The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-11
gray streak of dawn in the horizon, and

said: 49,.
ut is morning. L..
True !" exclaimed Baudelot, "but
what matter2 Morning after the hap
.piest night Of all my life. 1 have seen
you, known you, loved you! lam dying
and may dare5to say love you; the dy-.
ing never lie. Farewell, sweet Eleanor
farewell! Be happy, and accept the
blessing Of chouan." t :
It 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 Baudelot
pressed his lips upon the brow of Eleanor.
She almost tainted as he did so. Notion
ing him to sit down by her side she said
in low voice.
Listen! have been thinking; you
must escape. Listen! the carriage is be-.
ing harnessed to take you to Nantes. Oh,
listen! In two hours you will be shot
Escape! Oh! escape while you can. If
necessary, l 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 low voice. She did not
once look up; she even tried to smile, as
if she were talking the gay nonsense
proper to ball.
80 Baudelot hardly heard her words, but
his heart beat with a.. happiness he had
never before known. "How love her!
How l love her!' cried his heart. But his
lips said: "You will see it is impossible,
Eleanor. Oh, if were free, no other
man should be your husband. l would
brave everything to call you wife, But
can never be your husband. l 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 it 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 a sudden there was heard with
out noise of steel and horsemen. At this
sound, which came in the direction of
Nantes, the women present, by common
impulse, threw themselves before Count
Baudelot. But it was Baudelot's own
soldiers come to deliver their officer
They poured into the house, they filled
the garden, they cried, "Baudelot! Bau-
delot!''
They we're infinitely astonished to find
their young chief, whom they expected to
find fast-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 dovecote?"
"Yes,' said one Of them; sand when
we found you were not there we made
short work of the dovecote; it will shell
ter no more birds--chouans or pigeonsw
IF it be so," said Baudelot, drawing
his sword, II am released from my pa
role by rescue Thank you, my com
rades." Then he took off his hat.
LADY," he said in his sweet voice,
s"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. "It was to 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.
One good turn deserves another; only
instead of untying the ropes let me cut
them, that they may never be used to
bind a prisoner"
Then seeing that Eleanor, who had al
most tainted, was recovering, he contin-
ued: =.
"Capt. Hamelin, these times OF blood
and discotr I'd 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 we're verv short.
They all fell on the same battle field with
the elder Cathelineau. There were two
father 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. 81.
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 Nendee
even when all was over. When that time
came he married Eleanor de Mailly, with
the good will and consent of Capt. HAM