The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-05-24


to which q couple Of post-horses were
being hafncssed. The master stood
by experimenting the operation.
Monsieur" said George to this
man, II want two horses for my car
riage."
The man shook his head
every sorry, sir, but 1 have no
more horses. These two are the
last"
George rushed at the chaiso and
opened the door. A man-an Eng
lishman,to judge by his whiskers--
was seated within.
Monsieur" said George, 81 have a
request of great importance to make
to you"
"Speak, sir" replied tho traveller,
with an accent that did not belle his
whiskers
"Will you give up your horses p
Impossible, sir p
81 will give you thousand, two
thousand francs, in exchange for the
concession"
II do not want your money, sir"
"Sir, your kindness will save my
life"
81 have no time to be kind
"Sir, | viii make you repent your
cruality."
"Repent! All! Position, stop a
moment
The Englishman stepped out of tho
chaise, and with characteristic calm.
ness said:
"What do you mean, sir, by saying
you will make me repent ?"
What meant l scarcely know
Perhaps | am mad; but, mad or not,
it depends upon you to prevent me
from being killed"
The Englishman looked hard at the
young man, and then turning round
as if to re-enter his chaise, he super
ciliously remarked:
"And what is it to me, sir, if you
are killed p
George, irritated by his contemp-
tuous Indifference, raised his hand.
At the very moment loud noise
was heard on the road. 1t was "
post-chaise coming at full gallop.--
George heard his own name called out
in n well-known voice
"Ah, | am lostl' exclaimed the
young man; and cold perspiration
believed his brow.
1t was Captain Rodet in pursuit
it was Captain Rodet who was calling
to him. George saw him stepping
rapidly toward him. At the sight of
the man, whom he looked upon as his
executioner, George advanced to the
encounter.
"Kill -assassinate me, sir y he
exclaimed, "for | warn you shall not
fight. am coward; / admit it,
Kill me at once, for / am frightened
of you.
George, notwithstan ding his un-
manly avowal, stood in the presence
of his enemy, his head erect, his arms
crossed on his breast. As if awaiting
death. The captain looked at the
young man as if thunderstruck, but a
strange smile played upon his lips
A little group of bystanders had, iii
the meantime, gathered around
The Englishman himself, taken aback
10y the strangcness of the scene, had
forgotten to get into the chaise, Like
the rest, he looked at George Benier
and then at Captain Rodet in pres
enco of one another.
At last the Captain opened his
mouth, and, holding, out his right
hand to George, "who says anything
about killing you, sir?' he said in an
affectionate tone. "Who speaks to
you about fighting? Why should l
kill you? | am Blanche's uncle, sir;
and come in her name to give you
this trife, which belongs to you
yourself"
George looked at the hand that was
held out to him, and uttered an ex-
clamation Of joyful surprise. 1t CON
tanned the third pellet of bread The
captain renowned the last meeting,
to which he was entitled by the code
of honor.
Had Captain Rodet, in reply to
Georges invitation, raised dagger
at his breast, the young man would
liOJ bttNt but w iilb tHdb Ht
was forever delivered of an implaca-
BILE hostility was too much for him. He
fell fainting to the ground.
When he regained consciousness, he
found himself on a bed in the inn, and
Captain Rodet by his side Involun-
tarily he shuddered; but the captain
was smiling.
"What, sir he said, fare you"
Eyes l am going to be your uncle,
young man; precisely So" And, as
George was about to reply, 1.-TWO
words more" said the old soldier. --
Il have, perhaps, shown myself very
severe for slight fault. l will adj
nit it. But my excuse -you viii un-
derstand it, my excuso-good or bad,
is that / served the Emperor and you
served the Bourbons. Austerlitz
could not permit itself to be eclipsed
by the Trocadero. But 50 that you
may not deem me more truculent
than l really am, know, young man,
that long before my sister wrote to
me that you desired to be her son-in-
law, / had made up my mind that |
would no longer cross swords with
you. 1t was quite enough twice, was
it not p
George rose up in his bed