The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-06-07

eight days, L was forced to yield to her,
if Ormy, who had resolved to go with
me TO Perpignan, and who was even
more bent upon going than |, would
consent to remain couple of days lon
ger.
/ was surprised when Ormy came and
begged that our departure should be de-
layed some days longer. "IIave you
let yourself be persuaded by Annette?"
/ asked; "that is what | had not ex-
pected of YOU"
"Ah !" said he, and he passed his
hand over his face as if he would chase
away faint smile that stole upon him !:
"I could not put off the poor child,
when | saw that my refusal brought
tears into her eyes. | had to enter into
Il capitulation with the little witch, and
she talked me out of eight days more,
under the promise that she would not
utter syllable then. And when /
yielded at last-and how could | help
it:--she fell into a rapture of delight,
and even gave me a kiss, right hearty
one"
"Oh!" / exclaimed, "for such price
one would readily sell himself or Il fel-
low-traveller."
"Eou may travel, Mr.. Captain, if you
will, but my promise binds me. 1t
would be very pleasant to accompany
you upon your journey to Perpignan."
l assured him that was so depend
ent upon the pleasure of his company,
that l should delay my going fora week
and besides, that the rest would be benef-
cjal to my scarcely restored health,
When l next saw Annette, she hop
ped and danced with an air of triumph
before me.
"Hurrah ~ said she, laughing, zone
can tame half-savage, like Mr.. Won
Ormy, after alln
81 believe it," said I "with such
powerful means as you used with him,
you might overpower me also. But |
envy him less the art with which you
brought him to capitulate, than the re-
ward wch you afterwards gave him."
She smiled and remained silent with
an air of indescribable sweetness.
"At least, I may ask" l continued,
"without being unreasonable, the
same sweet reward which he received
without asking"
She looked at me earnestly, with
strange, penetrating expression, while
Il gentle blush overspread herangel face.
Suddenly she turned round and danced
off, trilling ballad. The reward l did
not receive. Now first l began to sus-
pect that with her, as with her siste Fan
chon, I had been playing'the good-na-
part what was meant only for Ormy. l
pretended to be contented.
The eight days soon passed away. l
regretted often afterwards that | had so
protracted my stay at Cransac with this
captivating family. For ever nearer
and closer had woven my affections
into their hearts. Fanchon's beauty
had made too deep an impression on
me. 1 loved the maiden with increas-
ing ardour, and was the more unhappy
as | was convinced that it was not in
the slightest degree returned. She was
neither more reserved nor more cordial
than on the first day we met. She ap-
peared to have n greater interest in the
moody Ormy. But truly Ormy was
not older than /, nor | any younger
than he.
Hitherto, | confess, / had tritled with
women without understanding myself.
But Fanchon was my first love, and l
had need of all my strength to save my
self from being ridiculous. At last the
hour of departure came and was glad
it did come, however painful it might
be.
The parents were as friendly at the
parting as at the arrival. Won Ormy
was as cold and dry as any one can be
who leaves an inn to continue his jour
ney. Fanchon, who never appeared to
me more lovely than ut this moment
when | was about to leave, showed her
self wholly unchanged. They all wished
us, with equal kindness, IA pleasant jour
ney, accompanying the farewell with
somelively sallies, and seeming to make
ii a point to lessen, as much rs possible,
the disagrceablencSs one feels in separat'
ing from persons with whom he has
spent number of pleasant days anC
weeks.
The little Annette alone showed more
emotion. She held my hand long; thel
she ran off, and returned with fresh
blown moss-rosc and put it into my
hand, while she showed me withereC
one, which Immediately recognized a
the one had given her on the first da!
of our acquaintance, She uttered not
word. Her countenance wore an eN
preston of melancholy. When kisset
her hand ut parting She fell upon m.
neck, kissed me, and sobbing violently
hastened away.
; Now for the first time | saw tears Il
the eyes of Fanchon and her mother.
= We entered our carriage and droN
off. ,.,
5 We said little for the first hour or two
; Herr Won Ormy safe gloomy III on
corner Of the carriage, and in the o'i'
er. This suited me we'll had TO u
y violence to myself in his presence ior
- could have wept like n child. fanchol
:, with her fearful eyes, fitted ever Deior'
Il me. .,.,,,, ,,o,,
: composed. We passed through Tou
. Iouse and the badly built Carcassonno
; NV companion, besides not being talk