Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-06-15
The Treasure Of Pranchard
By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
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CHAPTER V.
TREASURE IRnyr

tween the poplars-in how many village
streets, tied to gate postl This sort of
chariot is affected, particularly at the trot,
by kind OF pitching movement to and fro
across the axle, which well entities IL to the
style OF Noddy The hood describes O con-
siderable arc against. the landscape, with q
solemnly absurd effect on the contemplativs
pedestrian. To ride in such carriage can
not be numbered among the things that ap-
pertain to glory; but have no doubt 1t may
be useful in liver complaint. Thence, per.
haps, its wide popularity among physicians.
One morning early, Jean Marie led forth
the doctors noddy, opened the gate and
mounted to the driving seat. The doctor
followed, arrayed from top to toe in spotless
linen, armed with an immense flesh colored
umbrella, and girt with botanical case on a
baldric; and the equipage drove Off smartly
i'm breeze OF its own provocation. They
were bound for Franchard, to collect plants.
with an eye to the Comparative Pharma-
cop9ia."
little rattling on the open roads. and
they came to the borders of the forest and
struck into an unfrequented track; the notldy
yawed softly over the sand, with an accom-
paniment of swapping twigs There was
great, green, softly murmuring cloud of con-
gregated foliage overhead. In the arcades
of the forest the air retained the freshness of
the night. The athletic bearing of the trees,
each carrying its leafy mountain, pleased the
mind like SO many statues and the lines of
the trunk led the eye admiringly upward to
where the extreme leaves sparkled in patch
of azure. Squirrels leaped in mid air. It
was proper spot for devotee of tile god
dess Hygeia.
Have you been to Francbard. Jean.
Marie" inquired the doctor. II fancy not.n
Never" replied the boy
ut is a ruin in gorge,n continued Des.
prez, adopting his expository voice; 'the
ruin OF n hermitage and chapel. History
tells US much of Franchard; how the recluse
was often slain by robbers; how he lived on
a most insufficient diet; how he was expected
to pass his days in prayer. A letter is pre-
served, addressed to one of these solitaires
by the superior of his order, full of admira-
BILE hygienic advice; bidding him go from his
book to praying, and SO back again, for va
riety's sake, and when he was weary of both
to stroll about his garden and observe the
honey bees. 1t is to this day my own sys-
TEN. You must often have remarked me
leaving the ''Pharmacopnia"-ofte even in
the middle Of phrase-to come forth in the
sun and air. l admire the writer Of that
letter from my heart; he was man of
thought on the most important subjects.
But, indeed, had lived in the Middle Ages
II am heartily glad that did not should
have been an eremite myself--if l had not
been a professed buffoon, that is. These
were the only philosophical lives yet open:
laughter or prayer; sneers, we might say,
and tears. Until the sun of the Positive
arose. the wise man had to make his choice
between these twon
~ have been a buiYoon, Of course OBJ
served Jean Marie.
~ cannot imagine you to have excelled in
your profession said the doctor, admiring
the boys gravity. 'Do you ever laughp
"Oh, yes" replied the other. II laugh
often. am very fond Of jokesn
singular beingln said Desprez "But I
divagate Il perceive thousand ways that l
grow old, Franchard was at length de-
stroyed in the English wars, the same that
leveled Gretz. But-here is the point-the
hermits for there were already more than
one had foreseen the danger and carefully
concealed the sacriicial vessels. These ves-
sells were Of monstrous value, Jean Marie
monstrous value-priceless, we may say; ex.
quisitely worked, of exquisite material. And
now, mark me, they have never been found.
In the reign Of Louis Quatorze some fellows
were digging hard by the ruins. Suddenly
tock!-the spade hit upon an obstacle.
Imagine the men looking one to another;
imagine how their hearts bounded, how their
color came and went. 1t was q Golfer and,
In Franchard, the place Of buried treasured
They tore it open like famished beasts. Alasl
it was not the treasure; only some priestly
robes, which, at the touch of the eating air,
fell upon themselves and instantly wasted in
to dust. The perspiration Of these good fel-
lows turned cold upon them, Jean Marie. l
will pledge my reputation, If there was any
thing like a cutting wind, one or other had
pneumonia for his trouble.
II should like to have seen them turning
into dust" said Jean-Marie. "Otherwise l
should not have cared SO greatly"
You have no Imagination cried the doc
tor. picture to yourself the scene. Dwell
on the idea-a great treasure lying in the
earth for centuries; the material for giddy,
copious, opulent existence not employed;
dresses and exquisite pictures unseen; the
swiftest galloping horses not stirring a hoof,
arrested by spell; women with the beautiful
faculty Of smiles, not smiling; cards, dice,
opera singing, orchestras, castles, beautiful
parks and gardens, big ships with a tower of
sail cloth, all lying unborn in a cotfin-and
the stupid trees growing overhead in the sun.
light, year after year. The thought drives
one frantic"
ut is only money" replied Jean. Marie.
at would do harm"
"Oh, comep cried DeSprez shat is philoso
ply; 1t is all very fine, but not to the point
Just now. And, besides, it is not only
money as you call it; there are works Of art
in the question; the vessels were carved. You
speak like child. You weary me exceed
ingly, quoting my words out Of all logical
connection, like paroquet."
"And at any rate, We have nothing to do
with it," returned the boy submissively.
They struck the Route Ronde at that mo-
nent, and the sudden change to the rafting
esnseway combined, with the doctors irrita.
tion, TO keep. him silent. The noddy jigged
along; the trees went by, looking on silently,
as if they had something on their minds. The
Ouadrilateral was passed; then came Fran
chard. They put up the horse at the little
solitary inn and went forth strolling. The
gorge was dyed deeply with heather; the
rocks and birches standing luminous in the
sun. A great humming Of bees about the
flowers disposed Jean. Marie TO sleep, and he
sat down against a clump OF heather, while
the doctor went briskly to and fro, with
quick turns, culling his simples.
The bows head had fallen 9little forward
his eyes were closed, his fingers had faller
lax about his knees, when sudden cry called
him to his feet. 1t was a strange sound, THU
and brief; it fell dead, and silence returned
as though it had never been interrupted. IL
had not recognized the doctors voice; but, a
there was no one else in all the valley, 1t wa
plainly the doctor who had given utteranc
10 the sound. He looked right and left, an
there was Desprez, standing in u niche be
tween two powders, and looking round o.
his adopted son with a countenance as whit
as paper.
"A viper!" cried Jean Marie, running IL
ward him. "A viper! You are bittenl'
The doctor came down heavily out Of tf
cleft, and advanced in silence to meet II
boy, whom he took roughly by the shoulder
"Ihave found it, he said, with gasp.
"a plantTr asked Jean Marie.