Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-06-26

for whom the quaint sobriety only serves as
, foil. Blanche de Latouche was certainly
one of these. Neither caps, nor wells, mol
prim gray robes could shade her sudden
beauty; the soft eyes pierced through quills
of any depth, and wells far thicker than the
game that was floating along the garden
pathway. The yelled apparition was not q
nun-it was Blanche, in her convent school
girl dress. Some feeling had made her put
it on to-day She knew that Hugh would
be coming. This was the day he had prom
ised to come. All day long she had been
expecting him; all day long she had been
making up her mind quietly, with gentle
pcrversity, that she would help him to get
what he wanted that her farewell gift to
him should be this model, upon which he
had set his heart. IL was hers-her father
had left it her; this much she knew, she
had right to her own as yet. 1t was for
that she had taken the key from the shelf
where it lay in Mathilde's cupboard, neatly
docketed with the others. She had come
down to assure herself that all was right
that the lock would turn. She feared she
knew not what She half expected the
Archbishop, armed with all the thunders of
the church, to appear, and carry it off un-
der his arm. Suddenly she saw the little
eonclaye looking on with wide-open eyes.
She had never spoken to us before, but as
she came forward gently towards us, skirt
ing the path as a child might have done
Albinia went to meet her. 81 am glad to
welcome you,' Blanche said prettily in
English. Il hope NJ. Gourlay gave you our
message. Any time my aunt will be glad to
see you at the chateau. Have you enough
milk? Can we send You anything from the
house? VIII not the children like to play
upon the terrace there is fine prospect. >
She said it all 50 kindly, and with such
cordial grace, that we could not refuse; and
50 it happened that when Hugh Gourlay
came walking up from the inn TO the cha
teau, after his week 5 absence, he found us
all comfortably installed in the meadow in
front of the house. Thechiidern were play
inc game-NIarjory, Anne, Dodo, and
Binnie-at their four corners of the world.
Blanche stood in the centre, gleeiul, clap
ping her hands as she darted from one side
to another. The children laughed, and
flew with all their hearts in the game,
holding hands, capering here and there.
They were all in the midst of their play
when Hugh came up saw him look very
strange. and hurry suddenly across the grass,
the children began to shout and to cry ont
that he must Join them.
blanche is puss Blanche is puss
Take carc,' cried little Dodo. tumbling
across his path. Some spirit seemed to set
them all dying and capering across the
meadow. and Blanche suddenly dartcd
ahead. in and ont, and round from tree to
tee. from bush to bush. The light figure
| flew. the children followed in the hottest,
| happiest excitement.
Nlathilde appeared upon the terrace.
saw MademoIselle herself, with one OF her
priests, was looking out of her tower win
/ dOwS.
A> Blanche started of She passed close to
Hugh Il want YOU she said; then
Hugh. with child on his shoulder. set of
running too. and the whole party vanished
under the nut-trecS. We could hear their
voices ringing on long after they had dis
appeared.
blanche led the way by the covered path
towards the shed there She suddenly stop
ped short. and all the children surrounded
her. calling out that She was caught.
She turned to Hugh, painting and blush
inc and brcathless. Il knew you would
come. Here" She said, take this kcy-it
Is the key of this shed, where the model is
kept: want YOU to have It. 1t Is a fare
well gift from friend-a true, true friend.
You can bring two men tonight and carry
the machine away. 1t Is mine; may sthI
give it to you
"Still give it, said Hugh, very Iale
'.W hat does this mean? What i this veil
Blanche he could scarcely speak
the words
1t Is my old sehool-dres~. said Blanche,
smiling, and still breathleS4. Il am not
vet a nun. / have asked for delay. The
Cure of Joveux posted my letters. Ny
aunts director will be angry. but that
cannot help"
Once more she would have started off
shyly. "Ah am caught =" She cried \
Struggling thorny rose hung over the roof Of
the shed her long flying veil was twisted
in the branch. She was prisoner, for her
veil was securely fastened to her cap and her
thick coils of hair.
Hugh tried in vain to di-entangle it. All
his fingers were trembling still he had fear
ell he had come too late.
"If Mathilde were here, she could unite
the string said Blanche.
make haste make haste Here Is the
Cure running after Us, cried the children,
excitedly.
Cut it, cried Blanche, impatiently.
''cut the string it laStens the cap and the
veil too
Hugh pulled out his biz knife, and in an
instant had shipped the cap-string, and with
the string the veil gave way, and Blanche,
springing free once more, shook all her
beautiful sunshine of hair in glistening
mist over her shoulders then She turned,
laughing and blushing. to thank him. The
cap ay on the ground in the sunshine
.'Mademoisellc Bla-an-an-an-che = sang
Mathlde in the distance, calling, your
aunt wants You"
ooh. she Is fairy princess, ' sang Bin
ME, dancing about madly, and clappng ms
hands.
The two looked at each other They had
forgotten the children's presence. 'Oh'
think well of it :" hcwas saying. Leave
all this behind Come with me-come
home to ycur home in England. will take
care of YOU" He spoke in voice that
seemed to carry Blanche away by its reality
-bv its natural might of tender protection.
"Do you hear me? You frightened me
drcadiully," said Hugh Speak, Blanche
Give me vour hand.
The children had begun new song and set
off dancing along the avenue : the two, still
hand finland, walked on, following uncon-
~eiously. Little Marjory dropped all the
daisies out Of her nosegay in their path As
she ran: little Dodo picked upa pretty,
golden leaf and threw it at Blanche white
skirt. They all turned down side alley.
| The Cure dc St Rambert, coming up 10 the
] 1. l.. a. L.
found the cap lying in the sunshine, and the
long veil still floating from branch.
In those days marriages between Catholics
and Protestants were not so strictly forbid
den as now Hugh had battle to fight,
hut we all know what happened when the
Prince drew his sword.
Nv hero won his bride. Blanche married
him aS soon as she came of age. Old Mr..
Gourlay was enchanted. Ben and Bathurst
both married also, soon after Hugh.
Blanche is very happy at Gilwiek. She
is far the sweetest of the three brides. She
is great lavorite with her fathcr-in-law.
and since her coming Bismarck has ceased to
regret Normandy.
CONTENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA AQUARIUM
CAR.-Yesterday the California aquarium
ear passed through this city en- route to the
Pacific coast, and stopped here long enough
to renew its supply of ice and procure some
other needful articles. 1t was in the charge
of Livingston Stone, engaged by Commits
sioner Baird for this trip. Seth Green and
and other interested parties made an examina-
tion of the ear, its apparatus and contents
1t is 4 large passenger baggage car, forty feet
long by nine feet wide, with twelve wheels,
an air brake and a Miller platform. At one
end of the car Is a stationary fresh-water
tank holding five tons of water, and, at the
other end, two saltwater tanks, holding in
the aggregate the same amount ofsalt-water
The ice boxes are over the tanks, and there
are upward of twenty portable tanks be-