The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-04-28
II H e
VILLAGEON THE CLIFF,
BY MISS THACKERAY,
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
MADAME FoNrA1NE AT HOME IN THE cHA1rr
When Catharine and her husband re-
turned from their trip fortnight late,
and looked out through the diligence
windows at the chateau, tho blinds werf
drawn, the shutters shut, the garden
chairs were turned up on their seats
the great iron gates were closed fast
Catharine never had realized so com
pletely that she was not coming back
there any more, but to the little chalet
with the balconies and wealth hercocks
which Madame de Tracy had shown
her. 1t was like the story Of Rip Van
Wrinkle: she had been away among the
elves and gnomes hundred years.
Everybody was gone that she was used
to; Dick was gone, the others dispersed
here and there; most of the strangers
lodging in the village had left; even
Catharine George had vanished; Mon.
sieur and Madame Merard had retired
to their campagne. It was a mouldy
little villa on the high road to Bayeux ;
but Fontaine assured her from expert.
ence that they would doubtless return
before long. Perhaps in his heart of
hearts the worthy 'na;re regretted that
his tete-a-tete should be soon interrupt
ed, but he blamed himself severely fo1
the inconsiderate feeling. CATER all
that owe to these excellent parents"
he explained, "the magnificent dot
which their daughter brought -me, I
feel that they must always look upon
the chalet as their home whenever thew
feel so inclined to do so. You, ma
tres-chere annie, are gifted with a hap
py and equable temper; I know you
will not hesitate to bestow upon them
those filial attentions which are so grace
full when accorded by youth to old age.
Believe me, shall not be ungrate-
fu]."
Catharine smiled at the solemn ad-
dress; she was glad that there was any.
thing she could do for her husband.
For already his kindness, his happi.
ness, his entire contentment, had made
her ashamed. "Ah! it was cruel to
have taken 80 much, to have so little to
give in return" she had thought once
or twice. At least she would do her
duty BY him, she told herself, and it
was with very humble and yet hope
full heart that she passed the threshold
Of her new home. Toto was there to
welcome them, and to trample upon all
tho folds Of Catharine's muslin dress
with his happy little feet, and Justine,
the excellent cook, came out to stare at
the new inmate of the chalet.
"tSoye= Ia 1ienvenue," said Fon-
taine, embracing his wife affeotiocately ;
and they all three sat down very happi-
ly, to dine by the light Of the lamp.
The entertainment began with a mel.
"Grandmamma is coming on Satur.
day week." said Toto. "Mr. Pelottie,
will call for them on his way back from
Caen."
"Ah lso much the BETTER" said Jus
tine, who was carrying away the empt,
dishes. Justine did not approve o
second marriages.
Madame Fontalne soon found tba
she would have little or nothing to d
with the domestic arrangements iu tn
chalet. She ~as5mush too greatly i,
avs'of Justine, the excellsnt cook, VIII
had filsd Fontains's outlets for fifteel
years, TO venture to interfere in tn
kitchen. Fontaine himself had bee1
accustomed, during his long bsshelo
life and after Lis first wife's- death, t
interest himself in the cares of the me
mage. He supsrintended the purohas
Of fish, the marketing, the proper con
cocting Of the pot-and-feu He brok
sugar and made himself generally use
ful in the house. He might be dis
covered sometimes Of a fine morniu,
busily employed in the courtyard, saw
ing up pieces of wood for the. stove
He cut pegs with his pen.knife to han!
up the clothes in the field; he had ev
en- assisted on occasion to get them il
before a shower came down. H.
knocked nails, gardened, mended win
dows, signed papers for the villagers
contracts Of marriage, agreements, DIS
agreements. The people Of Petitpor
we're constantly coming to their mair
for redress and and advice.
Fontaine used to do his best to dis
suade them from going to law, but tn
neighbors we're tenacious of their right
and enjoyed nothing so much as goo
lawsuit. Even old Nanon I4efebvr
once insisted on spending her wretche
earnings in summon;ng her cousin II
roi At Bayeux, who had upjustly grasl
ed . sum Of two pounds, she declare
to which she WAS entitled. She 10
her dial, and received back ! few shil
IipRs from Fmtaine's OWE pocket, vii