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VOLUME XIV.
. A STERLING TALE,
From the Dublin Unive rsity Magazine.
THE TWO RAVENS.
A STORY OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
CONCLUDED.
“When I reached the Chateau,” said Gas-
pard, «my grandfather was in the gallery next
-¢ to his own apartment; it was there he receiv-
ed me.
“The picture gallery 2” asked Berthe.
«Precisely. The baron was lounging in, his
huge black-leather fauteuil, in the very. pos-
ture in which he receives his vassals and. ten-
ants. Father Sylvester, his chaplain, stood
close by him. I advanced, my ‘heart rather
disturbed, and remained before my irritated
guardian, awaiting that he would. hold out his
handtome. However, my expectation was
not gratified. ‘Monsieur,’ said. he, knitting his
thick ‘silvery brows, ‘it was time you should
make your submission.’ «I obey your orders,’ I
: replied; ‘and I beg to assure you I feel deeply
| the condescension you have showed concerning
that marriage.’ +Of course, I had to give it
up,’. he interrupted, with. bitter irony; show
could it take place ? the heiress has been cut
off by a malignant fever.’
«Oh! triumphantly exclaimed Suzanne,who
could ‘not help indulging in her peculiar reflec-
tions, «God has crushed the baron’s will; it is
well. poor: Mademoiselle De la Verriere has
j been called’ té heaven.”
ae «Were she still alive,” continued Gaspard,
«J should find myselt neither more nor less hap-
pf; for Iwas fully determined not to marry her.
«]aving announced to me this news, the ba-
ron dismissed me from his presence. Mean-
while, I saw ‘clearly, from his manner, that
something remained to be told. In fact, the
» next day. after mass, Iwas sent for; the rev-
‘erend chaplain was still present.
« +Gaspard,’ said my grandfather, in a rather
amiable tone, ‘I have decided that you shall
take a wife before this year is over, and again,
this time, I have chosen a helpmate for you.—
You shall wed Madame de Chateauredon; her
late husband left her an immense fortune ; it is
a most desirable alliance. You may thank, for
the success of the negotiations, Father Sylves-
ter, who made the demand, and pledged both
my word and yours.” I remained dismayed
and stupified.”
«Isthe widow such a disagreeable person ?”
hinted Berthe.
«On the contrary, shé iy a handsome brunet,
« ° ofa lively, and pleasing disposition, but the
name’she bears is any thing but aristocratic, al-
Co beit, her late husband bougat one of those of-
fices called suvonneties a vilain.* Wowever,
the best gentilshomme in the country have
. come forward; she might, if she chose, be mar-
cot ried toa Simiane or a Fontevez.”
«Why should you not marry her ?” Suzanne
ey interrupted, with astonishment.
: «Because I have. ot the least liking for
x “her.”
Ah: . «This strikes me as ‘perfectly unreasonable,”
retorted Suzanne, shaking her head with disap-
probation ; “but let us see; what objection did
“ you state to the baron ?”
‘ “Merely that I-did not wish to marry yet.
i. 41 besought him to allow mea year or two more
: of liberty. Then But there is. no
: need to tell you what passed; you know the
baron’s character. Ie gave me his maledic-
tion, and expelled me from his chateau. I re-
tired immediately, took the coach back to Mar-
seilles, and came at once to your house.”
“Mon Dieu!’ exclaimed the Ravens, «are
you to lose the handsome inheritance and the
- old title of your family ? No, this cannot be.”
«But, it will be, in all probability,” quietly
i
| said the chevalier, -
™
«There is no chance that the beautiful Mad-
~ the holder.
VOL | cL v
& ELWELL,
Office 80 vine near Corner of Exchange Bt,
AN INDEPRNDENT FAMILY JOURNAL OF LITERATURES, NEWS, &G.
PORTLAND, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER
ame de Chateauredon will oblige you by dy-
ing also—is there ?” ventured Berthe.
“eTeaven forbid she should !” he returned.
“Methinks you would act rightly,” observed
Suzanne, «this time, in obeying your guardian.
Now, to tell you the. trath, I don’t. see any
thing very rational in your refusal; you don’t
love the charming widow; granted. Well,
marry her first, and love will come afterwards.”
«Never! ‘retorted Gaspard, turning — his
looks towards Emilie. «Moreover, I. have
another reason, not a personal one though, to
refuse the hand of the widow. Paul de Gilla-
ret, an intimate friend of mine, is an ardent
admirer of: Madame de Chateauredon. Per-
haps she loves him. So you see that I could
not become his rival after having received his
confidence. This, of course, I could not tell
the baron.”
