The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-05-05
From Lippincott's Maga ine I
a Quccn's Adventure.

lFrota Lippincotts Moealinei
4 Quccn's Adventure.
One rainy evening toward ;hc close of
April, 1871, a ponderous old travelling
coach toiled wcarily up the hill the sum
NIT of which is crowned by the ancient
town Of Jougnc, on the road between
Lous.les Saulniera and Besancon the capi.
tol of the province Of Franchc-Comtc,
There were two women in the vehicle :;
one, tall. handsome, and exceedingly ele-
giant, occupied the seat facing the hors
cs the other, who sat opposite her, was
a young person Of sprightly countenance,
whose simple costume aud deIcreutial
manner at once announced her to be either
u waiting. maid or dame de compaguic.
From time to time one or the other Of
the two travellers would thrust her head
out of the window to urge on the postil-
ion or look back down the road, appar-
emily to see whether any oue were
following.
Notwithstanding the outreatics Of the
ladies, and his own best eudcayors, Mai
tire ia qucs, the position, failed misorably
10 his attempts to induce his two heavy
Flemish horses to get into trot, let alone
Il galIop. The road was so bad, the rain
so binding, the ruis so many, the mud SC
deep, that the best the poor horses could
do in response to their masters oaths and
loud cracks Of the whip was to give an
occasional jerk forward or a stumble, and
then resume their wonted funeral Iace
Heaven help usSusannc This dread
lul journey will never end we cannot
possibly reach Bcsancon tonight, oo
served the lady who sat with aer face to
the horses. Mon Dieul how wish We
were well over it and safe
Madame is too nervous that gentle
man on horseback we have seen ut the
last three stations, and who has followed
US, has frightened her. Believe mel an
sure he is no spy; he is too mic -lookin.
for tnat am persuaded he is only ias
cinated by madame's charms. and has no
recognized her. Oh, he is no more q
sanscuottc than | am
1T matt,r rs very little what ,ou ihink
about him; have my fears, and my
reasons for having them. Put your head
out once more, and see If tie he still il
sight
Susannc did as she was bid and pres
emily shutting down the window as quick
as she could, to prevent the rain from
pouring III, gave her mistress the rcassur
ing news that not only had the ohnoXiou,
stranger disappeared, but also that the
gates Of Jougue were close at hand And
madame, through break in the cloud.
saw the mountains Of Switzerland, Sc
you see we are approaching the frontier.
That is well. We will stop for sup
per here at the Lion dor, and then has
ten on to Bcsancon this very ni.ht,' sal,
her mistress.
In few moments more the caulag
rumbled through tho narrow streets 0
Jougne, and presently stopped under th'
port cociere OF the hotel Of the Colder
Lion.
Will the ladies get down. said thu
jolly innskeeper as he stood with tn,
halfopened carriage door in one hand AM
his cap in the other, bowing with extr
civility to his two new guests, and de
lighted at the prospect Of their being de
tanned all night and under his roof, 10
travellers had become very rare in ihos
troubled times 'Will the ladies %
down ? Supper will he ready oi 4 mo
ment's notice Certainly, we want it a
once, aud let it DE a good, subslantiq
meal, for, can assure you, we are rarel
hungry answered the tall lady, as sh
jumped out; aud turning to the position
inquired if it were possible to reach Bcs
aucon before midnight.
Perfectly impossible madame tn
roads are in shocking state, We shoul
only run the risk OF breakdown hal
way
And that would be intolerable. Il
Tons Susanne, get down and bring
with you all the shawls, pillows, an
night.bsgs you can find, for,siDce we mu
sleep here,w may as well make ourselvC
at home
Susanne loaded with rugs and satchel
followed her mistress into the house, an
the two travellers, emerging from ii
shade Of the hall, entered the bright
Illuminated dining room. A fire crackle
cheerily on the hearth, and the larl
apartment, with its many little tabl
covered with snow-white cloths and shin
ing glass, looked quite cosy. The adie
taking off their wraps, seated themselv
by the fire, and presently the landlad
drew in front Of them table on whiC
placed two smoking bowls Of excelle
broth.
The bright light of the fire threw
cheerful glare on the countenauce Of Il
tall lady, aud showed her to possess SUI
rare and stately beauty that the wortl
landlady, on returning to the kitche
, proclaimed to her satellites that she nev
'C'ea une reritaJle refine (she's u perfe
queen.) I'll warrant she's some f
court Marchioness on her way to Il
frontier said she 'and, poor soul
would he the last to prevent her flight.
Indeed, the lady justified these {
coniums. Her figure was graceful a
commanding, her features regular,
eyes bright and vivacious. Her hair,
which still fingered traces Of powder W
drawn high up over her ample torehe'
whilst one heavy curl hung down on j
shoulders. Her complexion was singuli
ly brilliant, and, varying constantly
the least emotion gave the lie to those
her enemies who declared she used pal
The only defect with this otherwise p
feet face was that the lower lip Sigh
protruded little beyond the upper o