.

"'Sister,' cried the lad half pantingly, 'how nimble and fleet of foot
you are to-day! I can scarce keep pace with you.'

"'Ah, Henri, it is because my heart is so light and glad!' she returned
with a silvery laugh, pausing for an instant that he might overtake her.

"'Yes,' he said, as he gained her side, 'the good news from my father
and Pierre, and Rudolph Goneto--that they are well and yet unharmed by
French sword or bullet--has filled all our hearts with joy. Is it not to
carry these glad tidings to Rudolph's mother we take this early walk?'

"'Yes; a most pleasant errand, Henri;' and the rose deepened on the
maiden's cheek, already glowing with health and exercise.

"They were now far above the valley, and another moment brought them to
their destination--a broad ledge of rock on which stood a cottage with
its grove of chestnut-trees, and a little patch of carefully cultivated
ground.

"Magdalen Goneto, the mother of Rudolph, a matron of placid countenance
and sweet and gentle dignity of mien had seen their approach and come
forth to meet them.

"She embraced Lucia with grave tenderness, bestowed a kind caress upon
Henri, and leading the way to her neat dwelling, seated them and herself
upon its porch, from which there was a magnificent view of the whole
extent of the valley.

"To the left, and close at hand, lay San Giovanni, with its pretty
villages, smiling vineyards, cornfields and verdant meadows sloping
gently away to the waters of the Pelice. On the opposite side of the
river, situate upon a slight eminence was the Roman Catholic town of
Luserna. To the right, almost at their feet, embowered amid beautiful
trees--chestnut, walnut, and mulberry--La Tour, the Waldensian capital
and home of Lucia and Henri, nestled among its vineyards and orchards.

"Farther up the vale might be seen Bobbi Villar, and many smaller
villages scattered amid the fields and vineyards, or hanging on the
slopes of the hills, while hamlets and single cottages clung here and
there to the rugged mountain-side, wherever a terrace, a little basin or
hollow afforded a spot susceptible of cultivation. Beyond all towered
the Cottian Alps, that form the barrier between Piedmont and Dauphiny,
their snowy pinnacles glittering in the rays of the newly risen sun.

"It was thither the able-bodied men of the valley had gone to defend the
passes against the French.

"Toward those lofty mountains Lucia's soft eyes turned with wistful,