The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-04-27

| IQeT6. ..-.. = y
81 can sleep here very WE'LL" sh
said "and in the morning / can, fin,
my way home" ..
| She was tired and slept soundly al
night in her strange bed. AT last To
red beams of the sun penetrated Il
her resting-place, and made her .stp
luneasily. At length she opened he
eyes, and found horrible old MAI
kneeling on the grass beside her, look
ing eagerly at her. With 9 scream
she started to her feet. J., qo- =
fMam'selle need not fear old Duval,
said the old man, with a horrible grin
"He thought he had found one little
woodnymph." l5i.
81 am Salome Felix" said the girl.
"I got lost last night, in the woods,
and could not find my way home. -
Will you show me the path r.
"Oui-oui 2" said the old man, ''let
mam'selle fellow me" s-.-..
l. He led the way. He was staunted,
twisted and yellow. He hmped. In
his hand he carried great ox-goad.
He looked at Salome now and then,
| with his hideous grin. ~ ~
"He is repulsive." thought Salome.
"but L need not care, if he shows me
the way home" --8C -t..--..-g ..s5
The sun shone like gold into the
woods all the little birds were carol
Hing. They crushed the fragrant wild
viOlets beneath their feet. oar = -Fl}l
They continued to walk until the,
beams of the sun became hot, and Sa-
lone was very tired.
81 did not think I wandered SO far
last night" said she; ''but, indeed,
one thinks of nothing else when they
are chasing lost linnet."
Her face was so bright and sweet
that the old man bent upon her anoth-
cr of his frightful grins.
They walked on. They met the
little streamlet again which was gilt
tering like chain of diamonds among
the brown leaves.
"Will not the streamlet lead us
out ?" she asked.
'tNo," said the old mau. -
Though it was getting toward noon,
the way seemed growing DINNER, in,
stead of brighter. The trees stood
close, and wove their branches into a
great network overhead. The cast of
a greeu light on the face of the old
man and made him look more ugly
than ever. -. ... 30.
81 am getting tired" said Salome,
at length.
The old man stopped and looked at
her with a strange look.
SfIS M Sallo xuaaru OF lost All
well, then, suppose we stop at my
house and get little rest,. before we
go on ?' s--
"And am very hungry" said Sa-
lone, ready to cry. -... a
$50? l will give mam'selle some
bread and a cup of milk before we
go on" .-..
: "Wen," said Salome, family, "if
your house is not very far" s...-
''It is not very far" said the old
mau, grinning, and nodding his wick
ed old head, -..... ..
He turned abruptly and came to a
strong wooden gate behind hedge of
yew trees. He unlocked this gate,
and pushed the way through narrow
path, bordered with high shrubs, to |
some stone steps, that led to low
door IN large building. He unlock
ed this door which was of iron, and |
grated on its hinges, and led the way
into a large low room where there was
a bed, and table, and a chair, On
the table were the remnants of a meal
"a roasted rabbit on platter, and
some bread. Though it was May,
little fire, smouldering on the hearth,
was very welcome the air of the low
room was so chill. As soon as the
old man and Salome entered this
apartment, the place echoed with the
baying of great bloodhound which
was chained to kennel in a corner,
and whose heavy black muzzle and
eyes were frightful to the
yonng girl. .- t.-.-.
80, dare not stay" she cried.-
Just then she heard the responsive
barking of other dogs from other
parts of the house. I-i fal.-asr.
"Mam'selle need rot fear,'' said the
old man. ellie down, Tux 9' T.. /
The dog skunk into his kennel, as
the old wretch lifted his ox-goad, and
all the barking gradually ceased. II
'tCome and eat" said old Duval,
bringing clean plate and knife from
a corner cupboard for the young girl.
Salome's hunger had vanished, but I
she managed to swallow little bread. /,
She noticed that though the plate and !
knife were coarse, the goblet for water {
was of fine, pure silver, beautifully
enriched with motion roses. She f
thought it a very strange glace she {
vas uneasy, and rose, at last, to go 1
away. But the old man had gone, s
and had taken the dog IN his chain
with him.. -'D 100 .-5'' ~ $50
She sat down to wait for his return &
a very pleasant smell, as from a gar I
1en, came in at the open door. A {
beautiful butterfy-all purple and t
black and dsgeld-followedt the rays of 8
sunshine in, and sported arouad her. J
A rosebush had shed its red petals at {
he top of the stone steps, and they S
blew in and danced over the floor.
SaIome waited and listened, tkink- I
ng this queer place to which she
aad come, She had never heard of '
fthe Castle " Now and then she
thought she heard, steps in, room
above, but The moments crept by, the
withdrew from the room,
md no one came. She bsgan to trem-
Die with cold and fear. This was
worse than being lost in the woods. ID
She kindled more fire, but she left !
he door open, for she could not bear 2
% shut herself in that lonesome room.