«Certainly not,” said the dame; “however,it
behoves a true gentilhomme not to betray a
friend, even at the loss of the title and fortune
of the Greoulx baronage ;_ yet-———’
«Believe me, I regret nothing!” interrupted
Gaspard, with boisterous joy ; «I feel myself
so full of hope and courage. O! liberty, inde-
pendence, are find and grand things! How
swect it is to live thus, the mind easy, and the
heart master of itself! Doubly sweet it seems
to me, when I think of the dull youth I spent
in the midst of luxury and riches! Whatis it
tome to work? To be poor? I feel I shall
be happy. - And shall I confess the pangs of
my latter years? (I was like a captive sighing
after liberty; nor could I help thinking that
the.death of my relative would make me free;
certain it is that I-would not have wept over
him} still my conscience often smote me.. But,
thank Heaven, now I can pray that he may
live a long and happy life !”- .
«THe is seventy-five,” observed Berthe, «and
the late baron, his father, after whom he takes
in many ways, lived until ninety-eight years of
age. Ie also was a ‘terrible man, who caused
the death of three wives through sorrow and
ill-treatment.”
«Did you. know. him, too?” asked M. do
Greoulx, with surprise.
«We did,” returned Suzanne, curtly, not
wishing to say more on the subject.
The chevalier was rather perplexed to know
how the dames had become acquainted with his
family 5 ; however, as they always avoided satis-
fying him on this point, he left it to time or
their own leisure to unravel this mystery.—
Moreover @ another and dearer thought engross-
ed his
«] Took Shecofully upon things now,” he re-
sumed; «I have conquered, . perhaps, twenty
years’ independence and happiness! _ My good
ladies, some day I shall tell you the secret of
my heart ; for the present I must, without tar-
rying any longer, consider what I had best un-
dertake to make out an hoaorable livelihood. I
think I will enlist in the king’s army !”
These words caused an alteration in Emilie’s
countenance, for she lost not a word of this
conversation, spite the attention she appeared
to” bestow on: some. embroidery | work, . The
Ravens exclaimed with one voice—
«Don’t dream of it, Monsieur le Chevalier ;
there is not a worse trade than war.”
«Yet I must do something; Icould not sup-
port myself long with the hundred louis I may
procure by the sale of some jewels, now, per-
tectly superfuous tome. Even without a ca-
rosse or laquais, I ‘should soon see the end of
this sum.”
«Don’t let this torment you, rejoined Berthe;
«and don’t you by any means go and sell your
jewels to some Jew, who would not give you
half their value. Remain quietly at your host-
elry.” .
“But,” he retorted, «I ‘cannot possibly lead
any longer the life of a nobleman. Nor will
I wait till 1 am compelled to accept your gener
Ottices which at that time were purcaced to enoble| 9
ie
us offer. ‘I have the greatest aversion to
ne. a wot; a
debts.
One
2, 1 8 50.
«Don't I tell you not to mind it,” repeated
the Raven; “some day or other we will talk
again about your affairs, and, with the help of
God, they may. prosper better than you imag-
ine; don’t you think so, sister ?”
«I quite agree with you,” responded the oth-
er Raven.
M. de Greoulx heartily thanked the good
dames for their devoted interest. Ile could
not help smiling at their assurance.* They,
poor old women, who foretold that he. would
arrive at fortune! Ilowever, he felt not the
less grateful for. the self-denial they showed in
putting all their resources at his disposal.
Meanwhile, Emilie remained silent; but at
this moment the would have been. glad to kiss
the dames’ furrowed hands, which the first day
she would not have touched without repel |
sion.
When the chevalier was gone, Berthe secur-
ed all the doors.‘ The young girl withdrew to
the far end of the room; she knelt down and
prayed beside the small couch that had been
prepared for her, close to the Raven’s large
bed; Suzanne and Berthe remained seated at
the chimney, which through ecoonomy was left
fireless, spite the still cold evenings.
«Suzanne,” said Berthe, «don’t you think we
could manage so that Gaspard might still live
as handsomely as if the baron had not forsaken
him ?”
«We might, to be sure,” replied Suzanne,
Gthe same idea struck me this evening ; we'll
call upon M. Vincent, and afterwards.
«Iiush!” interrupted the other, pointing i
Emilie’s bed ; «maybe she is not asleep ; sj
might overhear us.”
‘M. ‘de Greoulx’ returned ‘to the " wratehed
house every following day, and things went on
the same as before his departure, with this dif-
ference, that the game lasted sometimes until
ten o'clock, and Gaspard would be so absent
that he lost many liards, to the great glee of
the Ravens, who treasured them in their huge
purse.
It so happened, one morning, that the dames
left home at an early hour, to visit that M.
‘Vincent so often spoken of; when they return-
ed to dinner at noen, they found no fire ighted,
no table laid, and Emily all in tears. “
«Gracious heavens! what is the matter?”
cried Berthe, «my child! why do you ery thus
—what is it?”
«He is lost, and I, too. I will tell you every
thing. Berthe, Suzanne, will you” ever for-
give me ?” cried Emilie, through her sobbing,
and throwing herself violently at their knees;
«oh, Iam so wretchedly unhappy !”
