St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-02-16

There we are behind that cypress-vine
pyramid, the prettiest cottage between
the hotel and the spring-twO rooms
communicating across the hall from
yours most devOtedlyn- Rosas ran
on as he led us to our quarters.
Excellent ROsas !" said Reginald,
$50 you were fortunate enough to pre-
vail on Leon to accompany you ~
''Oh, yes! l dread to think of part
ing with him. He is our friend, Ham
ilton-our brother. He is not merce-
nary fellow, but you know he has large
uses for his money. He intends open
ing brokers' office in New Orleans in
the winter, but for the summer he de-
votes himself once more to us. don't
know but l shall apply for the post of
office-boy next winter rather than be
parted from him. Here is Madame.
Our friends the Hamiltons, Angelique"
and l really felt almost as much at
home with these strangers as Reginald
seemed to be. There was more than
French warmth under all this French
vivacity, 1 felt the heart in the hand
A tall and very elegant man ap-
preached us as we left our rooms after
the refreshment of bath. Standing
by NJ. Rosas was small advantage to
that gentleman. The stranger was clad
in the white linen which is the luxury
of the climate and the season, and re-
moved his broad -brimmed hat, which
worn by him was only properly named
a sOmbrsrO, and held out his hand in re-
spOnse to my husbands gesture of
greeting.
"This is Leon, my best of .cOuriers,
and my good friend" said NJ. Rosas,
gayly.
There was shade of color in his face,
but no suspicion could attach to it of
its being negro blood. The cOunte-
nance was noble; the whole expression
of the man intellectual and refined.
The grasp of hand which Reginald gave
him told me that he knew his worth,
and made me eager to know more of
him.
Our time at the Springs went by most
charmingly. We drove and sauntered
when it was cool enough, drank the
waters, chatted, rolled ten-pins, and
played billiards. All this was infused
with spirit or sentiment as best suited
the temper of the individual. l watched
some fiirtatiOns going on briskly, and
made acquaintance with pretty chill
dren. Leon seemed strangely busy,
and devoted himself to each new conner,
or to his suite, as the case might be,
with pertinacity which puzzled me.
In the evening we danced in the great
ball room or promenaded the galleries.
| The ROSas, Odeons, Laws, and Max
wells, with a dozen families less init
mate, made delightful coterie.
Sitting in the gallery one evening ii
occurred to me to ask my companion,
the genial Rosas, the history of Leon.
"a slave who has bought his freedom.
and who is now seeking his wife and
children to buy them. But Madame, ,
said he, with emotion, 'Leon is oul
friend! YOu who see the distinctions
of caste to which l was born in thral
can understand how much must under
lie such an expression. He has proved
devotion, which only friendship car
repay, in thousand ways. He is as
worthy as any man living of the posi-,
ton. He saved the lives of our whole
party in an emergency when we were
in Europe, and at cost which might
have been his own life, but good God
interposed for him. The time will come
when we shall forget that Leor
was slave. All, if the poor fellow
could only find his family" !"
"Has he no idea where they are
What separated them ?"
"Ruin came to the estate-al were
sold, the children with their mother
and they to trader, while it was my
good fortune to buy Leon. l said he
bought his freedOm-he did so when a
the peril of his life he saved ours. L
was small recompense."
"What was his wife's position ?"
She is probably a cook. Leor
thinks she is; though she was brough
up as lady's maid and went to Eu
rope with her young mistress, wht
was sent to France to be edu
Gated. She was beautiful, Leon tell
me, and a great favorite with he
young lady, who made her share he
lessons with her even TO learning music
and embroidery. 1t is to facilitat,
Icons search for her that he has con
sented to come to the Springs with us
1t is this that makes him attach himsel
to all new corners, hoping to hear of hi
family, to get some clew."
/ could hardly steady my voice a
asked" they children? yes
you say his family. How many wer
there ?'
ITO be cOncluded.)