The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-09-03
THE PRETTY FOUNDING.
A Story of the Reign of Louis XVI.
by F. DELACY.


6enNE cup more, comrades and then
" boot and saddle. Halo, landlord !!
another bottle of your Frontignac, and send
the pretty bar-maid with it do you hear?"
Such were the exclamations of sergeant
of the queens dragons, as he sat with some
of his companions at a little table within a
vine-tellised arbor at a door of the "Bunch
of Grapes" a small inn of the village of st.
Luce. Half dozen of them they were
hard-riding, fighting men, powdered and
mustached, plunged in heavy jack-boots
and fanked by enormous sabres. Their
horses were picketted at a little distance.
Near them, at another table, were three
or four men in the garb of peasants. Of
this group, two young men eyed the sol
diers curiously and admiringly; third sat
listlessly with his head resting on his hands
and his elbows resting on the table; while
the fourth mana man passed the middle
age-seemed chiding his companion for his
despondency.
Sergeant Bras de Fer seconded his call
for refreshments by hammering vigorous
ly on the table with his fist, and in few
moments very pretty girl of some sixteen
years, with keen black eye, red lip, a
small ankle, and neat dressadmirably ad-
.justed to her symmetrical figure, made her
appearance with bottle ON small tray,
and set it before the sergeant, dropping a
slight courtesy sa she did.so.
The .a-naor& looIrod ~ +I,o .,;,.l I&aco~o I,
applied himself to the bottle, an unusual
thing for Sergeant Caesar Bras de Fer,
whose worship of Bacchus generally pre-
ceeded his devotions to Venus.
"By the soul of my father ~ said he,
this girl is handsome enough for colonels
lady. WHAT'S your name, my dear?"
Marie, replied the young girl bridling
up.
cold Boniface's daughter, eh?"
The girl looked down and shook her
head.
MY dear you ought to be duchess.
But high born.or low born, Marie, you
must give an old soldier one kiss to sweeten
the cup he is about to drain to your bright
eyes"
With these words the sergeant rose and
offered to salute the rustic beauty, but the
latter, with the color mounting to her face,
dealt the soldier so vigorous slap that she
left full impression of her little hand upon
his weather-beaten cheek. Then turning,
she regained the house at bound.
+" SacreJleur' cried the sergeant, as he
sat down again, sulkily. "What tigress!
That clip made me see more stars than ever
the astronomer royal discovered through
his telescope. 1t served me right though,
so here's her health--all the same as if she
had been more kind to me-"
The young man at the other table, whose
mournful apathy we have noted, had
not remained an Indifferent spectator of
this scene. When Marie made her ap-
pearance, his eyes kindled, and his glance
was rievted upon her beautiful but some
what angry countenance. When she repuls-
de and punished the soldiers familiarity,
smile parted his lips; and when she vanish
ed into the inn, he rose, Immediately fol
lowed and rejoined her.
Dear Marie" said he, "you cannot
refuse me one word.'
What would you have, Gaspar ?" re-
piled the girl, rather impatiently.
~ love you-love you distractedly. The
last time spoke of my passion, you fed
from me-"
Hush, hush Y said Marie. at is use
less for you to persecute me thus. / told
you that your feelings.were not reciprocal
Cd Ifyou do not forbear this language,
we must cease to be friends"
90 Marie, do not deprive me Of all
hope Let me hope that my patient, re-
spectful attentions will finally produce
favorable result
Never, Gaspar Morlain. My heart is
untouched by love. If could feel other
wise, you would be the object Of my affect