The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-03-24
II H e
VIIL.AGEON THE CLIFF.
BY MISS THACKERAY.
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
The days passed with Miss George in
her new surroundings Sho prospered
finely with the children. Mamie, who
would be like . lady, would wish Cath
arine good-morning !; and Madelaine,
who was four. and "tres Reasonable" !"
Suzanne her nurse ssid, consented to be
kissed through the iron-work balusters
of the staircase.
Tho children would lead the way
through the great dining-room, where
Baptiste vas hopping about on one leg,
polishing the shining floor, across the
terrace, through green avenues and
gardens, looking neglected, but fresh
with dew, and luxurant with flowers
and fruittrees. Pumpkins, carnations,
and roses were growing between vine
Glad walls. There were bees, and there
was an old stone we'll full Of deep wa
ter, like Jocelyn's we'll
Don't Ia chaine roules Doll Ia marrelle
It qd'une vigne etreint do "a verte dentelle.
From the terrace there vas a distant
view of the sea. of the blue line of
the horizon flashing beyond the golden
corn-felds. ".' ,
One morning Mamie ssid, eve are
to 60 to the Ferme, Miss George, to-
day, with commission from grand
mamma. We will 60 out At the door
in ths Portaggor, if you'd not mind, aud
come back the other way."' It VA al
the same to Catharine, who followed her
little conductors through the kitchsu-
garden door out into the open country,
and along the pssa skirting tho corn
fields which spread to the seq. Henri
went first, blowing his horn; Nanius
loitered to pick the poppies and bleu-
bleus, as she called the corn flowers ;
Madeleine trotted by Catharine, hold.
ing her hand. It was like tho nursery
rhyme. Miss George thought Of the
little boy blue, only the sheep were
wanting.
From outside the farm at Tracy still
looks more like a ruined fortress than 4
farm where milk is sold in cans, and
little pats Of butter prepared, and egg.
counted out in dozens, and pigs fatten:
ed for the mari ket. All over Norman.
dy you come upon these fortified ab.
bayes, built for praying and fighting
once, and ruined now, and turned t.
different uses. 1t is like Samson's rid.
die to see the carcass Of the lions viii
honey flowing from them. "Out o
the eater came forth meat; out 8
strong came forth sweetness" ," Their,
is great archway at the farm 1t Tracy
With heavy wooden doors studded viii
nails. There is rust in plenty, ant
part Of 4 moat still remaining: Th'
hay is stacked In what was : chape
once ; the yellow trusses are hanging
through the crumbling aamboyant eas
windsw. There is = tall watch-tower
to which a pigeon-oote has been affixed
and low oloisters that are turned int
outhouses and Kitchens. The whit
walls tell story Of penance and 6ere
battliugs, which are over now, rs far ,
they are concerned. The great harvea
wagons pass through the srchw.y with
out unloading; so do the COWS at milk
ing-timc. Cocks and hens are pecke'
ling the fallen grains, the pigeons circl
overhead suddenly white against tn
Ky.
As the children and Miss Georx
pushed open the heavy doors and cam
into the vide sunny court, figure d.
scended the stone steps leading fro,
the strong tower where the apples ar
kopt. 1t Wa RENE in her white coif'
Who advanced with deliberate footstep
earring an earthenware pan under he
arm, aud Who stood waiting in the mid
die Of tho great dsserted-looking pl.c
until they should come up to her.
Catharine wondered whether 4
Normandy peasant-girls we're like thi
one. It was princess keeping the cow
! There she stood, straight, slender, vi
orous; dressed in the Sunday dire,
Of the women Of those parts, With th
difference, that iastead Of two plastsre
loops OF hair like.a . dolls, d tawny ri]
plo flowed under her cap and low ov'
her arched brows. As for her eye
they were quick, dancing gray eye
that looked black when she was ialyi
clouds and lightning; somebody on.
told her they were, but the lightniu
, bseams warm sunlight when she smilt
} upon those she liked. She smiled no,
J for Reine WAS 1 child. lover, and J, eve
! it.ls DsITraeys. we're welcome, y II,
came toward her with their bunches
i =