The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-10-16


build romance; but it Is not conducive
to earnest thought and worthy effort TO
ward great achievements
"But what was our old chateau likey
she demanded. Ibid you fetch any sou
venr from its ruins?"
Eyes," he replied, II brought quite a
number. You shall examine them some
day. One in particular will, il | mistake
not, affect you very strangely when you
see it"
"Oh, what is it," she cried, in her ex.
element leaning heavily on his arm and
gazing eagerly up into his face
1T is something very beautiful" he
responded; 81 don't believe ! ought to
forestall or weaken your surprise by any
attempt at description; and besides,
wish to see if you will adopt my view
when you have seen the-the-well, let's
call it the Chenier Souvenir"
you have set my heart to fluttering,'
she naively said, carrying her free hand
to her breast.
"Mine is disturbed too" he replied.
"lt's really exciting, isn't it?" she went
on, not dreaming of what his words were
meant to convey.
while think Of it," he said, chang
ing his tone, lis Rosalie q name that
runs back in your family"
1T was my fathers grandmother's
name; it may date much farther up the
line" she replied; papa says it is a
Chenier name. But why do you ask"
THE name is common in France.
heard it often while was there. and
Chenier also. met one Chenier who
was II baron. and another who was
wooden shod laborer in the vineyards
But the souvenir"
.Ah, yes, shall show you that when
can. 1t is among my traps at Chicago.
did not have time to unpack, you
know. | was rushed off down here with
ont even a breathing space. l have
written to have a lot of things for
warded and the souvenir is included. 1t
must remain profound and beautiful
mystery until it arrives
~ can't bear mysteries and waiting
she exclaimed with real vehemence. 81
shall lose all interest unless you tell Inc
now"
He stopped and looked down into her
sweet gray-brown eyes, he thought he
saw repressed tears in them. They were
wholly the eyes of child now. Her
lips were red as cherries.
at is small gold cross with the let
tiers R. G. on it," he said, with a prompt
ness that almost amounted to bluntness;
lit is very beautiful.
"Oh. and where did you get it?" she
exclaimed.
"At the Chateau Chenier A peasant
who lives there dug it up in the garden
| paid an enormous price for it. The K
G. must stand for Rosalind Chenier. you
know"
"How strange!" she murmured in a
musing way, with her eyes cast down
"Papa has the story of that cross in
written in Provencal. 1t is
a beautiful legend, called The Maid of
the Mistral.
Julian smiled at her simple faith, but
he would not have clouded it for the
world. A great love for her had fastened |
itself upon him; it was struggling for |
and yet he felt sure he ought
not to speak. She seemed too much a
child to have the fire of his passion re-
vealed to her-it might destroy her as |
flame would destroy flower.
"Was the Maid of the Mistral love
storyy" he asked.
"Oh, yes, and SO sweet Alphonse, the
knight, was so brave, and Rosalie, the |
Maid of the Mistral, was warm and true |
and good, and they loved each other SO
dearly You know the mistral is wind
in Provence; the maid would sit upon
the castle wall when the mistral blew
and play her lutte and sing, and her
over would hear her, no matter where
le was, because the mistral would take
Ter song and the lutte chords and bear
hem to him. She gave him the cross
when he went away to fight for his king
md he wore it on his heart through tn,
ar east Whenever he would hear he1
inging and playing the lutte he would
:iss the cross, and when she had finished
he would kiss the ruby ring he had 4
iven her. | cannot tell you all his ad
entures; but at last he returned, and
hey were married on the castle wall
7hile the mistral was blowing"
Every sweet" he said, "all those old
Id stories are-shall tell you one?"
The blood had suddenly flowed in upon
is heart; his face was pale, and his voice
as low and husky.
She looked up quickly. as if to confirm
thought, and sudden flush spread =
yer her face; her eyes fell at once His
assion had betrayed him.
81 am neglecting my guests" she
emblingly exclaimed; "see, some of
lem are going. You must excuse me-
must be polite"
10 tie Continued.