The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-15
A STRANGE GUIDE,

When surfeited with the aduletiol
which l received at court and weariet
by the constant round of gayety which
constituted my life in Paris, 1t was m,
habit to seek as a retreat the old man
or house of Kerzigolet. an estate lost il
the depths of Brittany. and which hat
belonged for centuries to my husband.
family Bounded as 1t was upon one
side by the sea and upon the other by
the forest. my secluson was complete
Still. In order to lose for a short space
my identity, indeed my very personal.
1ty and sex, adopted male attire and
80 arrayed in hunting suit l spent
a 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. whistled
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 | was good three miles
from home. Before the thought had
fairly formed itself in my mind, how
ever, chorus of frantic. furious barks
broke upon my ear, rising and falling
in widest excitement.
what have they unearthed?" I
wondered. at 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 dead run,
not down the road, but half rearing she
swerved as though terrified and turned
into narrow forest glade. 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 l time
indeed to bend my head upon the
creatures name and by SO doing avoid
being stunned. if 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 l awoke as from
a long sleep, which was in reality a
deep swoon, found myself in the
midst of clearing in an unknown
part of the forest, while the moon
poured its rays full into my face, light
ing up the space around me with brill
liancy. Horse, dogs and wolf had dis
appeared. was alone
Slowly regaining my senses, found
to my surprise, that l 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 I saw an old man, a beggar he
seemed to be by the poverty of his
clothing. standing tall and straight in
luC LlOoHll6ul pSlOlC NE. 1 SAW ulIl
plainly. l see him plainly to-day in
memory. In one hand he held a gourd,
and fastened to his shoulders was a
knapsack. Speeches. with terror, I
started to run. do not fee, sweet an
gel of France" he said in the gentlest
Of tones, speaking the familiar patois
of Brittany. "You will only lose your
way. Let me guide you home, for |
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
tive tongue: II have watched over
your slumber for an hour, and in two
hours more it will be midnight. Tell
me your destination, l pray, that I
may lead you thither without delay"
| stanimered the name of the manor
house.
THAT is your home, Is it," he ex-
claimed. Follow me, then, little fairy
of the manor, sweet little angel of
France!" And l obeyed, keeping close
behind him In the darkness, with my
fears allayed by the excessive gentle
ness Of his manner.
Come with me-" said at last, tim
idly addressing my strange guide for
the first time. Come in with me and
rest and be refreshed with meat and
wine. l want to reward you, too, for
your kindness in taking this long,
weary walk out Of your way to obllge
me-"
The old mendicant shook his head
as if in anger
mo, no, no." he repeated vehement
ly. Il want nothing, l will accept
nothing" But after a few moments
hesitation he added with almost an
gelic sweetness: your eyes have
given me so great a JOY that l need
nothing more" and he turned hastily
toward the forest.
Drawing a small silken purse from
my pocket, in which l had that morn
ing placed four gold coins, ran after
the singular man and begged his ac-
ceptance of it as remembrance, not as
a reward, and | placed it coaxingly in
his hand.
Tears stood in his eyes as he slowly
lifted the silken meshes to his lips, and
then, to my amazement, he held it to-
ward my mouth. Mechanically |
obeyed his silent gesture and in my
turn | kissed the purse, Swiftly plac-
ing it in his bosom then, without a
word, without a sound he sprang into
the woods and disappeared as if by
magic beneath the trees.
Seven years later my midnight esca-
pade was forcibly recalled to my re-
by the priest of the village
church which l have already NEIL
toned in the beginning of this story.
He brought me. he said, pack
age which had been confided to
his care by young gypsy lad The
boy had explained that the parcel was
for the lady Of Kerzigolet" and had
been given him by dying member Of
his tribe.
Judge of my surprise when on re-
moving the covering Of the small pack
age l recognized the little sllken purse
which l had given the old rnendicant
as a souvenir so long before, while,
stranger still, between its faded meshes
the yellow CLINT Of the gold pieces still
brightly. Prom the French !
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