The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1879-11-14

"Psrdon me-" said the governor
"Let me, | beg, present Mistress Pru
dence Strong TO the Count dc Rocham
beau. A worthy daughter Of an exceed
ing worthy father. sir"
"Truly, that would almost 20 without
the saying Of 1t, your Excellency." Ant
the count with much grace took Mistress
Prudence's brown but shapely hand and
bent over II. "Did l not have tn,
pleasure OF leading the maid at the reel
In the tavern dining.roomf" he asked
"lndeed you did, sir" replied Mis-
tress Prudence, curtesying. But, