Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-11-08

no great marvel after all. The path in
which now found myself was a narrow,
winding one, which delyed down 10 a little
valley. Here, as | soon perceived, clus-
tered few houses, where lights were
already twinkling ike mild glowworms.
The first Of these houses [ entered. The
door was open, so | was spared the trouble
Of knocking. In my best French | bade its
tenant good evening, and asked for a
drink. and the way to an inn, if such b
thing was to be found in the vicinity. A
man looked up from the fireplace, where he
was stirring something in an iron pot He
returned my salutatlon, and civilly replied
that | could have drink Of milk if l
pleased, and that the nearest inn was a
league off I was tired to death, and asked
if | might rest awhile.
Certainly, sir" replied the man, rising
to hand me rush bottomed stool "Would
you like some bread with your milk You
seem fatigued.''
| thankfully accepted.
prudence" he said, raising his voice,
"give some milk to monsieur"
The door of an inner room opened, and
Prudence came forth, bearing tin candle
| stick with a faring tallow candle in it. The
checked, coarse, and good humored lock-
ing. | saw dozens such daily; but his wife
was wholly unlike him, unlike any woman
| had ever seen. Shs was middle-siz
but SO slender that she looked tall She
wore close black jacket and dark petit
coat, that left her feet and ankles bare
They were small and well made, so were
her hands. Her neck, too, was long and
clnxsAar mill fhsr baS hanH
remarkably small, but fat and not well
shaped. Her face was narrow and very
sallow, with thin, mobile features, and the
strangest little glittering brown eyes. She
had black hair, aud wore no cap, and.
though by no means ugly she was, to me at
least, very repelling locking person.
"Milk,' she answered, certainly"
She put down her light, fetched tin can
from a shelf, and filling coarse crockery
cup with rich-looking milk, she handed it
to me Her motions were graceful, and
her smile and lock meant to be courteous;
but | had something to do, not to betray my
instructive horror Of this woman | thanked
her as graciously as | could, and praised
her COW. She smiled, Cher smile onl y made
matters worse, and said:
"I have no cow-we are too poor for
that
81 walk league every day for that
milk put in tie husband, who was still
stirring The contents of the iron pot on the
fire. ''Give the loaf to monsieur, Pru-
dence."
She Obeyed, and remarked:
"You are fond Of milk? 2"
"We. never drink any," she replied,
smiling again swe are too poor"
T | did not think it civil to ask what
Madame Prudence did with the contents Of
the tin cana large one-since she could
not afford to drink milk so ate and drank
in silence.
Ihoped to leave the cottage as soon as
had done, and reach the inn which the man
had mentioned; but it was not to be. A
sudden flash of light filed the room, then q
loud thunder peal followed, and after it
came a fierce rush of rain The man
crossed himself, and Prudence coolly went
and shut the door behind me- It was a
terrible storm, and fierce and long one
The thunder rolled and rolled, and the rain
| poured and poured, and Prudence and her
| husband sat down to their plateful OF soup,
and went through it with perfect equanimi-
ty, whilst [ walked up and down the room
III silent vexation. do not know, indeed,
why was so vexed at this trifing delay; |
half fancy it was because of the little, rest
less eyes Of Prudence, [ tried to avoid
them, but could not. Wherever [ went,
they seemed to follow me; and as she sat
with her back to the wall it was impossible
to shun them by getting behind her.
The storm did not cease, Or even grow
less, and Prudence said, very ciyilly:
"Perhaps monsieur would like to spend
the night here? can go and sleep with a
neighbor, and make up bed for my hus-
band in this room. Our bed is a good
one"
!" Thank you," I replied, hurriedly; 81
must 60 on" NE-#
" Monsieur can scarcely go to. night" re-
piled Prudence, with her smile; "there is
no inn within a league; the way to it is
across the country, and the men about here
are too great poltroons to show monsieur
the way in such storm as this
The latter remark was uttered with q
quick, scornful glance at her husband, who
sullenly muttered something about not be-
ing afraid, but did not volunteer to be MT
guide.
had no alternative. It was getting late
| had no right to intrude any longer on these
people unless accepted their offer, and, in
spite of the eyes of Pruds nee, l did accept
it. She arose and went into the inner room
to prepare it for me. 1t was a relief 6c
think that | should soon beout of her sight
In the meantime tried to get some desul.
tory information from her husband, but his
/ plateful of soup had made him sleepy, and,
as nature had also made him stupid, soon
/ gave him up. Before long, Prudence came
out, and, with her smile, informed monsieur
that everything was ready Monsieur took
the candlestick- from her hand, and, muir
tering ungracious thanks, entered his apart
ment.
My first care was TO fasten the door, but.
| as there was no lock to it, had to barricade
| it, Two chairs and a table did the thing.
| Iprotest that apprehended no personal
| danger; | only feared that Prudence would
come in and look at me. 1t was not likely
she would do so; she was not to sleep in
the cottage: besides. the temptation Of see
ing me in any slumbers, with a handker-
chief tied round my head, might not be
irresistible; but fear and reason have moth
ing in common, and fear, being strong,
prevailed and had her way. My room,
though small, was clean, and the bed justi-
fed Prudence's eulogium. 1t was very
good bed indeed was tired, and I. was
young In five minutes was fast asleep.
Heaven save my worst enemies from such
slumbers, or rather from such dreams, as |
had! The whole night long Prudence and
were striving for mastery, and every time
we engaged in combat she prevailed against
me- We never came to blows, but it was a
fell and cruel struggle, for al that When
| tried to strike her, she laughed, and my
hand fell back powerless; then with her
supple and nervous arms, strong as steel,
she would embrace me, and tighten her
hold, and look at me with smile. until I
| Shrleked with terror nnd ncirnl fo.. - 49,.