South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-02
THE THREE FRIENDS OF VAUX
VILAINE.

In the month OF July OF this last fateft
year, there did not exist q more Tranquil
sunny spot in all France than the ittl
village of Vaux Vilaine Very rural an
primitive it was, and the echoes from th
great tumultuous world without came fe'
and faint among the green fields and pul
pie vineyards, where the birds SO merrill
Rnd the summer winds sighed so sofLl
through the rustling trees.
1t possessed several substantial farI
houses among its humber cottages, and
pretty little church, served by an old curt
who, in his broad hat and black SOutdn,
walked, breviary in hand, from house
house, and was veritable father an
friend to every man, woman and child i
the place. The population was entirel
agricultural, and the magnates of the vi
lage were a few thriving farmers, VIII
sent their sons to the cure for few hours
daily teaching, which gave them some in
tellectual advantages above the rest of tn
jeunesSe of Vaux Vilaine.
Amongst these farmers sons were thre
young men about the same age, who wer
for some years under the good priest
tuition, and who had at the period of thei
boyhood contracted friendship for eacl
other which they had preserved intac
through the years that had interveneC
since then.
Sunday, the 10th of July, 1870, was /
glorious summer day, but intensely hot
and when the benediction service, at which
the cure generally gave his people little
address, was finally over that evening, these
three young men, Martel Lepelletier, julie:
Desmarets, and Evariste Rossel, saunterec
away to a large tree which stood in a re
tired part of the churchyard, and threw
themselves down under its spreading
branches to enjoy the soft evening air
while they conEersed 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
unknown life is full of golden possibilities,
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 peTe was in his
sermon tonight" said Martel, a stalwart
youth, with blue eyes and curling fair
hair, and a bright, frank expression of face
hecould 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! l 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.
II should think so, indeedI' said Jules,
who was tall and slender, with keen dark
eyes, and a look of great intelligence and
vivacity. "Who would wish anything
better than 70 have that GENTLE Vevette for
1tdncee, 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 not?"
" Yes, he means to retire to my grand
fathers old house, and leave me to manage
the farm, and you shall see what success l
mean to have. have some famous plans,
which will astonish all our old farmers not
a little, 1 expect"
And your wedding is to be on All
Saints Day, is it not ?"
Yes, on the 1st of November, without
fail. wanted it sooner, but Vevette's
mother declared she could. not possibly,
before that date, get ready the fine store of
linen she means to leave us for our new
Hendge"
In the meantime you see Vevette every
day SO you are not much to be pitied,
mon ami
"No, indeed, nor you either, for the
matter of that, Monsieur Jules. suppose
you viii be off to your uncle as soon as my
marriage is over"
"That 1 shalli Parisi Parish 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. ~
promised 10 dance at your n0ce, Martel, so
| will wait for that, but do not stay here
a day after it. My uncle said l 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. Ali de-
rich; he is horse dealer, you
know, and he gets guineas without num-
Der from the Milors Anglrir, who came to
Paris for their amusement. / shall have
horses to ride whenever please, that is
the glorious part of it. / am to take them
out for exercise, and l shall take good care
they have enough of that, promise you,"
and Jules looked at his friend with a
roguish smile.
at is pleasant prospect, must say"
replied Martel swell, the cure had sure
ly no need to talk TO US of the trials and
miseries of ife-unless you have reason
to anticipate them, Evariste," he added,
turning to the third young man, who had
not yet spoken. - , ~
EVariste was smaller and more delicate
ly made than either of his companions,
and had very refined features and soft
hazle eyes, which were shaded with GER
tain pensiYeness that hardly amounted to
as he turned to Martel a pc
culiarly sweet smile lit up his face.
"No," he answered, 81 have no fears,
nor any special plans formed for life; but
l have day-dreams," he added, in lower
tone
"Ah" let us hear them then," exclaimed
Jules. You are somewhat poetic, Eyariste,
mon ami, and perhaps you mean to go
about the country like trOubadour, win
ming the hearts of all the fair ladies with
your sweet songs" 80
Evariste Shook his head, smiling, but
did not answer. 81
"Come, tell usi what your ambition is"
said Mattel; am sure you have some
some scheme." +',..-
"You will mock yourselves of me if 1
do tell you," said Evariste, while a faint
tinge of color spread itself over his face.
No no" they both exclaimed, "why
should we?"
1ou know you are lar more learned
than either of u.s. said Jules; we never
studied as you did in the old days when
the cure labored so hardto hammer a little
knowledge into our brains 1 dare say
you have flown far over our heads in your
dreams. Come give us the benefit of them"
"Well," said Evariste, somewhat reluc-
tantly, " only want to do something for
my felloW-creaturcs before l leave the
world do not want to live just to amuse
myself, and then die to be forgotten. l
should like to follow the example of the
heroes of old who died for their country;
or, better still, of the martyrs who died
for Christ" And his face became flushed
with glow of enthusiasm.
Tens that is an idea which would not
have come to me-" said Jules. az prefer
to live"
"Well, should not object TO die a glo-
rious DEATH" said Martel, " but l must first
live long, happy life with Vevette, 6aen
eEte7adu. 1t would be pleasant enough to
know that ones name would be honored
by posterlty; but let me take my pleasure
cut of existence first"
"But, Martel," said Evariste, ait is not
in old agerfor the most part, that we make
a sacrifice. Life has come to an end bv
that time anyhow"