«For Leaven’s sake, will you speak, child !”
said both sisters; “we forgive you every thing:
but speak, what have you done ?” »
«Alas! nothing, nothing wrong, and yet
. ButIam rot personally concerned
in this, it is ke, M. Gaspard de Greoulx. He
is in prison; confined in the Chatueau d’lf, by
order of the king—~a lettre de cachet !”
«It.was the baron obtained it!” exclaimed
the Ravens, passionately. _ «Ob, dear, . oh,
dear, what a misfortune |”
There was a pause; the dames were strick-
en with consternation. Emilie, kneeling be-
fore them, pressed their hands with mute sobs.
~ “Be calm, my child, be calm,” said Berthe,
making her rise. «Come, tellus how you heard
this dreadful news.”
«] heard it by a person, sent by the baron.”
«By the baron !—wherefore ?” interrupted
the Ravens greatly astonished ¢ “what i is want-
ed from u:
«It was to me he wanted to speak.”
«To you!” they exclaimed, still more aston-
ished ; “and who was this person ?”
WA ‘lackey ; he has executed his master’s or.
ders—he was right—it was his duty to do 50.”
She passed her hhandkerchiet over her eyes,and
continued in a quick tone of voice—
«That man came here, and sat there. Tav-
ing cast around him an insolent look—‘Where
Craver
&
TERMS: $1,50 PER YEAR.
Dollar for Eight Months, in advance
NUMBER 29.
are your, aunts—your, co
women with whom you live? . And asI an-
swered, that you were out, he added: «I am
sorry forit, for I have to speak to you, and
would have liked them to be, present. - - Since
about two months, the Chevalier de Greoulx
comes to this house every day—you can’t deny
it, I watched and saw him. The | baron, his
grandfather, annoyed at these visits, has procur-
ed a lettre de cachet,in gonsequence of which
the chevalier was arrested this morning! As
to you, my darling, the baron, in whose service
Ihave the honor to be, bas sent to me to make
known to you his intentions”
A loud tapping at the door caused Emilie to
stop short, through fright.
«Jt is that horrible man again,” she cried,
recovering herself; «no doubt he will repeat
in your presence his abominable threats !”
Trembling she ran and hid herself behind
the green curtains of the bed, whilst Berthe
quietly opened the door. Meanwhile, Suzanne,
who hardly understood all this, said, to reassure
Enilie.
“Don’t be alarmed,’ my child.
who dares to threaten you.” *
The individual who then entered was a tall,
knavish-looking fellow, in livery, wearing that
silly and insolent air common to the lackeys of
a grand house.
We'll see
«Come, let us see, old woman, whether we ©
can’t come to an understanding,” he said, with
affected bonkomie, and seating himself uncere-
moniously opposite to the Ravens; “this morn-
ing that little girl yonder almost turned meout,
though J don’t think I said anything to——”
«Speak at once! who are you, and what do
you want ?” interrupted Suzanne, ia ber own
peculiar cracked voice.
«Why, it’s not for myselt I came, it’s by or
der of M. le Baron de Greoulx. Ile sent me
here to inquire about the kind of life that his
grandson ‘leads. I made a faithful report of
all I saw. » Of course, my master has guessed
immediately the cause of the chevalier’s revolt;
he bade me cell and give you notice of whathe
means to do. . J have been for five years in the
baron’s service. ”
«Come to the message,” again interrupted
uzanne ; “we don’t want to hear about your
character.» The message!» What does ‘your
master regire !”
«He desires this young damsel to leave this
country, and never attempt tosee M. Gaspard,
or else be will have her confinedin the house «
des filles du Bon Pasteur. Monseigneur knows —
that she will want money. to travel, and com- +
missioned me to give her fifty crowns; here »
they are. ; Now you see there is 0 occasion for
complaining so much.” °
Emilie came nearer, ber eye “jnflamed, her
brow deeply colored ; she wept not at this mo-*
ment, but whispered to her friends:
«Will you suffer this?” .
«Js this all your bad to say? asked. Berthe |
severely. . }
“No; I have now another proposal to make, ‘
but it’s on my own account, ” he replied with a
patronizing air; “this affair could end other-*
wise ; I have thought of it; your little darling
tickles my fancy ‘greatly.
downright good fellow, and what's more, I have
some spare money. ~ Well, now, what does the
baron want? To cure the chevalier of his fool-
ish freak. Egad! he will be quite satisfied if:
1 marry M. Gaspard’ ’s lady-love.” ~
The last words were scarcely uttered, when
the Ravens gave vent to their indignation — .
Suzanne stood up in an attitude of wounded
pride, her sharp features assuming an express-
ion of indescribable haughtiness and command. *.
«Out of this house, you vile wretch!” she
cried, pointing to the door. «I¥ow dare you
insult Mademoiselle de Lescale !
to put your foot here again ! out of this, I say
“The lackey made no reply, but obeyed this
imperious order ;
yh said, the | |
Corbleu! I ama *
T forbid you +
that name of de Lescale, the ”
a
may.
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a
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Baa oe TS
