Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-07-17

Rene, dost think that she knows it not all
ready ~
These are no times to think Of marrying or
| giving in marriage replied the young man,
evasivoly; but. despite the cold words, Madame
Chabot knew that struggle was going on in his
breast.
" Poor Ninon !" said she.
Mother' answered Rene, almost sternly,
" tempt me not Nv duty lies before me- II is
for you to strengthen me, and not to wiring my
heart
Poor Madame Chabot She saw not with the
eyes OF the young enthuiast She had looked for
ward 90 the marriage OF her son with the good lit
tie Nidon as the joy aod solace Of her declining
years. And 10 have the pleasant picture painted
out too much for her.
She was, il is true staunch royalst and il
NJ. lie Comte d Artois had suddenly appeared on
the scene, she would have gone down on her knees
in a paroxysm OF loyalty. and yielded up the last
1.-THE OF her possessions 60 aid his cause
But NJ. lee Comte was in Edglaud, and doubtless
the great English nation was looking after his in
terests; wherefore was she, lone Breton
widow, to be deprived Of her only on his ac-
count?
She knew her duty to her sovereign, and would
not be behind hand in performing IL when the
time camel ~ for Madame Chabot held that there
a fitting time for all things and that the best
the Breton peasants could do at the present crisis
was TO remain quiet until the revolutionary storm
had passed away, and the clouds should discover
the shining on the legitimate monarch. when
She aud all other good Bretons would step forward
and tender their loyalty
For Madame Chabots loyalty was not ELUSIVE.
II was Of the sentimental character--qulte unlike
that which burned in the heart Of the enthusiastic
Rene.
" Poor Ninonln
The words rang in Rene's ears as he turned
from his mothers cottage and they seemed to
draw him unconsciou,ly to the spot where he
should find the girl. Nnon drawing water
at the WE'LL and looking into its depths T. the
bucket come up.
She was startled as Rene approached
" What is the matter, Rene 2 she asked, as
she caught sight of the grave face looking down
upon ner.
But Rene made no reply. for somehow it occur
red TO him ali at once that it would be much more
difficult to conGie his projects to Ninon than it
had been to his mother.
Nnon uniastened her bucket from the chain
and placed it on the ground beside her. At
another time, Rene would have done this for her,
but to-day he seemed absorbed and she looked
up at him again
Vannes is a fine place" said Rene.
Yes answered Nnon wondering what
should make Rene think OF Nannes at that partic-
ular moment
.' And the cathedral, Ninon, and the solemn
music. One almost enyies the good priests their
calling
Ninon made no reply. but she felt sudden
pain shoot through her heart though why Bene's
words should have caused it she could not imagine.
However. she turned quite white, so that when
Rene looked at her, he said, she had said to
him
.'What is the matter, Ninon;"
Nothing said Ninon but no sooner had she
said it than she knew she had spoken untruy-
Then she silent because she sould not answer
Rene's question.
=" am going to Nannes, Ninon,n continued
Rene, after pause.
Thou art going to Vannes!" gasped Ninon,
/ trembling so that she held on by the handle of the
windlas,, to steady herself, Wherefore art thou
going ReneP"
II am going to be a priest, Ninon," answered
Rene, in low tone.
"a priest Rene--a prest!h murmured Ninon,
as If she did not quite understand what he was
saving And everything going round before
! her and she almost felt that she should fall to the
| ground lt had come upon her so suddenly. and
/ it came lust at the moment that she seemed to
| know for the first time how much she cared for
| Rene
And she had thought that Rene cared for her
/ but Of course that was impossible, or he would not
think of becoming priest She stood quite still,
looking down upon the ground she was afraid
| that Rene would find out the truth it she looked
up for the tears were coming into her ewes.
Then Ninou with great effort spoke. Her
voice was very faint, but Rene heard the words,
81 will pray for thee night and morning.
Rene
And so Rene went to Vannes, and was enrolled
among the '' klonreks" Of the college.
And Ninon grew pale and quiet and one would
( scarcely have believed her to be the same Ninon
that but a few months ago was SO gay She looked
older. too, aud graver; aud little Margot, with
great pear in one hand waiting for her basin to
be filled from Ninons pitcher said =
"Ninon, why art thou so sad? have not
heard thee laugh for so long
But Ninon only kissed the child, and bid her
20 and play.
Ninon could not see into Rene's heart, or it
might have consoed her 70 know that there had
been struggle between love and duty in the
breast of the kloarek
".
Rene pursued his studies at Vannes, and the
war Of the " Chouannerien went on. Cadoudal
had made common with La Veudee, and ru-
mors were adoat that a great enterprise in
hand which, if it proved successful, might reseat
Bourbon on the throne of France.
Whether Bourbon were fitting person TO Gil
it entered not into the calculations Of the " boHs
Brefot,sn Their horror of the Reyoulntion and
their old-fashioned virtue Of loyalty amply sufced
to enlist sympathies in behalf of the loyalist
cause.
Aud Rene listened eagerly to the news that
penetrated within the college walls; how that
Cadoudal was ranging the country, inspiring the
peasants with zeal and enlisting all who would
Join him how that the cry through Brittany, was
"Tee ie Roll ~ for the ancient spirit ofloyalty was
waking up, and men were within their reach and
Joining the Chouan Chief For Georges was
man whom men were bound to revere; man of
calm, unwayering resolution, Of dauntless energy,
of cool, collected courage man TO be trusted ia
times Of emergency And so, in their rough goat
skins or picturesque costumes they came, a motley
company, yet with stout hearts, determined to de-
iy the Blues Of the republican army.
Unfortunately the royaist party was somewhat
divided amongst It's leaders Stofllet aud Cor
mantine were the leading spirits of the Paris fac
ton, whilst Charette and de Pulsaye held divers
opinions on the opposite side Of the Channel.
And the rumor Of the enterprise came nearer
and nearer, and soon upon the ocean gded forth
a stately fleet. The emigres were on their home
ward way to battle, and, they hoped, to victory
To victory, for had not a favorable omen greeted
them already? Had they not put TO flight the
ships Of the enemy and now they we're in sight Of
Quberon.
Southwark they should have steered their course
but they turned aside and made for the shores Of
Brittany.
Meantime, the inland provinces were in agita-