meet and
take leave Il her, but deeply affected by the scene
bent my steps homewstds'
The sSy wa. cl, ar aud cloudlcss, occasionally
son breeze convey cd from afsr tie mOurnful muir,
muir u the sea. some ma.deus' sweet voices were
sngug, on the other side ot she tlckcL the plain.
tive melody of one ofBruaay't wedding 's1ngs,
THE END