Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-12-12
CHAPTER |.

I'M NEW -AtAIAiN Al.
In the spring Of 1903 Charmont-s
Pont was one Of the quietest little vii,
lagos in the whole Of France. 1t was
nestled i'll small valley. through which
little stream ran to Join the Isere,
about two days journey below Grenoblc.
The tree clad hills rising up ON either
side sheltered it from all winds and shut
ont the hum of the larger world.
Ii was little wonder that the villagers
were peaceful and prosperous in this lit
tie garden plot of natures making, for
it would be impossible toimagine a more
favorable condition for the enjoyment of
rural life. The glebe was rich, the
springs We're many. and the summer sun
shone with such radiant heat in the shell
tered valley that corn and wine ripened
untailingly. and what farmers call "a
bol YEAR had never been known.
T Int the peace and prosperity We're not
-"rCly the growth of positive forces.
Mems troublous ways and the irruptions
Of strangers troubled them not. Even
the terrors and troubles of the rcvolu-
ton had seemed TO have passed them by
and now, when the hamlets of France
were being drained of men to recruit the
wasted armies and to swell the army
of England" which was gathering on
the northern coast. this sheltered nook
escaped unscathed.
Such thing as complete stranger
was unknown in the village. Now and
again came an official on his way from
place 10 placc-a casual peddler or an
itinerant musician on his roundS-and
at such times the curiosity which lay
dormant in the breasts of even these old
world villagers raised its sleepy head
and enjoyed tho rare attraction. Very
few of the villagers had ever been away
from their homes. The cure. its true,
went now and again 10 Grenoble. and
the doctor had been once 10 Paris with
in the 40 Years during which he had
aided in the incomings and outgoings of
humanity in this quiet spot.
1t was therefore with strange feelings
that tho little group assembl under the
spreading limo tree whose shade kept tho
clear water of the we'll perpetually cool
saw approach a stranger. and not merely
stranger, but a seemingly distinguished
stranger-a young man of some 80 years
( of age, tall and we'll built. with striking
features and flashing eyes and habit of
! command which. however. Tailed but
poorly with his time worn clothes. He
was q handsome. graceful fellow, with
the easy gait that marks the habitual
pedestrian. His glance was bold and
rowing, with something of the predatory
look, which conveys to educated eyes
q customary ignorance of where the next
meal might come from. In word, the
man i'll Il less simple community could
not have been mistaken for anything but
an adventurer. but here in this forgotten
corner of the earth, among people SC
guileless, his very boldness, shiftiness
and extravagance of action became marks
of a higher culture than their own.
As the stranger came up the dusty
roadway the little village crowd peered
out eagerly from their shadowy citadel,
and by some exercise of that unknown
instinct which brings the vulture to the
quarry and the crowd to the street the
cottages began TO pour forth their in
habitants. The village maidens made
their appearance with marvellous celeri
~, considering the fact that they had re
manned an extra minute for further
adOrnment.
The traveller seemed to be a shrewt
fellow enough for the occasion, for 5,
soon as he began to find himself an oh
1ect or pUbllc attention ne began u
slackcn his pace, to look around will
eyes of lazy inquiry and generally t.
act with that careless indifference which
has so much charm for those who bu
seldom find their lives quickened by an.
object of curiosity. As his value per
ceptibly increased in the public mind
so he got slower and slower. until al
agonizing fear came to all that perhap
the stranger might, after all, change hi
mind and not condescend to visit $,
humble a place.
More and more anxious grew the httl
crowd which still kept swelling up as tn
new arrivals Joined. The stranger in al
unconscious way hummed a tune a
though he saw no one. Then he stop
ped little, looked around and strolle,
on again. The Villagers admired il
silence and with gathering awe. The rev
olution was not SO far behind but mel
still remembered the tradition of tn
grand seigneurs, whose naughty indif
ference to all beneath them gave them
value in public esteem.
de came closer still, stopped again, am
then, without seeming to notice or evei
see Iany one, came actually within tn