The Red Cloud chief., 1879-10-16

tfNtb ufT tAtah ia Ntifrth ~ -fFtN HUN
IL. then pu, IL before the FIRE. The other
opened the door to the room in the rear
where he knew the Governor wa. pa.--
ing an hour with the Count De Rorham.
beau. Thus unannounced Mistress Pm.
dence came into the Governor pres
cncc. He AT AZ hi oaken desk. -bu:
seemed for the moment tn b. more oc-
cupied over a certain discussion that be
wa having with Rochambeau than hi
paper. The French nobieman stood
easily before the fireplace. the flame
from the burning log Furnishing the gil;
-cabbard. The Governor arose and the
Count bowed. Both were exceedingly
tall. and Mistress Prudence seemed by
contrast wofully small. hut no, les fear
les than the men >he confronted.
WHY, Mistress Prudence, wha; ha-
brought yuu here? DO yOu come from
your worthy father, the E~quire?''
"Ahem,'' this in the slightest and
Vet most suggestive of tones from the
Count.
Pardon me- said the Governor.
"Let me, ! hcg, present Mi~trc-- Pru-
dcncc Strong 10 the Count DE Rocham-
beau. \ worthy daughter IF an exceed
ingly worthy father, >ir.
Truly. that would almost 20 without
the saving Of il, YOUR ENc.llcncy." And
the Count with much grace took Ms
tre-s Prudcnce'~ brown hut shaprly
hand and bent ovcr il. Did | not have
the pleasure Of leading the maid Al the
reel in the tavern dining-rUom?' he
asked.
Indeed YOU did, sir" replied Mi--
trcs- Prudence, curt>cying. But, Mr..
Trumbull, will YOU tell me what Mr..
Duplan. the tall French soldier, has
done. and what i, Ia bc hi punish
mcni?'
The Governor, who hal taken adyan-
tagc Of the colloquy between the maid
and the Count Ia draw on his outer gar
mcnt If plain brown homc>pun-for the
room was sultry and he had re-
moved it-turnel with a look If sur
prise.
- know nothing If any French sol
der, Mistress Prudence, and prithce
why should YOU visit me on such a
night H. this for such a natter" he
-aid.
=. Because he i a good nan and a brave
soldier, and because he has done nothing
Ia merit punishment.
But why does Mistress Prudence
become hi~ intcrccs-or. ch? Count,
perhaps YOU know something Of this.
What does the maid mean, for |
see she j. greatly exercised, and !
know her 10 he mol disturbed at tri-
flies"
The Count de- Rochambeau was very
~ravc. He looked At the maid strangely.
but not ,uspiciously. Al length he said A:
=. He j. "A dc-crtcr; there l. much Of
mystery about him: but If all the myS-
tcric- there l. none 80 very strange a.
this that has now come 10 my ears.
Tell me-" and he took the girls hand.
= what reason j. there that you should
thus i~ntcrccdc?"
IL can not tell that now, sir" replied
the mistress a little dcmurely, hut If
is a good one"
Here the Count de- R~ochambeau
looked very grave. but the Governor nj
once said I'D plight my honor. sire,
the Girl tell, the truth. Tell me, Mis-
trcSS Prudence, how came YOU To know
this soldier"
-. have often seen him at the ven
over there, and in passing have chatted
with him. ~ have the other maidenS. for
he speaks the English tongue aS well a.
you OF l."
WAS that entirely >eemly? ?" said the
Count, gravely.
Miss Prudence looked al the tail, gra-
ciouS F%rcnchman wondcringly for an
instant and then slowly and in-tinctivcly
catching his meaning said. while her
~rav eyes >parkled and the blood mount
ed 10 her checks:
There are none but brave and true
women in Lebanon. sir"
The Count bowed low with his hand
over his heart, and humbly begged the
maids forgiveness.
AT the oven. - say" continued
the Governor: surely there could he
no harm in that. for i not the owe on
the common. at the rear of the meeting
house," THE brick oven still remains
on the common. sadly broken in and
zone to decay, but there, ncverthc-
less.
ttlllt ~ d~h N'u W "a nm ~
be- released, On my word that he has
done nothing wrong. Ii l. un>eemly Ia
shut such a nan up Il a prisoner for the
space of one hour!'
The Governor and the Count cN-
changed chances and the quick eve of
Mistress Prudence saw il. With the
most digniticd courtesy tn the Count
she turned her back upon him. and 60
inc To the Governor. said: Mr.. Trum-
bull, YOU knew me when | WAS a child.
before the war. Did Won lot see me
lead the other maids To the >ch"ol-hou>e.
when the messenger from Lexington 4"
Norwich stopped to tell Us that blood
had been she'd. and did | not suggest Ia
the maids that we even take our petit
coats to make the implements of war
with? Do YOU remember my ride I"
Hartford. alone through the forests, that
| might carry Ia YOU the special dis
patches that were waiting YOU here from
Gen. Washington"
In truth | remember all this. and To
your credit"
Then have | moi the right Ia ask 4
slight favor"
But Mistress Prudence. | can not do
what YOU would seek. Ny authority
extends - Ia the battalion of the Count
de Rochambeau."
But You a plead with him"
-. see. Mistress Prudence, Won little
comprehend these matters. and in truth
| wot my pleadingS would not avail the
half yours would
The Count listened gravely Ia all this.
Suddenly he said. but with infinite re-
>pcct: Tell me-, do You love this
MANI"
What has that Ia do with IT'D" she
answered, strengthening up and her
gray ewes flashed Indignation. If he
deserves punishment | might love him
and still suffer him TO he punished. But
he does not. beg YOU Ia release him.
for he has done nothing wrong
The Count de Rochambeau said moth
ing.
"Will You not release him?" she
pleaded tenderly. placing her hand on
the Count de Rochambeau's arm. He
turned his face away, but shook his
head.
VIII You not beg for me?" This Ia