Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-09

ing expression, so beautiful that / wondered
it did not attract his notice but he was ab-
sorbed in his subject
That short Canadian day was the sweetest of
my life. Before nght-fall l was fully per
| suaded there was but one woman in the world
for me but all that | could get Marie to say
in return was, "Oh. Monsieur - This she
repeated over and over again, each time with
n different infection, till it formed a whole
sweet language in itself.
At night-fall of tue second day Flint came
back, looking rather pale and worn. lie said
the air was freezing he hoped it would be
milder in the morning that we must get of
rs early as possible.
"If you go tomorrow, Flint, " | said, you'll
have to go alone. l must remain WHILE
II shall not go alone said Flint II shall
have plenty of company. But why must you
remain?'
didn't care to speak about Marie to a man
like Flint, but told him of the opening in
trade offered me by Cameron.
"The tall fellow with the blonde beard ?"
said Flint, going over and shutting our cham
| ber door. Then he came close to me and
whispered in my ear, "He is the leader of the
gang. Hush be quiet; don't reply. l have
unearthed troop Of counterfeiters. / saw
them at work that night in the haunted house.
| They are the ghosts Of Chatelousse. In six
]
viii start off together. Bernard gave them up.
That was my business out here.
Trapping ?" l said
Exactly" said Flint. "In six hours every
thing will be ready. The officers will come
armed be prepared" and the willy Jesuit
slipped out the open door
sat there for l don't know how long, COM
pletely stunned and bewildered. When
gathered my senses again resolved upon one
thing-not to 60 without Marie. We could
get married at the nearest town. | would not
leave hey in this wilderness with her traitor
Of a father, perhaps to fall a prey to some
early vengeance from an unseen hand l
sought her out, and found her feeding the
fowls in the court-yard-a gray dove perch
ing upon her shoulder, and II turkey-cock
stretching his red neck and strutting by her
side. I drew her under the archway.
Marie Marie :" l said, you know how
love you"
"Oh, monsieur" she said, hanging her
sweet head.
Listen to me. Marie" / said "be no
longer child, | entreat of you. You must
60 away with me tomorrow morning. At the
nearest town we will be married. l will not
leave you behind me. There will be trouble
| am afraid. A gang of counterfcitcrs have
been discovered over in the haunted house
Cameron is their chief. You have thought
these men to be honest trappers, Marie, but
they are cOunterfeiters, my own one and they
are the ghosts of Chatelousse. A few hours
more and we shall have help. They will be
taken, Marie" | stopped for found that
she growing deadly pale. Her hands
dropped at her sides; the wheat fell out of
her apron upon the ground the fowls came
calling and clucking after it. She grew
whittier and winter, till she was like the snow
outside the stone wall. My God! my God"
she kept saying, clasping and unclasping her
hands. 1 tried to take her in my arms. At
first she resisted then she listened. The
gray look went out of her face, aud she lis
tened eagerly.
you will go with me- my darlingy' en-
treated ''the horses are already harnessed"
"Where-where are the horses = she said.
I'm the shed, my sweet one. Tell me that
you will 60"
Yes, yes, will CO." she said; "and now
l must get ready"
Her face looked so set and rigid in the cold
reflection of the snow-the beaut Il ia e, no
longer that of a child a woman's face, full
of resolution and strength.
kiss me before you CO." | said holding
her close to my heart.
She put her cold lips to mine. God bless
you ~ she cried "God in heaven bless
You"
Night came on; hour after hour passed;
lights began to flicker in the haunted house
Flint glued his face to the window and looked
steadily ont into the darkness. l did not dare
tell him had regret for Cameron. The fell
low was so lovable, and had such a guileless
face his voice was as melodious as a wo-
mans. At last he turned from the window
and went out of the room, making n quick
gesture for me to follow. The men had come.
Soon we were marching across the field, the
officers of the law crunching through the snow
with their heavy boots and muttering male
dictions through their chattering teeth. In
truth it was piercingly cold. We had nearly
reached the house when an old half-witted
servant of Monsieur Bernard's came running
out to meet us.
Mother of heaven, but I am glad :" he
cried. Il was scared to stay there so long
they are gone since this many hours"
Gone :" shouted Flint; ''who are gone :"
The men folks yonder. And they took
with them the sweet Mistress Marie"
Marie" burst from my lips and those of
Monsieur Bernard.
but yes" said the old servant. "She
cried all the way, but he took her in his arms
and hushed her like a baby, and put her un-
der his cloak"
"Who? who?" we cried.
"Who but Mr.. Cameron ?" was the reply.
Amy body with wooden eyes could have seen
what was going on"
Bernard raised his hands to heaven, then
sank upon the snow. l remained with him.
In fact, was unable to go on; besides, it was
useless. The men soon came back. The
house was empty the birds had flown, and
with them had gone my sweet little dove.
What mailman had been As the hostler
had said, any one could have seen the love in
her eyes when she looked upon Cameron. l
remembered now hundred sighs and glances.
Poor little Marie
Monsieur Bernard divided his wrath and
wretchedness, as did the jew of Venice, be-
tween his ducats and his daughter. Every
mule and pony were taken from the sheds it
even impossible TO pursue the fugitives.
Flint was livid with rage. who could have
betrayed us 2" he said through his clinched
teeth, and half inclined to suspect the misera-
BILE Bernard.
A fortnight after, we all went our separate
ways; but 1 never shall forget, gentlemen,
the ghosts of Chatelousse. Harper's Weekly.