The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-05
THE BEAUTY IN THE WOOD.

- been perfectly intolerable. Ii you do not
s.sh YOUR much-boasted hostelry soon, not
Nv nv horse, but l, myself, shall be utterly
.5lEs mated and the speaker grew shade
S6ster and reeled forward In his saddle as he
IKE.
\ n was nearly the close OF sultry Septem-
y day, and the sun was sinking, like ball
3f6re. behind the distant mountains In upper
xrsine The riders had been In the saddle
~ many hours, but one Of them, q middle-
~, sturdy-looking peasant, seemed hardly
~ worse for the fatigue. His companion
S1a tall man, young and handsome. he
16re q military dress, and carried small
~ much resembling dispatch box, slung
n 'front.' OF his saddle. He looked like an
1uriishman, with his blonde beard and deep
kinc eyes; but his dashing, soldierly seat In
~ saddle had been learned in many wild
xksree over the battlefield.
jacques shook his head. "What would
fsleu havel' he asked, with helpless shrug
The horses are good beasts, none better, but
nat horse can travel from dawn to sunset
Without failing? 1t is only wonderful that
fhey do not fall by the roadside. and then
ehat would Maitre Pierre say2 As for the
Village Of st. Etienne, 1t is seven good miles
/ ~ the road-five, as the crow flies; what
would NJ 'sieu have! til destiny" All this
n an execrable patois, with many gesticula-
lfcns and untranslatable shrugs.
sDestiny or not, my good jacques" re-
armed the other, in fluent French, II must sit
avn by the roadside soon, and let you go
II alone; my wound is growing more painful,
=
which don't like. Think again. my friend;
Tou cay that you know the country here
SkDute lis there not some hut, however SIM
BIZ this side OF st. Etienne, where can rest
III whiie2 Seven miles more Of this torture
1rmy shoulder would be more than l can en-
ofIfe and keep my senses"
Even jacques stolid soul was not proof
|o1ttnst the testimony OF the gray pallOr OF
I'M masters face. He saw plainly that faiut-
neB was overcoming him. Jacques hands
&Unt up In an invocation to his patron saint
There lis one place not more than two miles
AZ where, perhaps, could take M'sieu; but
there are difficulties. 1t Is place where no
one goes indeed, they say that Mere Margot
: m old witch, although she is related to me-
~ Madonna defends usw and jacques
f0ssed himself devoutly. "But II M sieu will
promise on his sacred WORD as gentleman
eyer TO reveal that he has been there. or that
kpk him
Yes, yes, interrupted the other, inpatient
HuyLLAiIi& Ludb yOu Will Uub, lUI HGdteu b
IAke, lead the way. L. there no brandy In
JACQUES pulled 1t out. Hardly half wine
Rless left, M'sieu; but take 1t, pray"
faint tinge OF color came back to the
wounded mans face after swallowing the
brandy, and In few moments he declared
himself ready to proceed
very well; but IL M 'sieu is going to the
chateau he must turn out Of the highway and
70 direct into the forest"
49, r1d x,<,t "a fhn axyoSs
said the other. Then, less impatiently, "A
chateau, Jacques? think that the further
YOU and keep from chateaux In this part Of
Lorraine the better for the safety OF our
n8cks..
aAh, but M'sieu mistakes" said jacques,
eagerly. "They belong to the French no
bl6ese, these D'Orvales. It Is singular fam
"; but the last baron fell at Sedan for
France, M'sien.',
y "Look here, M'sieu, you can see the cha
They had been going at quite slow pace,
Tor the road was a bad one and evidently sell
dom travelled. But as they turned abruptly
% the left the tall gray turrets with their
above the trees and the underbrush which Inn
peded their progress. AS they came nearer
the wild deserted appearance OF everything
excited the strangers attention.
Its almost equal to q palace OF the fairy
tales, said he, aloud, speaking In English.
crednlity might fancy that 1t held the sleep
Ing Princess OF the Wood"
Comment, Nj 'sieu?" said Jacques, catching
the words imperfectly, and fancying himself
addressed.
How do you propose to enter?" was the
travellers answering question; and again he
found himself wondering whether he should
not lind trumpet suspended to the. gate
post upon which ne must blow peal loud
enough % awaken the sleeping inhabitants.
jacques was looking about him, as II in
some uncertalnty himself. His tired master
k00e forward W Ine gateway.
NOT there M'sleu, cried Jacques. In dis
may There - announcer gate somewhere be-
~ nlnq me cnateau. OF we might get through
Lne neoge, perhaps, OF over the wall, but we
must leave our noIses OUTSIDE. jean Marie
may perhaps come 10 see aIler them, but it
s M9uio never ao 70 ange y ~ mere Margot by
rl1,ng 10 on norsepack.
hldlnR rouna, anu gss.,ng over tne tangled
aauss u RIass auu ovclsloMan me ~ as pest
- IA .ney coulu Jacqdes p1Git ~ al directions
ioa ~ enlrahee, anu M uDunu ~; =. T.
p,a neIe y me gaze, slen oHs u + y locked.
rsiIinsa o' What i W 10 dnnaa Ao ''i'e IRON