Year: 1879

1t was during the progress of the war of
l1j9 that the incident am to relate oc-
Cured.


The Count dc Brimont, a young noble
man scarcely five and twenty years of age,
had with his wife, his bride of week,
been taken prisoner and held in close Gus
todv in a town of Burgundy.


De Brimont belonged to one Of the old
est families in France, was accomplished,
enthusiastic, and exceedingly handsome,
and his wife was all that wife of such
man should be, in TACT, her hand had
been solicited by no less than five princes.
but undazzled by the brilliant future she
might have secured. she chose to ally he.
fortunes to her hearts first choice.


Though prisoners the young couple were
treated with every courtesy and surround
ed by every luxury. debarred only of their
liberty. About Il month after they had
been taken captive, and when in tact 6
treaty depended upon their safe keeping
until its conclusion, news reached De Bri-
mont that his beloved mother was lying at
the point of death, eager to see him once
more before she departed. He represent
ed the state of things to the commander OF
the city, and besought him by the affection
he entertained for his own mother, to send
him. accompanied by a suitable guard, to
his parents death bed. In vain, however.
were his pleadings; too much depended
upon retaining him AT present in captivity,
and the commander courteOusly but firmly
refused his prayer. De Brimont was in
despair, he felt as though willing to give
the best years Of his life to prison walls,
so he could now spend an hour with his
dearly loved mother ere she went hence
and was no more.


Nearly heart-broken, he once more re-
newed his entreaties, and once more re-
ceived denial, when suddenly his young
wife appeared, and threw herself before
the feet of the commander.


Let him 90 to his mother,' she said,
land keep me here; fix upon day for his
return. and if he is not here at the very
hour. let me die.


Upon these terms permit you to de-
part unattended" said the commander.


At first De Brimont absolutely refused
to accept the offer, but upon the eager
persuasions of his wife, and the absolute
certainty of being able to return long be-
fore the day fixed, he at last consented,
and with many embraces babe adeu to his
devoted wife.


He was obliged to travel many leagues
but the horse he rode was a good one. and
by nghtial of the day he set out, he
reached his ancestral home. He found
the countess, his mother. very low indeed
but the >ight of her idolzed son appeared
to revive her somewhat and she fingered
on until evening of the day Immediately
preceding the one appointed for his re-
turn.


De Brimont had only time to kiss her
cold lips and give hasty orders concern
inc the funeral and then leaving her to
be followed to the grave by every relative
save the nearest and dearest. he set forth
on his return, having ample time to ac-
complsh the distance.


He had proceeded about half way ON
his Journey, his mind absorbed in grief ON
the one side on the loss of his parent, and
iov on the other at once more beholding
his bride, when suddenly he was set upon
by furious wolf Of an extraordinary size
which darted out from wood that skirted
one side of the highway. The ferocious
beast first seized the horse, and tore and
manglcd the poor animal so terribly that
De Brmont was forced to dismount.
No sooner had he touched the ground,
and before he had even time for thought,
the wolf left his first prey and sprang up
on him, and would certainly have torn him
limb from limb had he not with great
presence of mind seized the animal by the
tongue with one hand and with the other
laid hold of his paws. After struggling
awhile with the terrible creature the
tongue slipped from his hold. and his
right hand was feartully mangled by the
beast; but Notwithstanding the pain he
was in, he leaped upon the VOLTS back,
and pressing his knees hard into the sides,
called aloud for succor. 1t was not for
his own life that he fought, but for his
poor witeS. Who can realize the terrible
thoughts that rushed through his mind
during those fearful moments.
TO his own fate he gave not "a thought,
save so far as il affected that of his wife he
would perish miserably on the road the
world would say he had purposely fed TO
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