Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-02-15


ed gayer, and we were all happier !;
whilst if monsieur looked cross or
sad, it was dull time for us. After
NJ. Pau! went away, there was not
CLEAN of happiness on M. Louis's face
from one end of the week to the other; ;
first he shut himself up in his room,
then he took to wandering about the
house, coming down among US SER
wants in the kitchen and going to the
rooms of the young ladies. He SEEM
ed to hate being alone though when
he was with any one he never talked !;
and after that mood passed away, he
took to riding about the country, VI
sitting the villages and the nearest
towns. Sometimes after these visits
he would throw himself off his horse
and come striding into the chateau,
breath coming in great gasps. and his
eyes rolling fercely as he looked
round on all of US, and he would shout
out the last news from Paris as if it
were almost madening him. Poor
little Ma'amselle Pauline would creep
up TO him then and try to sooth him,
but he would shake her off and drive
her from him, though at other times
he would speak to her more kindly
than he ever spoke to any other hu-
man being. Those were wretched
days indeed, monsieur.
One day | was helping in the kit
chen, there were not many servants
about the chateau in those times; be-
sides, was clever cook, and could
serve up dinner which even NJ. Louis
enjoyed, when | heard monsieur COM
ing along the passage. changing his
spurs On the stones.
There's no change for the better
IN his humor,' | thought to myself as
| listened; and was right, for the
next moment he put his fierce face in
to the room, and shouted to me to 90
to him, as if | were a dog and he my
master
4 suppose you'd be frightened to
put your nose outside the gates? he
exclaimed scornfully. You wouldn't
have the courage to go to Bour-
deauxr
To Bourdeaux, monsieur p | re-
piled in amazement. Has monsieur
any business for me to do there?
Instead of replying, he fixed on me
his stern eyes, as if he would read my
soul. But l bore it without shrink,
ing; | knew | was a faithful servant,
and not a coward. Then he stretch
ed out his hand, and as be laid it on my
shoulder | felt that it trembled like a
child's.
Antoine" ;" he said, i believe as far
as men can be good and true in these
God deserted times you are. | am
going to test your fidelity aud friend.
ship, and VOW that, if ever the life
shall be spared me, l will repay you
if you stand by me in this hour Of
trouble
Monsieur has only to say what be
requires done | answered quietly
my family was always faithful to the
De Gaules.'
He put his arm through mine and
led me out to the grove of pines stand
ing there just to the left of the cha
teau. Though the sunshine was pour
ing down like molten gold on the
country all round, it was cool as an
autumn evening under the shade oI
; the wood: and monsieur seemed to
grow calmer as we walked among the
trees.
Its the old story, Antoine he be
gun, after carefully looking round, the
old story of brotherly hatred and
treachery.
4 started. Not NJ. Paulr | ex
claimed for though l had always lik
ed him better than NJ. Louis, l dis
trusted him, and always feared that
some day the evil shining through bis
blue eyes would work its way out
somehow.
What said monsieur scornfully
have you too been taken in by his
false smiles? Perhaps you? Speak
quickly
His ferceness came back again
he seized my arm, and, with another
of those alarmed looks round him
put his ether hand in his bosom as i
in search of something.
1 serve the head of the family
replied calmly. 4 am the servant o
the Baron de Gaule, not of NJ. Paul.
He looked at me again, and ther
dropping my arm, said:
4 will trust you; | must trust you
You know | can reward you if yor
are faithful, and think you know my
temper well enough to know also tha
| could and would revenge myself i
betrayed
l did indeed, and yet l did no
shrink from him.
2 Il have heard from Paris he sale
in a Quieter tone, that there is every
reason to believe my brother is play
ing treacherously with me. He hate'
me, and wants the property; you cal
hot b0 70 do
| Denounce monsieurl 7 | whispered
} 4 am told that there is some on
t waiting to see me at Bourdeaux VIII,
e has a message for me from Paul
: some overtures he wishes to make,
: suppose; and | am further told tha
it will be the worse for me if | d
j not meet this messenger Monsieu
I; paused a moment, then he added
It Now, Antoine, if | 60
Monsieur must not CO. interrupt
0 ed; 'he must send me-
e you would not be afraid? Cite
l. are not like the quiet country.
+ Monsieur, Antoine Boutiller neve
e knew fear, | replied.
e L believe you,' he exclaimed, an
e that is more than l could say to an
)" other man in the world. Antoine
d | accept your service: give me you
hand, and swear that, come what viii
IS you will keep faith fast to me, and nc
n be won over by the false smiles an
,r promises of my brother Paul
-e So, putting my hand in my MASTER
It | swore as he desired. Remembe
| monsieur, that that hand was the
,r the clean hand of a French noblemaI
D. there was only honor in touching
d then.