The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-18
MY BRASS vALISE.

Hotel, CIiais, and the name has eirce stuck to 1t
1t was good, strcng ya!ise, certainly large
enough, and IL is ne, to be denied, that iu the
way of bands studs locks and patent covers for
kew holes it had q som, what unusual quantity OF
brass about IT, ~. iE
7 was standing on ths deck of the steamer.
wk,oh was about to leave for Dover, talkiag h
my friend Jean Cabou.tt, and my valise. which
had successfully and easily passed the once difh-
cult barrier of the custom house, was lyiag ut
my feet.
Ny + lend Jean Csboulet, whom had known
in New York, had been of great service TO me
during nay short seI ouru IL France. had spent
few days with him at his residence in Calais
when first arrived on the Gallo shores, snd
would have been at his house the preceding
night, had not feared inconvsniensing his Wits,
who was good womsn, with IL large family,
and not much room fer them all. 81 had gone
to the NJ Hotel, when I reached Calais the
evening before but Jean and had been together
most OF the day, aad he was now sending affsc.
tlonate remerr braures to \ number of our mutual
American friends. While we were talking Jean
was III hurry, Tor the boat would soon START
man in blue cap and great strap round his
waist, came up TO and politely offered to re-
move my valise, and deposit it with the rest of
the baggage.
"No," said I, 81 wish to take care of it myself.
Leave 1t where it is"
But, monsieur said the man, ut is il the
way. Baggage is not allowed here / will Just
move il to place of safety" And 80 saying h.
took 1T up and carried it TO the other side of the
boat
was too much engaged in my last adieus to
my friend to instantly resent this liberty but I
was very angry and at the moment Jean Cabou.
let had lett oe the second time (he had run back
70 give the address OF n FreIch lodging house in
Londoa-he was always giving me good ideas
went to regain my vaiise, and to abuse the man
who took it. did not Immediately SEQ him, but
happening, while crcssnx the deck to look land
wards perceived Tho rascal in blue cap, and
with II strap around his waist Shading ut the
other eod OF the pier, earnestly taking to u wo-
man In wooden shoes, and at his feet WAS nv
valise l instantly rushed eff the boat although
some people shouted to me, and was at HE side
IN moment Without breath to speak, made
y sn 1toh ~ nay property, but he had his hand on
1T the Instant touched it, and turning, and re.
eogniziny n-, he bowed and Said:
All it IL monsieur! But no! will carry i.
"scoundreil" I srssped. "Givc it here! The
boat il OIL"
by no means-it 10 my place will dart =
And lac JerKed It by the handles.
"Hni, monsieur raid he, with An air of pro-
found detection, rs no turned towards the pier
the boat has gone u
Sure enough, it had gone, and, had l been on
the emu 81 The pier, nothing but spring of fiiry
feet would have taken me on board.
Beast Wretch" l cried, "How dared YOU
to carry this off tho boat? Sounded. | am
lett But yoa shall pay dearly for this"
"Ahs skies y he calculated. "The beat 10
gone, and ain left / did not know the time. |
What shall do' 1 would not lot monsieur's
vai'ss 90 ont OF my hsnds-Oh, pardon pardon,
monster, bat here is lady. Monsieur will not
use such language"
7 was nhopt ~ nc, III
withstanding the presence Of the woman in the |
wooden shoes, who stood listening attsntively to
my earnest words but at that moment up came |
my friend Jean Csboust. He had not gone far |
and had happened to see rue run off the boat l |
hurried told him of my misery and of the heart.
-: Conduct 0i the viiiiAn before us--who still /
stood, with an expression OF deep concsrn on his |
isce mad his eyes ON the valise, a. il he would |
be glad to swim with me, ana it, TO the now fast |
retreatiny steamboat. CaLoslet instantly sug.
ge.ed the police, but, no. ~ wss, I whispered
to him that hs should remember that could not |
call up tho police.
mo, no, 1t lie true--you have reasons. Come
This man 10 wtetch, bat shall have my eye
OIL him. He shall lose his place. Get away,
coq,t"! and thask your stars that monsieur 10
% mercful-I shall remember YOU. Come. nv
friend. All, You will carry it yourself Then
We will go to my house. Mop Then to the no.
tel The skies! but that wretched man has done
nue. y good turn. This nigh, We shall pas to.
gether"
so together We returned 10 the M. Hotel.
dad the situation been different, I would have
been ready enough to give this man in charge of
She ponce, but under the circumstances in which
was placed, did not wish the smallest finger
q The most nnimportan hand of imperial Justice
to touch my caiso for the bottom Of it was near.
~ full Of little red pamphlets, bearing al.
Lnnfr"e' very conspiciously upon their covers [
had copies Of nearly all the numbers, aud placed
parhcnlsr value on those which had lust been
put under ban. 1t was by the nearest good luck
That had been ab!e % bu hem, and hud vet
my heart Oh getting them safely over the chan.
mel. 90 The lmpertinepcs of "a man in blue CAP
was not TO be allowed TO interfere with an enter.
prise like this.
AN said Ambrose, the garcon, smiling 81
am glnd to tee i asain--hs eood valise OF bra.,"
ana lie carried IT up into the room | had had
since nay arrival the might beiore.
nay Friend ana myself walked aud smoked and
talked until / was cooled down TO about nv
usual temperature, and thsn we dned w. h.d
an excellent dnuei IA COOL little roon or.r.
looking the street. The lamps had lust hes,
lighted below nl I was biting Tia. end az
cigar, when, CHANGING down on the opposite side
OF the street, ~he should see picking bis vay
over some ropph stones .ut the fellow with tn.
blue cap, AND Ia his band--my vAliee
Look there " ] shouted. sprngpg to my feet
and jesh Cabouctg head WIS out Of the window
in sn instant. The NAV had iust passed under
lamp, and We both saw the valiso as plainly M
csald be.
"'Tis yoprs {" cried jean, aud We rushed down |
stairs. Further than that, Jean, whs war fat |
could not keep Up with nt, and without INV