National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-07-04

the burgess was far ont of sight, sh,
strained her eyes. There she remained
until nightfall, lost in reflection, hardly
; knowing il all that had been was not 3
dream. Then she went back to the
wretched pen. which was her home, and
was soundly beaten for being late bu,
did not feel the blows, being full OF
love for Anselm. AS for him, he lost
tho power OF working, could neither
eat, nor drink, nor sleep. II he shut
his eyes, he saw Tiennette if lie took
up his tools, Tienpette hoated on the
silver plates, and hindered him from
working ; if he blew up his forge, he
saw her lovely form in the red glow ol
the fires. She was part of his life
navar 10 he Leaf, 1900 =. t...,- ----y,
Feeling this, he shut up his forge, and
took the road to St. Germain, to speal
TO the Lord Abbot about Tiennctte
But on the way he prudently determi
ned to place himself under the protec-
ton of some courtier and, retiring to
the Court, sought ont the Chamberlain
of the King, who highly esteemed him
on account of some work which he had
made for his lady love. The Chamber
lain at once promised his assistance,
ordered his men to saddle his steed and
hackney for the goldsmith, and they
rode together to the Abbey of Saint
Germain The Abbot OF those days
was the Lord Hugo de Senecterre, who
was very old, being ninety-three years
Of age. When they were ushered into
the Abbot's guest chamber, the Cham
berlain in pleasant way, begged the
Lord Hugo to grant him something
which would be very agreeable to him.
The Abbot, shaking his head, replied
that the canons of the Church strictly
inhibited any such blind engagements of
ones word.
Said the Chamberlain i" Dear father,
this good man you see here is the gold
smith of the Court, who has fallen des-
perately in love with n yeung girl, a
daughter of serf belonging to the Abb
hey. And ask of you, if ever you hope
TO have your dearest wish granted, to
free that young girl.
"Who is she ?" demanded the Abbot
of Anselm.
"She is called Tiennette," said he
timidly.
"Ho, no." laughed the good old Hugo.
"The bait has brought us a fine fish.
/ This is n grave matter, and / cannot de-
/ termine it alone"
81 know well enough, good father,
what You mean by that, said the Cham
berlain, knitting his brows with disap
pointment.
"Beau, Sire" replied the Able, ado
you know the girl %
so saving. he ordered Tiennette to be
brought in. telling his Secretary to have
her clothed in fine dresses, and to make
her as brave as he could. In the mean
while the Chamberlain drew the Tour
angean apart and advised him to give
up his whim, seeing that it was likely
to cost him dear. There were many
youpg girls even of noble birth who
would gladly marry him, whereas the
monks would make him pay round
sum for Tiennette.
81 am satisfied" said the goldsmith.
~ have laid up few crowns"
"Well," replied the Chamberlain,
"you will want them all. / know
the monks. With them money is every
thing"
Monseigneur," said the goldsmith,
turning to the Abbot, and speaking very
softly but very resolutely too, "you
represent here on earth the goodness
and the mercy of God, who shows him
self so full of pity towards US, and is so
gracious to our miseries. Ii you will
aid me in espousing this girl in lawful
marriage, SO that my children may be
free, l will not only pray for you every
night and every morning, but l will
make for you pix for the holy Euchar-
list, which casket shall be so elaborately
worked, so rich in precious stones and
sculptured with figures of winged an
gels, that there shall be nothing like il
in Christendom, and it shall remain
unique and lovely thing to rejoice your
eyes and to be the glory of your altar,
so that not only the townspeople, but
strangers and lords of far countries, [,
shall run to see it, so magnificent shall
it be-"
"My son" replied the Abbot, "sure-
ly you lose your senses. If you are re.
solved to have this girl for your lawful |
e'ife, then you and all that is yours will |
belong to the Chapter of the Abbey"
"Oh, my Lord Abbot, though l have
lost my senses over this poor girl, and |
am more touched even with her misery
and Christian spirit than | am with the |
perfections of her body, yet l am still
more astonished at your hardness OF
heart, and this say knowing my fateto
be within your hands. Yes, Lord, /
know the law But. if my goods fall
into your domain, if become a serf, if
lose my house and my rank as free
burgess, know" said he, with hot tears
of indignation bursting from his eyes,
that you cannot have the best part of |
me. Here" striking his forehead,
" here is that which | have won by pain
fnl labor and long study and here lives
that of which no one, excepting God,
can be lord and master save myself
And the whole wealth of your Abbey
cannot repay to the world what it will
lose when you have silenced this. You
will have my body, my wife, my child
ren, hut you cannot have my art, for not
even tortures shall induce me to give it
you. Know you that l am stronger than
the hardest iron, and more patient than
suffering itself"
SO saying, the goldsmith, maddened
by the calm, self-satisfied look of the
Abbot, who seemed resolved to have his
crowns for the Abbey, struck, with his
clenched fist, on an oaken chair, and
shattered it into hundred pieces, as if
it had been broken by an iron mace.
"See there, great Lord. what sort of
servant you will have, that from a
maker of divine things you will degrade
into a beast of burden"
"My son, replied the Abbot, "you
are doubly wrong, in that you have
broken my chair and judged my soul in
error. This girl belongs to the Abbey,
not me. / am but the faithful guar