Litchfield enquirer., 1873-01-23

While his father had Q worl with Mad- anne Ferouelle, Raoul conirived to whis- per to Nannette to meet h.m that eve ling; and then with light heart she watched the two down the hill. and along the road which leads to Jurque.
 Nannette could only steal little time for these meetings with Raoul, on account of which she got many seolding from her cousin: so as WAS her custom, no sooner had she slolen out of the house, than she began running as fast as she could through the porte, past the church, and up the steep bit which leads to the .back of the castle. ihere was no moon, so she could not see Raoul's face He was already there and waiting; but the moment he spoke, Nannette's heart sank, and she asked with trembling voice what had gone wrong. For little minute Raoul tried to deceive her, and then he told all their trouble, and why his father had asked him to walk that eyning 1 need not repeat to madame all the poor young things said to each other, the vows of constancy which Raoul made, the ha- tired he professed for Eulalie, whose fair beauty he denied, and whom he compar- ed to & white mouse Of a yellow rabbit. Nannette smiled when he begged her to keep true to him. An she had no cause to be otherwise; 1t was Raoul who must l be firm; and when he vowed that nothing should change his heart, Nannette be- Geved him as she believed herself.
 After they had parted, the poor child turned towards home with heavy heart. She stopped by the gateway over which stands our Lady, and tried to ask her help; but the lanterns light showed the blessed mothers face happy and radiant with joy, and Nannette felt that perhaps she might never be happy again. for Mar 1 eel Vanler was q stern man, and he had sworn an oath that Raoul should never marry Nannette. She stood for moment -''was there time?" The clock had just struck nine, and already she was sure to get scolding. Well, better be scolded, 1 and beaten too. than lose his help to whom her heart said ''go;" and, with no more tarrying steps, she nearly flew to the Rue St. Croix, where still stands the blessed crucifix, which, i'll memory of the good bishop, Monsieur le Cure had then recently put up. Kneeling there was the Leroux. whose husband had been buried that very day, and old Gautier Perrine, whose only daughter lay sick of fever, and Nannette, with an untried heart, that | thought no burden could be sorer than eAAoS AdAo uPOu SOOA AC1 p1dC0 U0GW6&u these two mourners; and when she rose, she felt strengthened with hope that all would go we'll with her.
 Jeanne Feroulle was little harsh that night-her temper had been tried; and be- cause Nannette took her reproaches with out word, she called her obstinate and stubborn as 8 mule.
 Now, Marcel Vanier was greatly per r1Io LI L. n absolutely refused to go to the Cloutier's house, or to say anything to Eulalie which might be twisted into love- e-making With out doubt, if this were told to Paschal Cloutier, he would resent it, and refuse the addresses which Marcel determined i. sooner or later his son should make. Af- ter work time, he strolled down to the bridge, where he knew he should find Pas chal, and told him that as he had large order for hOrse-shoes, which must be ready before the 18th, he should say nothing about Eulalie to Raoul just then. for fear it would take all his thougts off his work. Paschal nodded his assent, although he did not give entire credit to his neighbours excEsess for he WAS not so ignorGns of: RaouIs attentions to Nannette as Marcel supposed.
 So day by day Raoul and his father fought werdy battles. which grew more and more bitter and hard, until Marcel went to Jeanne Ferouelle, and told her all his grievance and got her to promise that she would keep strict watch on Man. nette, and 80 prevent her meeting Raoul, For 8 time this surveillance succeeded. but one morning, on account of a word which the old soldier Brisac brought her, Nannette was up bo break of day, and stealing down into the yard, found Raoul waiting there, looking desperate, with a little bundle ill his hand, as if for going away.
 "Yes,'' he said. ''Nannette, I have come to say adieu. I cannot live under the roof of my father, eat his bread, and lis ten to the words he speaks of thee and me. He will give me no proper wages; he calls me at best an idle dog, who will never earn enough to fill my own mouth. So I leave him, Nannette; and more, I leave thee, my well-beloved, but only to gain enough to call thee mine in face of all the world. Brisac tells me that in Eng land and America they value smiths more than any trade going, and pay them as much In a month as in Caen or Renne one would get in year, so I shall go to Granville, and find some ship to take me there; and, in year, thou wilt be mine, Nannette."
 Nannette did not speak; she felt as one with senses stunned.
 Raoul read this in her white face, and the quick tears for the sorrow he was causing her filled his eyes, and made him give sob of pain, which loosened Nan nette's tongue.
 "Will nothing do" she groaned, "but that thou must go from me?''
 ''It Is best, Nannette; indeed 1t is, said poor Raoul, down whose cheeks the tears were rolling. ''If stay, I know not what may happen. Each day my father grows more violent. In his rage he threatens to do things of which thou couldst never dream; he makes VOWS, takes oaths, until IT think the devil himself must have got into his skin and be speaking to me. Be brave, Nannette, for my sake. Remem- Der 1t is my love for thee which gives me courage for this step. See, can of my own will give thee up for a whole year, that l may then come back and claim my wife. l would rather never see thy face again, than be compelled to give my faith to Eulalie;" and then his face growing anxious, and seeing that 1t was time that he left her, he prayed Nannette to be con- stant, and, come what might, never to lis- ten to the love of any other man, nor ever to believe aught i'll of him, who, while his life was left, would live for her alone; and. Nannette, with all the solemness of faith and love, gave him the VOW he ask ed of her.
 When it was discovered that, without word of what he meant to do, or where he meant to go, Raou1 had left his home, Marcel Vanier, though furious at heart, feigned to say that he was we'll rid fthe young rascal, though 'twould not be long before he was back again, cap in hand, begging for forgiveness" And he added that s'he would kill the fatted calf | for the wedding feast"
 The reason for all this was, that he felt sure that Raoul had gone to a good cus- toner of theirs at Rennes; and thither, thinking he should find him employed in the smithy, Marcel pretended he was forced to go; but when he was told that his had nathan hnor, oazr, ,, l.1oxI ,e Lo