1961 Ja se The Monthly Packet. JULY, 1883. CLAUDE DE S. ANGE. A STORY OF THE CAMISARD WAR. BY THE AUTHOR OF 'VIVIA GREY,' ETC. CHAPTER I. " Coming events cast their shadows before.' -CAMPBELL. It was the evening of Midsummer Day in the year 170-. The sun was setting in unclouded splendour in the western skies, and its light fell radiantly on the vine-covered hills which rose above the village of S. Ange, which was situated on the borders of the Cevennes district in the south of France. Though picturesquely situated, inasmuch as it was bounded on the east by a spur of the wild hills of the Cevennes, and on its western boundary a large fertile plain, well watered by streams flowing from the neighbouring hills, stretched out for several miles, while two ridges of almost equal height, jutting out from the wild chaos of hills guarded it both on the north and south, S. Ange was not, as a rule, a particularly cheerful or lively-looking place; but this evening its one street showed an unusually brisk appearance, being crowded with people, who, formed in a line on either side of the narrow street, were evidently expecting some important event to occur. Nor did the throng consist entirely of persons of the lower rank, for, on a little knoll at the eastern extremity of the village, just where it met a steep valley winding up into the hill country, were stationed the family and dependants of Lucien, Count de S. Ange, the feudal lord or seigneur of the village and the surrounding district. The count himself had deigned to grace the fête that night, and sat erect on his horse slightly in advance of his party, which consisted of his wife, Countess Grace de S. Ange (a lady of Scotch birth), MadeVOL. 6. PART 31. 1 |