Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-29
The Treasure Of Franchard.
BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
CHAPTER V.
TREASURE TROVE.

favor among country doctors On how man
roads has not one seen it, a great way Off be.
tween the popals-in how many village
streets, tied to & gate post Tus sort of
chariot is affected, particularly at the troC,
by "A kind on pitching movement to and 10
across the axle, which well entities it to the
style of "A Noddy. The hood describes COR
siderable are against the landscape, with
solcmnly absurd effect on the cOntcmplativ
pedestrian 70 ride in such carriage can
not be numbered among the things that az
pertain to glory; but have no doubt it ma
be useful in liver complaint. Thence per
Gaps, its wide popularity among physicians
One morning early, Jean-Marie led forth
Ghe doctors noddy, opened the gate ano
amounted to the driving seat. The docto'
followed, alrayed from top to toe in spotles
linen, armed with an immense flesh coloreo
umbrella, and grit with botanical case on a
baJdric; and the equipage drove off smartly
in a breeze of its own provocation. They
were bound for Frapchard to collect plants,
with an eye to the "Comparative Pharma-
CopUia."
3 little rafting on the open roads, and
they came to the borders of the forest and
struck into an unfrequented track; the noddy
waved softly over the sand, with an accom-
laninent of swapping twigs. There was
sreat, green, softly murmuring cloud of con-
gregated foliage overhead. In the arcades
of the forest the air retained the freshness of
Nhe night. The athletic bearing of the trees,
each carrying its leafy mountain, pleased the
mind like so many statues and the lines of
rhe trunk led the eye admiiugly upward to
where the extreme leaves sparklcd in a patch
Of azure. Squirrels leapcd in mid air. 1t
was proper spot for devotee of tile god
iess Hygeia.
"Have you been to Franchard, jean
Marie inquired the doctor. 81 fancy not.n
"Never. replied the boy.
III IS "A ruin i'll "a gorge continued Des-
5Jrc2, adopting his expostory voice; ''the
ruin of a hermitage and chapel History
tells us much of Franchard; how the recluse
was often slain 10y robbers how he lived on
n most insufficient diet; how he was expected
SO pass his days in prayer, A letter is pre-
served, addressed to one of these solitaires
by the superior of his order, full of admra-
bic HYGIENE advice; bidding him go from his
book TO praying, and SO back again, for va
l-iety'S sake. and when he was weary of both
30 stroll about his garden and observe the
honey lees. 1t is to this day my own sys-
Een- on must often have remarked me
leaving the ''Pharmacopnia"-- even in
che middle of phrase--to come forth in the
sun and air. | admire the writer of that
letter from my heart; he was a man of
Thought ON the most important subjects.
But, indeed, had lived in the Middle Ages
Il am heartily glad that did mott should
have been an eremite mySclf-if | had not
been a professed bufoon, that is. These
we're the only philosophical lives yet open:
laughter on prayer; sneers, we might say,
and tears. Until the sun of the. Positive
arose, the wise man had to make his choice
Between these two"
II have been a bufroon, of course" OBJ
served jean Marie
81 cannot imagine you to have cxccled in
your profession said the doctor, admring
Che boys gravity. "Do you ever laught"
"Oh, yes replied the other. II laugh
often. am very fond of jokes"
Singular beingr' said Dcsprez "But |
iiyagate perceive Thousand ways that
grow ODD, Franchard was at length de-
stroycd IN the English wars, the same that
ieveled Giretz. But-here is the pont-the
PERMITS for there We're already more than
one had foreseen tl-~ danger and carefully
concealed the sacrifical vessels These yes
,cls were of monstrous value, Jean Marie
'uOnStrous Value-pricelesS, we may say; ex-
istely worked, of exquisite material And
reign of Louis Quatorzc some fellows
u ~ ling hard by the ruins. Suddenly
spade hit upon an obstacle.
=. men looking one to another;
'"As heir hearts bounded, how their
lliis Nv no went 1t was a Golfer, and,
IN, ,,.,'I.,.d IN, place of buried treasure!
N N'hlith"ie' W. q famished haasts AIas,
Tpev tore it open ~ sue" 'e'"s'S' AlasI
it was not the trenSn - o"'S some PrieStiy
q pa ui
robes, which, at the tote = VI ',io e"'inS ar
fell upon themselves and IL HOai'iy "aS'eu IN
to dust The perspiration N Iio'o sooh lei
low o,ned cold upon them, jean MARIE
W Il pledge my reputation, If uN'e was any
ching like cutting wind, one OF 'onei iiiu
uSpmonia for his trouble,
~ should like to have seen them turning
Into dust said Jeap.- Marie. Otherwise
should not have cared 50 greatly"
You have no iU.aginaton,n cried the doc
-tor Picture to yourself the scene. Dwell
on The idea-s. great treasure lying in the
earth for centuries; the material for giddy,
-topions opulent existence not employed;
dresses and exquisite pictures unseen; the
rwjfteS galloping horses not stirring hoof,
arrested by spell; women with the beautiful
1 faculty IF smiles, not smiling; cards, dice,
{ opera singing orchestras, castles, beautiful
, park ks and gardens, big ships with tower Of
sail cloth, ali lying unborn in a coiiin-and
the stupid trees growing overhead i'll the sun
light, year after year. The thought drives
one frantic"
at IS only money" replied Joan-Marie.
at would do harm"
"Oh, comel" cried Desprez, "that is philoso-
,ohy. II j. all very fine, but not to the point
Just now. And, besides, it is not only
gponey as you call it; there are works of art
., the question, the vessels were carved. You
-,sI>eak like child. You weary me exceed
'ngly, quoting my words out Of ali logical
,.Snpection, like paroquet,"
And at any rate, we have nothing to do
With it," returned the boy submssively.
They struck the Route Ronde at that mo-
aaent; and the sudden change to the rafting
erusewey cent ined, witch the doctors irrlta
ZION, 20 keep him silent The noldy jiggeC
along, the trees went by, looking on silently
e. ii they had something on their minds. Thu