GONSALVO; OR, THE BRIGAND OF MARMONTEL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 172, 25 May 1871, Page 6

GONSALVO; OR, THE BRIGAND OF MARMONTEL.

By R. W. Thorn, Esq., Author of " The Epochs," " Cleon," " Retribution," " The Dudley Poems," &c.

CHAPTER IV.

(Conclusion )

A shudder ran through the slender form of the speaker; I pressed her more closely to my breast. The low voice went on — " She died — my poor mother ! My first distinct knowledge was the knowledge that she was dying." Here the voice was lost for a second in stifled sobs. When it came forth again it said — " A short time before her death, Gonsalvo brought us to the Auberge 1' Roy. Then my mother fqund an opportunity of carrying me to the crags. She showed me the spot where my father was murdered. They were travelling — my poor father and mother. They intended to pass the night at the Auberge 1' Roy. For some reason my father changed his mind, and ordered the postillion to drive on. At the crags they were attacked by a band, commanded by Gonsalvo. My father resisted. Gonsalvo, with his own hand, shot him dead. My mother was first carried to the crags, where there is a cave, then to the Auberge 1' Roy, and finally to the mountains. While she was on the crags, she hid the bracelets which did Monsieur some service. In a chapel in the mountains, Gonsalvo married my mother ; she pledged no holy vows. How could she, Monsieur? When we were in the crags she showed me where the bracelets were hid, and told me my father's name, and where, somewhere by the sea, lay their pleasant far-away home. I was very youn<f when these things happened ; but ah ! Monsieur, a mother's tears can make a child's heart very old. We went back to the mountains, and, for some reasons that I do not know, Gonsalvo grew very cruel to my mother. We were parted for some days ; then I was told that she was dead," There was a momentary silence ; t.he.n, in a whisper so low that it brought the idea into my mind that the speaker was afraid the night winds would hear that which it was too horrible for them to hear, she moaned forth — "They said she killed herself ! But it could not be so," she continued in her own sweet tones, " I knew for months she was dying. She died, Monsieur, and I was left alone."

At this point, Nicole rode up to me, and the voice was silent. The astute functionary seemed to be ill at ease. " Advance," he cried, and the melancholy procession moved on. But it moved very slowly and cautiously, scouts having been thrown on to the front and to the rear. In this way half an hour passed, when before us, and perhaps half a mile distant, a fire suddenly burst out. The command to halt was instantly given. A whispered conversation ensued between Nicole and his subordinates. There was a slight pressure on my arm. I understood its meaning.

" Suppose," I said, addressing Nicole, "I ride forward and reconnoitre."

" We shall have information presently," said Nicole ; " but Monsieur is very kind. Monsieur will be cautious."

I accepted this equivocal sentence as ample permission, and rode rapidly forward. Presently I drew up, and my companion resumed :—: —

" I remember everything my mother told me, excepting my father's name, and where he lived ; these I have never been able to recall. I may have a brother and sister whom I would love, and who might love me, and yet I knew them not ; is not that sad and strange, Monsieur ? " Sad and strange, indeed," I murmerred. Then I said in my soul, " Stricken one ! pleasant shall the path of thy future life be. Thou shalt be a sister to my sister, and to me a dreem of suffering and purity, and beauty that will not pass away." " Ob, that I had said that much at that moment," sighed my uncle, mournfully. " Silence may often be the highest buman wisdom, but there are occasions when to speak were Divine wisdom."

A long wistful look into the fire followed this sentence, then my uncle resumed — " Sad and strange, indeed," I mur-

mured. She said, " Does the fire still burn ?" " No," I replied. " Return."

As I wheeled Darby round, she said, softly and hesitatingly, " Monsieur's noble heart does not feel that I betrayed Gonsalvo." " No," I replied emphatically. "Then, Monsieur will grant my little favour." " Yes." " Gousalvo," she said, " made me swear that if ever matters came to the present pass with him, I would do bim an act of kindness. If I do not do that which my oath binds me to do, I shall never know happiness. Ah ! I have never known it except by name." How can I assist you ?" I whispered. " There will be another alarm before Pesancon is reached ; it will occur at the beginning of a ravine. Monsieur will place himself on the ravine side of the carriage in which Gonsalvo lies. llt is the first carriage. The ravine is

on the left side. Monsieur will close so near to the carriage, in the moment of alarm, that I shall be able to whisper to Gonsalvo. Monsieur will do this, and I shall know how the happy feel."

