Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-10-16

accomplished a wonderful change. The
wild life Of the country began to at
tract the young Frenchman. In his
own country his naughty spirit had
been hampered. Conscious there of his
poverty and forced to depend upon the
charity of his irascible kinsman, to
whose unreasonable dictates he was
bound to submit, under the influence
of this uncivilzed spot his nature ex-
panded and the feeling Of new free
dom awakened his patriotism.
Love is strong" he would say, "but
liberty is dearer."
So here the Frenchman made his
abode. He lived a wild, reckless, al
most savage existence, and Of the pass
ing Of the days took no account save
that they brought him greater sup
ply of game, for his love of the chase
was great
Nor did he take into account the
warmly worded letters coming at dis
tant intervals from the old Vicomte de
Boufeuillet. At first the old man ad-
dressed himself affectionately, telling
him to make great haste to bring back
the money, that his Golfers might again
be filed and his shattered fortunes
strengthened.
The old fool, he little wots Of his
error" said the young man. But l
shall not inform him better. His grace
will soon be as dead as a pig, and
will come into his possessions-and his
daughter"
More vehement and frequent came
the letters of the Vicomte de Boufeuil-
let. His rage bristled forth, but 1t did
not affect the complacent recklessness
Of his kinsman. The young man gave
little heed-not even when word came
one day that the Vicomte himself had
set sail for Savannah. and Louis laugh
ed right heartily at the thought of the
old man appearing in that vast wilder
ness.
But, laugh as he might, there came at
times a serious presentiment to sadden
his spirits. 1t was not that he knew
of the CONSERVATION in the hall Of the
| old Vicomte-not that he had heard
how his grace had belligerently defied
the supplications of his fair daughter
and had sworn to cross the waters.
where he would find for himself the
riches he sought so eagerly; 1t was not
that he had seen the ship set sail bear
| ing the old man and his retinue-it was
not that he knew all this, but there
| were times when the wonted levity of
young Louis relaxed and he grew grave
and contenplative.
Grave was he that winters morn
| ing as he stood on the bold sea bluff
and watched the ceaseless breaking of
the pillows, and graver still when
| through the thickness of the fog ap-
peared the outline of vessel.
The Vicomte de Boufeuillet was
there His coming was like the sud
| den bursting Of simeon, and the fury
| of the storm was not greater than his
wrath. The thunder of his voice rose
above the sounding of the surf.
1T Is one of his bad moods. The old
| man is crazed, but this wildness will
soon pass away" thought the young
! Louis.
But he reckoned not of the violence
Of the old mans passion, nor did he
know that bitter disappointment, grief
and rage had for the nonce unbalanced
him In mind.
Therefore was he amazed when the
vicomte flashed his sword above his
head and called upon him to draw his
own blade quickly or DIE.
Louis would have walked away, nor
would he have shown his steel except
for defense, but the Vicomte was rush
| ing upon him.
DRAW, dog, for by my head thou
shalt die for what thou hast cost mel!
| So saying, the Vicomte made a furi-
ou3 lunge, but Louis parried well and
could have thrust back his own blade
in a vital spot, but would not. His
carelesSness cost him dear. The old
Frenchman had recovered his guard,
and like fash had plunged his blade
to the hilt deep into the side Of his
young kinsman, who fell there on the
, sand and died. Sudden remorse seized
| the Vicomte. The horror Of his deed
brought back his scattered senses
Gladly would he have lifted the head
of the dying man and called him back
to life, and he grieved to think there
! vas no recall.
|
purpose of returning Immediately to
France, but at that town his going was
intercepted by officers Of the law, who
took him into their custody. Great was
the indignation at what was thought
to be murder without cause, and in
spite of his high station 1t seemed that
the life Of the Vicomte de Boufeuillet
was in peril, for then the English law
was enforced with unswevering severi
| y In Georgia.
| And La Belle Marie''-she, too, had
made a pilgrimage. OF the killing she
had heard, and sailed at once to the
| Georgia coast to grieve alone and shed
her tears in solitude where the body of
the brave Louis lay buried in its sepul
cher by the sea-
The Vicomte de Boufeuillet was 6
prisoner of the State. He was in the
| fast clutches Of the law, and to plead
his cause before the magistrate he EN-.
ployed John Clay, whose descendants
still reside in the same city.
| When the question Of fees came up
the old Frenchman was prepared.
'T have no silver or gold," he said
"Al my possessions are in lands faI
away from here, but 1 am rich In the
possession of a daughter, the most
beautiful Of her sex, and should be
acquitted, she shall be yours to we'd"
1t was the hope of having this beau
tiful creature, Of whom he had heard
that led the lawyer to urgent effort
and his speech at the trial ef the for