Page:Ainsworth's Magazine - Volume 1.djvu/190

 LEGENDS OP THE MONTS-DORES.

ВY LOUISA STUART COSTELLO.

NO. II. LA MALROCHE.

the wanderer in the Monts-Dores has reached the basaltic mass, on which stand frowning in ruin the remains of the castle of Murat-le-Quaire, he looks round on a vast forest of pines of gigantic dimensions, and his eye follows the course of the Dordogne as the mysterious river winds along between the granite rocks which bound it, and as it emerges in light amongst the emerald meadows, whose freshness soothes the sight ; here and there remnants of antique forests of beech are scattered along the banks, and numerous villages start up close to their embowering shades.

Amongst these is the secluded hamlet of Escures, placed at the foot of a dark and rugged mountain, separated from it by a broad plateau of basaltic formation, wild, barren, and desolate. The mountain is called La Malroche, and has a very bad reputation in the neighbourhood ; indeed, the village of Escures is seldom visited by any of the peasants, unless some particular business obliges them to peek it. The inhabitants of (¿noire, La Bourhoule, Prenioux, and Saint Sauves, are all unwilling to pass through Escures, and frequently go out of their way to avoid it.

There are not many people residing there now ; and one of the reasons assigned is its vicinity to La Malroche, where it is well known the witches keep their sabbath, and send down their evil influence.

No one cares to live at Escures but very poor persons, or those whom long habit has rendered callous to its bad name. Amongst these was an old woman, called La Bonne Femme, not because she was possessed of any particular virtue or amiability, but from the circumstance of her following the calling of an attendant on lying-in women. She had certainly no right whatever to be entitled good, for she was malignant, cross, ill-looking, and dangerous; but though she inspired fear in general intercourse, all felt confidence in her skill. No one was more active or useful when called upon ; and in all cases, particularly those of danger, La Bonne Femme was eagerly sought after, and rewarded liberally.

It had, however, more than once happened that accidents had occurred to her patients and their infants who might have on any former occasion oft'ended her ; indeed, she seemed to be endowed with a memory peculiarly retentive of injuries, and had been known to revenge herself on several generations, for she was of great age ; so old that no one was her contemporary, or could relate anything of her early life.

These facts being known, it was with some degree of trepidation that Cyprien, the young vacher of Quaire, whose pretty little wife, Ursule, had just been taken ill, bent his steps in the direction of Escures, and on arriving inquired for the cottage of La Bonne Femme.

She was not at home, but he was told by her next door neighbour that he might open her door and go in, as she would soon return. " She is gone up to La Malroche to gather herbs," was the remark, " as she knew she should he required to-day, and will come back prepared with remedies."

Cyprien went into the hut of the useful, but dreaded personage, whose assistance he sought, and sat down near the open door to watch for her coming.

He felt a sort of tremor creeping over him as he glanced round Иге dim apartment, in which he observed heaps of stones of various colours, piled along the wall, pans filled with dark liquors, and vials of singular shapes.

He dared not approach the hearth where, in the iiiidst of the smouldering ashes, simmered a huge, black, earthen pot, at whose contents he did not venture to guess. He sat and looked towards the mountain, which was purple, and almost transparent, and saw plainly by this appearance and thnt of the sky that a heavy shower was about to fall ; for the clouds rested immovably on the peaks of strangely shaped rocks, while a dark gray canopy hung suspended over La Malroche, which became every moment denser and thicker, until it appeared to close in the summit altogether.

Cyprien began to grow uneasy, for the day was shortening; it was some distance to Quaire, and he feared that the old woman would be displeased at having to accompany him back to Ursule, whose situation caused him also extreme anxiety. At