Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-11-29


their mothers arms. But what pen cou'd
depict the agony of the bereaved widow,
when the awful tale was told hcr? Her
husband Dead and such u death and
her youngest child parted from her, per-
haps also by death! However, there was
on time Tor tears and lame ntations. Mad
anne de Sevign:c's brother, the Nicomet
| UArchi, was all anxiety to leave France
ere it became too hazardous to do so. She
conld only direct her friends in Paris to
prosecute the search for the missing babe,
and so with aching hearts the little band
tf e'n>gres left their native land.
The following sixteen years belong to
history. In this time, as my readers
know, the King, his hap.css Queen, and
devoted sister, fell victims to the heads
mans axe. The Jacobiu party inuagura
ted the Reign of Terror. The guillotine
grew dull with ovcrwork, and all Franco
was drunk with blood. The Corsican
arose, and, like the waxing moon, grew
greater as lie mounted to thc.Zcnith of the
military and political world. During this
time the dc Sevignacs were living in ex-
lie. 70 Intelligence of her lost child ever
reached the mother, and she had come to
! tbi:,k of her as dead.
At length Napoleon gave permission to
| the cmiyrcs to return to France, and with
others the Countess &c Seyignac and her
eldest daughter, Louise, who by this
| time was happily married Che second
daughter had died a few years after their
arrival at st. Domiugo) availed them
selves Of the opportunity to revisit once
more their native land.
! They had been i'll Paris brt few
months, when one day servant inform
ed the Countess that . peasant from Nor
mandy was below, with some articles of
knitted wor!. which she offered for sale.
Madame directed her to be shown into
| the saion, where she was seated herself
The peasant entered, L large woman with
black eyes and ruddy skin, but with 4
good naturcd expression Of face Clat-
tcring sab0ts We're on her feet, aud 4 huge
though picturesque head dress shaded
her face. She was accompanied by Il
young girl, slight and dclicatcly formed,
att!rcd i'll q dress the counterpart of her
companions: but not oven the heavy
WOODEN pctticoat, the chemsct. g and
neckerchief OF linen as coarse as sailcloth
the large cap or rough wooden shoes
could diminish her bright, rosy beauty.
Perhaps it was the contrast u some Sc
cyct indclinablc attraction that led the
Countess to regard the young peasant SO
, attentivcly, and to bid her sit down, and
rest herself for she seemed footSoro and
weary. AS the girl Uncopscously pushed
tho heavy cap back from her hea ted face
Madame was suddenly struck by 6: mark
ed resemblance she bore to q miuaturc
of the Count, and which she even
then wore upon her person. She de-
, mau,led from tho elder woman the name
, Of her coinpanion, and was told it was
; - Irlna.' Irma What wonder that a
, rush of contcnding emotions almost
choiicd her uttcrance, as she eagerly de-
nlanded if the girl were her daughter.
No." said the woman, with the volu-
, bilty of her class, and in her strange
. own flesh and blood, the saints forbid
. that L should claim her by an untrLth.
t Fifteen years ago, I remember it was the
| year the murrian killed our best COW,
the Cure of our parish, Pore Michael,
=. came for me, to see if l would take care
: of q poor infant that had we'll nigh per.
: shed with cold or its mothers breast
/ who, poor woman, was found dead in the
barren tract that spreads just beyond oul
/ village. Poor creature! She was wei
c covered with snow, which that winter
;. fell fast and thick, and the child was nea,
i death also. I took it and nourished it a.
O my own, for had one her own age, IN,
t Martin, who," she added with an air o
k pride, " is Il drummer in one Of the EN-
a; perors regiments"
: "Flitecn years agoH' murmurel Ma
/ dame, pressing her delicate fingers to he
: hcaving heart. How old was the chill,
L when she was found Z"
! " about Il years age, Il crying, fcebl
0 babe, too fair and delicate thought t
# be tho child Of the woman with WHOM
4 she was, though she cried recvishly for
b fortnight for her Mamma"
a The Countess then anXiously asked th
: peasant 20 give her a description of tn
j. dead woman, as she remembered Lcl
which she did, and which tailed atlmira
C bly, with the Countess's recollection G
L Jeanne Jabord. Madame do ScvignaC
C who by this time was beside herself wit
Il excitement and dawning hopes, begge'
the woman to remember if the child ha
when found, any article of dress or orn;
ment which she had retained.
b Yes, one" replied the peasant, ="
o medal Of our Blessed Lady's, n golle,
S trinI1ct; show it to Atadame," she con
II ! tiuued turning to the yOnnC girl, VIII