The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-08-26
A STRANGE GUIDE.

sVAOh oui lCllCu Will Liz
which I received at court and wearied
by the constant round of gayety which
constituted my life in Paris, 1t was my
habit to seek as retreat the old man.
or house Of Kerzigolet, an estate lost in
the depths Of Brittany, and which had
belonged for centuries to my husbands
family. Bounded as it was upon one
side by the sea and upon the other by
the forest, my seclusion was complete
Still, in order to lose for short space
my identity, indeed my very PERSONAL
ity and sex. adopted male attire and
so arrayed In hunting suit l spent
few weeks securing the woods, hunt
ing, fishing and riding with old Gruig-
ny Tiny husbands overseer) as sole
companion and attendant
One evening, about an hour before
sunset, as was sauntering slowly
homeward on horseback along the edge
OF the forest, the reins hanging loose
on my mares neck. noticed with sur
prise that the four dogs who accom-
panied me had disappeared. Unlisted
and called for a time In vain, and
finally concluded that they had lost
me running after game and would find
their way back to the manor house be-
fore me. for l was good three miles
from home. Before the thought had
fairly formed itself in my mind, how
ever, a chorus of frantic, furious banks
broke upon my ear, rising and falling
in widest excitement.
What have they unearthed?"
wondered. 1T can surely be no ordin-
airy game" and as the sound grew
nearer and seemed to be scarcely 100
yards distant rose in my stirrups and
tried to peer through the dense foli-
age. 1t was just then that my mare
took fright and started on a dead run,
not down the road, but half rearing she
swerved as though terrified and turned
into narrow forest glade. l snatched
at the reins helplessly, for with the bit
between her teeth l was powerless,
and she tore blindly on as though mad
dened by fear. Scarcely had / time
indeed to bend my head upon the
creatures name and by so doing avoid
being stunned, II not killed, by the low
branches Of the trees which crisis
crossed thickly above my head.
How long that mad ride lasted l
never knew. When / awoke as from
long sleep, which was in reality a
deep swoon, l found myself in the
midst of a clearing in an unknown
part of the forest, while the moon
poured it's rays full into my face, light
ing up the space around me with bril-
liancy. Horse, dogs and wolf had dis
appeared. I was alone
Slowly regaining my senses, I found
to my surprise, that I was absolutely
uninjured, and as l started to my feet
In bewilderment, wondering which way
to turn, felt gentle touch upon my
shoulder. Turning, with a surprised
shrek, saw an old man, beggar he
seemed to be by the poverty of his
clothing, standing tall and straight in
the moonlight before me. l saw him
plainly. l see him plainly to-day in
memory. In one hand he held gourd,
and fastened to his shoulders was a
knapsack. Speeches. with terror,
started to run. do not flee, sweet an
gel Of France" he said in the gentlest
81 tones, speaking the familiar patois
Of Brittany. you will only lose your
way. Let me guide you home. for l
know all the forests paths" He wait
ed few moments for my reply, but l
was too overcome by emotion to articu-
late, and he continued, still in his ma
i've tongue: II have watched over
your slumber for an hour, and in two
hours more 1t will be midnight Tell
me your destination, pray, that l
nov lead you thither without delay" :,