Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-08
Miscellaneous.
THE THREE FRIENDS OF VAUX
VILAINE.

The THEE fhtENDo VE VAC@A
VILAINE.
In the month Of July Of this last fateful
year, there did not exist more tranquil
sunny spot in all France than the little
village Of Vaux Vilaine. Very rural and
primitive il was, and the echoes from the
great tumultuous world without came few
and faint among the green fields and pur'
pie vineyards, where the birds so merrily
and the summer winds sighed so softly
through the rustliDg trees.
1t possessed several substantial farm
houses among it's humber cottages and a
pretty little church, served by an old cure,
who, in his broad hat and black S0utane,
walked, breviary in hand, from house to
house, and was a veritable father and
friend to every man, woman and child in
the place. The population was entirely
agricultural and the magnates OF the vii
lage were a few thriving farmers, who
sent their sons TO the cure for few hours
daily teaching, which gave them some in
tellectual advantages above the rest OF the
.jeunesse of Vaux Vilaine.
Amongst these farmers sons were three
young men about the same age, who were
for some years under the good priests
tuition, and who had at the period of their
bOyhood contracted friendship for each
other which they had preserved intact
through the years that had interviewed
since then.
Sunday, the 10th of July, 1870, was a
glorious summer day, but intensely hot
and wheu the benediction service, at which
the cure generally gave his people a little
address, was finally over that evening, these
three young men, Martel Lepelletier, Jules
Desmarcts, and Evariste Rossel, sauntered
away TO a large tree which stood in re-
tired part of the churchyard, and threw
themselves down under its spreading
branches TO enjoy the soft evening air,
while they conyerscd together in free and
happy confidence.
Now, their talk was Of the future; it is
not often Of anything else with most of us
in those hopeful days of youth, when the
and no shadow from failure or disappoint-
ment has dimmed the sunshine which ex-
pectant fancy sheds on all that is to come.
"How gloomy the bon pere was in his
sermon to-nighlr' said Martel, a stalwart
youth, with blue eyes and curling fair
hair, and bright, frank expression OF face /;
"he could talk Of nothing but the uncer-
tainty of life, and the necessity of prepar-
ing ourselves for all sorts Of possible trials
and troubles. Ma fol! see no uncer-
tainty In it, and do not anticipate any
trials My fate is settled for me, and am
very well contented with it,
81 should think so, indeed!" said Jules,
who was tall and slender, with keen dark
eyes, and look of great intelligence and
vivacity. "Who would wish anything
better than to have that gentiLe Vevette for
f.yncee, and the prettiest farm in Vaux
Vilaine for your home and possession
your father gives his home up to you when
you marry, does he notY"
"Yes, he means to retire to my grand
fathers old house, and leave me to manage
the farm, and you shall see what success |
mean to have. / have some famous pl ms,
which will astonish all our old farmers not
little, expect"
"And your wedding is to be on All
Saints Day, is it nett"
Eyes, on the LIST of November, without
fail. l wanted it sooner. but Vevettes
mother declared she could not possibly,
before that date, get ready the fine store OF
linen she means TO leave us for our new
naennge"
ain the meantime you see Vevette every
day, so you are not much to be pitied,
mon ami"
mo, indeed, nor you either, for the
matter of that, Monsieur Jules. / suppose
you will be off to your uncle as soon as my
marriage is over.
"That shall Paris! Paris!" ex-
claimed Jules, starting up, and taking a
flying leap over the nearest grave, as an
outlet to the excitement which the very
name of the gay capital woke in him. 81
promised to dance at your nOce, Martel, SO
! will wait for that, but do not stay here
day after it. My uncle said might
come in November, and he will have the
honor of receiving me on the I'd of that
month"
"Is it true that he means to make you
his heir?"
$50 he hints, and he is rich. All! de-
lightfully rich; he is a horse dealer, you
know, and he gets guineas without num-
Der from the Milors Anglrir, who came to
Paris for their amusement. l shall have
horses to ride whenever / please, that is
the glorious part Of it. am to take them
out for exercise, and shall take good care
they have enough of that, promise you,"
and Jules looked at his friend with a
roggish smile. ;,
1T is a pleasant prospect, I must say"
replied Martel. SWELL, the cure had sure
ly no need to talk to us of the trials and
mlbeTIcS OI IIc-UulcbS you nave TcdSOn
to anticipate them, Evariste," he added,
turning to The third young man, who had
not yet spoken.
Evariste was smaller and more delicate
" made than either of his companions,
and had very refined features and soft
halle eyes, which were shaded with GER
tain pensivent IS that hardly amounted to
melancholy as he turned to Msrtel Q re-
cnliarly sweet smile lit up his face.
"No," he answered, II have no fears,
nor any special plans formed for life; but
! have dsy-dreams," he added, In . lower
tone.