The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-04-21
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VILLA ] AGB0N THE CLIFF,
cHAprER>x111
BY MISS THACKERAY.

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Catharine Butler was to have bee,
married on tho 10TH, bat old NJ.
Beamish was suddenly taken ill, AM
every thing had to be put off detinite
ly. Dick offered himself to remain "a
Tracy until after Catharile George
wedding. 7S ss 50 81 ea .@ Z5......
This wedding was fixed for a YER,
early date.r7 Madame. de Tracy was anx
ious to have itover before hse left fo
Paris. Lady Farebrother,I who wal
"rittensto sent back her consent in ,
strange tumble Of religion and worldli
ness. q Mrs: Buekington, to: . ever,
bodys sntpyise, ,cane out With a. fifty
pound note for -Catharine.s trousseau
The modest little outfit did not taxe
long to make ready, Fontsine under
took the other necessary arrangement.
at Caen, for from the difference of re.
Iigion there were some slight oomplica,
tions beyond those which usually attend
weddings. The day came very quick:
ly, almost unexpectedly and suddenly
at last, like most eventtul days.
The Protestant church is a great,
gray, vaultlikea place, with many col.
umns and sad-oolored walls. Catha-
rine, who had slept at Caen the night
before in house belonging to the De
Vernons, came driving up to the door
with Madame de Tracy just as the
party arrived from Petltport by the
early train. They all passed in toge,h-
er, but Catharine felt chill IS she
came into the sombre place. 1t was so
big, so :fullol echoes some one brush
ed against a chair as the little proces.
sion passed up the centre aisle, the dis
NAL scraping sound reverberated from
column to column. The clergymen was
kind-lo liking, white-haired old man,
who read the service in a plaintive,
mumbling voice. He was only passing
Though the place; he knew none of
the people, but he was interested in the
little swsct-cyed bride, and long after
wa'd he remembered her when he met
her asaio. Fontaine was uucomfort-
able. and very glad when this part Of
the ceremony was over. There was no
knowing where these mysterious rites
to which he was exposed, defeuseless
and without redress, might not lead
him. He was not anxious for Catha.
rine. She vas Injured to it, and she
was so docile and gentle, TOO, that moth
ing woull be counted very heavily
against her; but for good Catholic
like himself, who knew better, who had
been carefully Instructed, there was no
s'ying what dangers he might not be
iocurriug.
The service was soon over, but Mad
anne dc Tracy had made some mistake
in her orders, and waen the wedding.
party came out into the peristyle of the
church, the carriages had both disap.
peared. 1t was but short way to the
church where they were going. Most
Of them had intended to walk, and
there was now no other alternative
"Veuez, madame" said Jean de Tracy
ofering Catharine his arm, while Fou
taine followed with Madame de Tracy
then came Marthe, with some children
and last Of all, Dick, and a strange lady
who had also arrived from Petitport b,
the early train. It Was not Ma5amt
Mcrard. She, naturally enough, re
fused to be present at the ceremony;
Madame Ernestine, too, found it quit
out Of the question to be up at such al
impossible hour. The strange lady wa
handsomely dressed in gray silk cow
aud a pale.colored Cashmere shaw
She kept little apart from the rest
never lifting her eyer off her book dur
ing the service. Madame de ,-Trac
could not imagine who she was at 6rs'
but Catharine's eyes frightened whe
she saw her.
The strange lady looked. a littl
ashamed, and shy, and fierce at once
She had faucied people stared at her q
she came along and no wonder, for
more beautiful and noble-lookin
Joung creature than RENE Chretien ,
that time never existed. Under hi
bonnet her eyes looked bigger an
brighter, and her rippled hair was 4
longer hidden under the starch of h,
cap +; she came up with certain gra.
and stately swing which she had oaugl
from her mother. Secretly, she fe
uncomfortable 10 her longtrained gown
but she came bravely along, as if 81
had been used to her draperies all b
life.. Dick was amused and interestt
to see his peasant maiden so transfov1
ed.
"Reine, I never should have dar'
to fall in love with you if I had f,
known you like this" said he, watc
ing his opportunity, and taking /
, place beside her.
"Don't laugh at me-" said Refine.
< "What a dismal affsir this has bee
It I know my aunt has cooked the VIII
thing up" Dick went %. 'They Z
: not in the least suited to each other
It e RENE sighed. "1ll-ossorted n
riages never answer" she said, in
,s quick, harsh tones she sometimes
n n ed. '.::- -..~ "..-.~'