I heard Nicole riding forward to receive my report, and he was now so near, that if I had spoken he must have heard me. With a slight tightening of the arm, I conveyed an affirmative reply to my companion ; her hand laid upon my breast intimated that it was understood.

" Well ?" said Nicole, interrogatively.

The fire has been extinguished. There is not a creatnre to be seen," I answered. " Singular," he muttered. Monsieur Nicole was evidently in a mental fix.

" Advance," he cried, and again we moved forward, slowly and cautiously as before.

Behind the blaze of the fire a mass of black clouds had slowly risen. Silently they had glided up into the blue dome, battalion after battalion. The pleasant motion of the wind had subsided into perfect rest; and, although, we were approaching morning, a pitchy darkness prevailed. Again the loud music of aerial warfare began to roll amid the hills, and, in less than a quarter of an hoar, the awful splendours of the lightnings of night were everywhere ; so it seemed, seen from the wild upland we were traversing. Then we began to descend into a valley, and I was warned by a pressure on my arm that the opportunity of fulfilling my promise would presently occur. I was already by the carriage which held Gonsalvo. By the glare of the lightning I could perceive that at this point the road scooped out of the side of the hill ; which, on the rig'it, swelled up huge and black, while on the left, there yawned a valley, or rather slept, a dead sea of darkness, and, far away, on each side of the valley, the lightning illuminated the jagged summits of mountains.

" The ravine of Tordera," said the younger merchant confidentially. Suddenly, apparently from under our feet, a wild shout arose. There was a momentary pause. "At last! I expected this," muttered my merchant friend, pushing forward to the front. " Now, Monsieur," said a low voice. I pressed close to the carriage that held the brigand. My cloak was cautiously put back. By a flash of lightning I saw a small white hand put forth. " Gonsalvo." The terrible name stole into the Dight in an indescribable whisper. A sound that suggested the idea of joyous surprise escaped from the lips of the brigand. Then there came another wave of lightning, and I saw the small white hand rest for an instant on a face that momentarily gleamed, mid the awful light, rigid and white, as if it were marble. " Monsieur," whispered the voice, " God will bless you. I will never forget you." I bent down my head to listen, when a kiss was impressed upon my lips. Surprised by the suddenness of the action, I relaxed the fold of* my arm, and the slender figure gliding from my breast, fluttered to the ground, and vanished into the ravine. As on the previous evening, my first impulse was to follow, but a moment's reflection convinced me that to do so would be attended with dauber to the beintr I wished to sorve. Tne clotr «lveiaJ\"* voice of Wienie, who had rid.lon forward ami found the road clear, shoutting, " advance quick," restored confidence and order. The next quarter of a league was traversed at a speed, which, to those having a knowledge of the road and to the wounded, must have been anything but pleasant. When we had gained the open country, aud resumed our former steady march, Nicole rode up to me, saying with a self-important air, which was not unbecoming in that truly brave man. " They did not dare to attack us. We shall reach Pesancon without experiencing the pleasure of another brush with the villians." We entered the streets of Pesancon — while, through the rock and tumult of the storm, the glory of the rising sun was attempting to struggle — a dreary procession. The thunder rolled over us, the lightning flared around us, and the blank houses glared silently out upon us. We proceeded at once to the prison, which stood in the centre of the town. Ido not know by what magic it was effected, but, notwithstanding the perfect solitude of the streets when we entered the town, and the earliness of the hour, I became aware, as we passed along, that a motley crowd was rapidly congregating. From lanes and alleys poured half-dressed men, women, and children. ' * " He is captured." " Who is captured?" " Gonsalvo 1' Diable !" The name of dread passed from lip to lip, and the excitement continued to grow, until, before we reached the prison gates, all that was ragged and debased in Pesaneon seemed to be out of doors. Nicole was now in an immense sta+e of exultation. He felt himself to be the hero of the hour. " Had not he captured the famous brigand and destroyed his band V A sickening sensation stole over me as I witnessed the preparations being made for the removal of the prisoners. The mingled expression of exultation

and abhorrence, visible on every face, pained me. Suddenly a light broke upon my mind, and I laughed in my heart. I said to myself, " You are outwitted, my friend Nicole." I knew it as certainly at that momeijt as Iknew it a minute afterwards. When Iwo of our party mounted the conveyance to remove the brigand, and having knelt ' to do so, started simultaneously to their feet, exclaiming, " Gonsalvo 1' Diable is dead!"