Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-09-30

hoiilua VII, uiuliiha! cAeiaiihcu
M. Rabut, raising his head. "You
see,' he said to me, with sob, "you
see she was out bathing; the river sud
denly rose, and"
His head fell forward again over
the little white hand, to which his
lips clung.
"Myrtil Myrtil |" again cried the
good lady, "bring glass of Madeira
to the gentleman. Or perhaps you
would prefer someshing else?'
l questioned the family. The girl
had not been twenty minutes under
water. And yet they had done moth
ing-had not even tried to do any
thing.
gave my orders brieny-they were
obeyed.
They had laid her on her back. |
lifted her head SO that it leaned side
way on the left. Her teeth were
clenched. How cold her lips seemed
when l pressed my own upon them
The poor father, senseless with grief,
allowed US to do as we thought best,
and the grandmother walked hurriedly
to and fro, busy, fussy, always calling
Myrtil, and declaring "the breakfast
will never be ready, and here are all
the people coming |"
And a carriage in fact suddenly
drew up before the front door steps
Two young girls descended with a
happy burst of laughter. | can see
them even now as they stopped, look
ed, turned pale, and stood there with
arms twined about each others waist,
and eyes big with terror-silent and
mOtionless.
Half an hour had passed. What
was not that flush we saw, mounting
to the colorless cheeks. Oh how fer
vent a prayer uttered that moment
to the good God! And it seemed to
me the arm | held had become less
rigid.
At that moment horsem an came
up at full gallop.
"Myrtill Myrtil take the doctors
horse to the stable !" cried the good
lady, descending the steps to meet the
physician. "Ah, doctor, ] knew it !
your powder could not 10 lie any good
The whole night, doctor, | was in pain
All ! how badly slept ~
The doctor came directly to US.
Good young man very good in
deed That is just what shoAil have
been done.
"Comc, come =" he cried in n Joyous
tonc after few moments hid passed.
1--WE are all right now-we shall get
off with nothing worse than Il fright
Why you old coward, have 1 not al.
ready told you SO. Here ! let me see
happier face on you r And he gave
NJ. Rabut Il vigorous slap on the
shoulder.
Then suddenly turning to me, he
asked:
"But you--where are you from! !
don't remember ever seeing you here
before"
81 came from Brittany, doctor, by
way of Paris and Port-Louis."
"Look look HE had already
turned his back upon me--"she is
opening her eyes -
NJ. Rabut invOluntarily seized my
hand, and dragged me to the sofa.
She opened her eyes. They were
blue-the eyes l always liked best.
"Ilelene my own Helene" mur-
INJURED the poor father, stopping to
kiss her forehead.
Gentle you! exclaimed the doc
tor, pulling him back. Let her have
air, ifyou please?'
M. Rabut drew back, without let
ting 60 my hand.
Myrtil returned from the stable.
"Myrtil MyrLil well, how about
that breakfast? Is it going to be
ready to-day, or tomorrow"
"Ma fol Pm ready for it p cried
the doctor. THAT gallop gave me a
ferocious appetite"
"Why, Myrtil serve the Madeira
to those gentlemen !"
This time Myrtil obeyed.
1t was four in the afternoon when |
left my pavilion to return to the house.
NJ. Rabut came to look for me on the
verandah. "Come." he said, "you can
see her now."
He brought me close to her bed.
Her dear blue eyes still had dark cir
cles about them; but the blood was
circulating under the clear skin; for
she blushed at my approach.
"This is he, my Helene; if it hadn't
been for him" and his voice
choked
"Don't fret any more, papa. l am
only sorry about my locket. DO you
think they will ever be able to find it 2"
The locket contained her mothers
hair.
1t was barely daylight when l
reached the river. The negro who
had taken her out of the water had
shown me the evening before the pre-
else spot where the current had car
ried her away, and also the place
where he had found her--about fifty
yards further down. 1t was long
narrow basin, shut in by great jamro-
ses, whose tufted branches met above
| and strat chpl from One hank to tho