River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-07-12


many tender chances and soft smiles wer
showered upon Baudelot. How many gen
tie bosoms heaved sighs for the handsome
victim lie grew excited by his situa
ton. Never had he felt himself so liable
to fall in love before When for the thirs
time he led out the bride he felt her sof
hand tremble in his own. His trembleC
too. He turned and gazed upon her face
He found her pale as marble.
What is il, Eleanorn he said
"What is it, dearest ladyl Have pity OF
your partner. Do not tremble so.'
Turning toward the windows of th'
ballroom, where the curtains hung hal
parted by the current of air, made by
the dancers, she pointed toward the frs
gray streak of dawn in the horizon, anC
said:
I" 1t is morning"
"Truem exclaimed Baudelot, " bu
what matterl Morning after the hap
piest night of all my life. / have seer
you, known you, loved you! / am dying
and may dare TO say love you; the dy
ing never lie. Farewell, sweet Eleanor
farewell! Be happy, and accept the
blessing of a chouan.n
| 1t was the custom in Brittany for gen
| tleman at the end of the last country
dance TO kiss his partner on the forehead
In obedience to that custom Baudeloi
pressed his lips upon the brow of Eleanor
She almost tainted as he did so. Motion
ing him TO sit down by her side che said
in low voice.
listen! / have been thinking; you
! MI II fcfn fha rrio iC hq-
ing harnessed to take you TO Nantes. Oh,
Escape! Oh escape while you can. II
necessary, will go with you as far as
the first convent. No one can then say
you were actuated by fear; to love is al
ways honorable"
She spoke in a low voice. She did not
once look up; she even tried TO smile, as
if she were talking the gay nonsense
proper to ball.
Baudelot hardly heard her words, but
his heart beat with happiness he had
never before known. How | love her !
How love herr' cried his heart But his
lips said: You will see il is impossible,
Eleanor. Oh, if | were free, no other
man should be your husband. | would
brave everything to call you wife. But
can never be your husband. no longer
belong even to myself Farewell, sweet
angel If you love me give me back the
little daisy | sent you from my prison.
Give ii to me, Eleanor. That little bud
which has been fastened in your dress
shall give me comfort in my dying hour"
Eleanor turned as pale as death. There
was solemn silence in the room. The
music stopped. Daylight streamed into
the apartment.
All of sudden there was heard with
out a noise of steel and horsemen. At this
sound, which came in the direction of
Nantes, the women present, by a common
impulse, threw themselves before Count
Baudelot. But it was Baudelots own
soldiers come to deliver their officer.
They poured into the house, they filed
the garden, they cried, "Baudelot. Bau-
delotw
They were infinitely astonished to find
their young chief, whom they expected to
find st-bound in prison, surrounded by
women in ball dresses dressed himself
as they had never before seen him. The
first question the count asked was:
Have you been to the dovecoteW
Yes" said one of them; and when
we found you were not there we made
short work of the dovecote; it will shell
ter no more birds.-chouans or pigeons"
IF it be So" said Baudelot, drawing
his sword, 81 am released from my pa
role by rescue Thank you, my COM
rades' Then he took off ms hat
Lady" he said in his sweet voice,
"receive the humble thanks of your late
captive"
After that he asked for carriage.
"There is one at the door, captain
said one of his chouans. at was 10 have
taken you TO Nantes, we were told by the
master of the mansion"
: Baudelot turned and saw Hamelin tied
by the same ropes that had before tied
him.
Capt Hamelin," he said instantly.
Zone good turn deserves another; only
instead of untying the ropes let me cut
them, that they may never be used to
bind prisoner"
Then seeing that Eleanor, who had al
most tainted, was recovering, he contin-
ued:
Capt. Hamelin, these times OF blood
and disco rd are little suitable in marri-
age A bridal as we see, may be post
poned in the morning by prisoner to be
captured, and at night by a visitation of
the enemy. Put off until some later day
the accomplishment of your marriage.
See it is the wish of the young lady.
My noble demoiselle, permit me and my
poor chouans to reconduct you to the
Chateau de Mailly."
All the chouans, with the carriage in
their midst and their leader at their head,
soon galloped off toward the sun rising.
They were charmed at their good luck in
delivering their officer
Poor lads Their lives were very short
They all fell on the same battle field with
the elder Cathelineau. There were two
Cathelineaus-fat and son. Both died
in the good cause, as became royalists
and Christians. To die thus seemed the
only happiness that in those days could
be offered them.
But there are men who cannot get
killed, and one of these was Count Vic
tor Baudelot. He was in every battle of
the war, and did not leave La Vendeo
even when all was over. When that time
came he married Eleanor de Mailly, with
the good will and consent of Capt. Ham
elm, who signed the marriage contract as
a high municipal functionary.
SO, reader, ends my story. / hope you
are as we'll satisfied as | am with the
good luck of a gay and gallant officer
Jules JaniR.
Fight With Heron.