Richland beacon., 1873-02-08
la BONNIE MERE NANNETTE.

tour through Normandy was that on
which We Il, cidCd 10 stop for a day ut Wire,
instead cf at oEce taking the train to
Granville. Accordingly, we and our lug
gage were deposited at the Hotel St.
Pierre. the entrance to which, was through
the kitchen. At its door stood our host
cSS. waiting TO receive us. ,..
Drtween our driver and ourselves a thor
ough friendship had sprung up. and this
he conveyed in his manner, rs he present
ea the Monsieur ct Mcslamcs Anglais to
La Bonnc Mere Nanncttc.
go. nay child" she said to pretty
fair girl who stood little behind her.
cyeing uS with curiosity; $50, and
show to madame tie chambers which We
have" aud following our young guide,
we were conducted through two or three
rooms, with comfortable, clean-lookiLg
beds, and handsomely carved wooden
presses; and having made cur choice. We
descended to the salon to partake of the
table d'hotc dinner, which was just being
served. The result of all this was, that
instead of leaving for Granville the next
day, that day week fouIJ us still at Wire.
the rest of the party exploring the valley:
while l., seated on the bench in front OF
the hotel, witlsMere Nannette by my side,
asked her to tell ne the story of her life.
Madame will not think me vain,' she
said, "when tell her that forty years
ago the travellers and the customers who
came here daily to breakfast or dinner.
callcl me La Belle Nannctte. My cousin.
whose husband was master of the hOtel.
would of6en bid me not tO pay heed to
thei ilattering speeches, which meant no
good to poor orphan girl, who thought
her fortune was made, when food and
shelter were offered to her in exchange
for the services she rendered in doing the
work and being servant AZ the Hotel st.
Pierre
Jeanne Fcrouellc, good woman as she
was. might have spared Nannette all these
cautions, for the child had been made deaf
to the pleasant words other men might
say, since Raoul Vanier, the blacksmith s
young son had whispered into her wiling
ears his tale OF love.
Raoul was tall. broad, and handsome,
with head up. and limbs made nObler
each day by welding the great hammer,
the sound of which loved far more than
than the sweetest music. There was but
one grand drawback to our happiness.
Marcel Vanier was Il rich man with money
saved up, and trade as good rs any
smiths in CalvadOs, and he looked that
his son should choose higher than Nam
nctte, n poor serving-mGid.
at heart, thought such young love, if un
opposed, would surely fade ont and die
But when month after month went by
and still the only one whom RaOul stroll
ed with to the castle, and fingered whis
perin0 with beneath the shadow of tn,
old trees, continued to be Nannettc, Mar
eel felt the time was come to put StOl
To this foolishnesS. At this time one 9
the best thought of men in Wire was Pas
chal Cloutier, the wOOl-dyer, whose 0pl.
child, Eulalie, was &C united o beauty j
Wire. added 70 which hcf father bOaste'
he could give her better dot than an,
man i'm the town could match. Itwas o.
this Girl Marcel Vanier cast his eyes. and
after a few talks between the two fathers
the whole matter was in their minds sci
tied, and neither OF the parents trouble
himself as to what his CHILD might Say
With Eulaiie there was little fear of OF
position, for Paschal ClOutier'S will w;
law i'm his household.
Marcel Vanier decided that he woul
spe TX first on this matter to his son, VIII
should then pay visit to the ClOutier
and see Eulalie at home; after which
Paschal said, he would inform his daugi
ter that in Raoul Vanier sne saw the II a
he had chosen for his SOM -in-!aw. 9 "A!
cordingly, a1ew days after, Marcel tol
his son that he desired they should haN
little treat together. =.
said: "and, to sustain us, what saye
tho, to dining at the Hotel st. Pierre?'
Raoul, we'll pleased. gave his consen
and # the hour, to Nannette's great su
nrise. the two OF them walked into Il
kitchen.
Madame Ferouellc has good dim
to-lav. | hope. NanneCte,h said Marc
Vanier. more pleasant and cheerful Ill
was his went. L..grELyv
sOh yes, m'sieu," /" answered Nannet,
THAT is well. Set two places, for m
self and SON."
Yes. certainly, m'sieu;" and aw
ran Nannette to secure the best places S
hal vacant.
Mad me NAV be sure whoever might
NEGLECTED Marcel Vanier was we'll serve
Nannette scarcely dared venture gal
of R4eul. who, well-pleased at the att.
tion his father was getting, sat Wit!
contented look on his handsome race,
eninp to the news which the commerce
travelcrs. the great takers at all count
tables. were Cbligingly giving 10 tne CO
many. Little did it natter 10 Nannet
whether Charles Y. would De 1orceu II
exile or not; the thing WAS. sho9la
he able to secure for MonsieuI van "a
nlentv of stuffing with ms neIpins "
veal. The chances as 10 the LIN G VI
ran' sncondary to her. while she hac
aa.oo. .. that Raoul's father got the =
ILL., ILL., of adouilles. Her attentions at
oJ Sill n torce an acknowledgment fr
sionS;our Vanier himself, for he lool
back at her, and said