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Article MADELAINE. Page 1 of 12 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Madelaine.
MADELAINE .
{ From , ihe French of JULES BANDEAU . )' PART THE FIRST .
CHAPTER I . NEUVY-LES-BOIS , like most other villages upon a high-road , is a frightful place;—dirty in winter , dusty in summer , and without poetry or interest in all seasons . Nay , it possesses such a small degree of importance , that before the day on which this simple tale beginsnone of the inhabitants coidd remember ever
, having seen any description of public conveyance stop near it . Postilions and conducteurs haAing from time immemorial shown this contempt for Neuvy-les-Bois , it may be fairly assumed that its wine Avas detestable . Our story , hoAvever , dates from a Sunday in autumn , between the hours of mass and vespers . In groups , the hot sun falling direct upon their heads , the A'illagers
were gravely aAvaiting at the entrance of the hamlet the arrival of the diligence , en route from Paris to Limoges , for on . fete clays that Avas their greatest amusement ; a short one , it is true , but as exciting as are all transitory pleasures . When they heard it coming in the distance , they arranged themselves on either side the road ; thenwhen the SAvaying vehiclewhich was quicklhurried
, , y along by the trotting horses between the ranks of staring faces , open eyes , and gaping mouths , had disappeared in a cloud of dust round the corner , these worthy folks , Avith their hearts filled with contentment , returned home . NOAV upon this identical Sunday things bore no appearance of happening differently ; but it Avas fated that Neuvy-les-Bois should be on this very
day the theatre of a prodigy upon Avhich , discouraged by fifty years of vaiu expectation , the people had never ventured to reckon . Instead of clashing by like lightning as usual , the diligence stopped in the middle ofthe road . At this most unexpected , this utterly unforeseen stroke of good fortune , all Neuvyles-Bois becameas it werenailed to the spot . The
conduc-, , teur getting down , opened the rotonde , and npon the single Avord " Neuvy-les-Bois" being pronounced by him in a harsh , grating voice , a young girl descended , Avhose Avhole luggage consisted of a parcel Avhich she held in her arms . She was dressed in black ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Madelaine.
MADELAINE .
{ From , ihe French of JULES BANDEAU . )' PART THE FIRST .
CHAPTER I . NEUVY-LES-BOIS , like most other villages upon a high-road , is a frightful place;—dirty in winter , dusty in summer , and without poetry or interest in all seasons . Nay , it possesses such a small degree of importance , that before the day on which this simple tale beginsnone of the inhabitants coidd remember ever
, having seen any description of public conveyance stop near it . Postilions and conducteurs haAing from time immemorial shown this contempt for Neuvy-les-Bois , it may be fairly assumed that its wine Avas detestable . Our story , hoAvever , dates from a Sunday in autumn , between the hours of mass and vespers . In groups , the hot sun falling direct upon their heads , the A'illagers
were gravely aAvaiting at the entrance of the hamlet the arrival of the diligence , en route from Paris to Limoges , for on . fete clays that Avas their greatest amusement ; a short one , it is true , but as exciting as are all transitory pleasures . When they heard it coming in the distance , they arranged themselves on either side the road ; thenwhen the SAvaying vehiclewhich was quicklhurried
, , y along by the trotting horses between the ranks of staring faces , open eyes , and gaping mouths , had disappeared in a cloud of dust round the corner , these worthy folks , Avith their hearts filled with contentment , returned home . NOAV upon this identical Sunday things bore no appearance of happening differently ; but it Avas fated that Neuvy-les-Bois should be on this very
day the theatre of a prodigy upon Avhich , discouraged by fifty years of vaiu expectation , the people had never ventured to reckon . Instead of clashing by like lightning as usual , the diligence stopped in the middle ofthe road . At this most unexpected , this utterly unforeseen stroke of good fortune , all Neuvyles-Bois becameas it werenailed to the spot . The
conduc-, , teur getting down , opened the rotonde , and npon the single Avord " Neuvy-les-Bois" being pronounced by him in a harsh , grating voice , a young girl descended , Avhose Avhole luggage consisted of a parcel Avhich she held in her arms . She was dressed in black ,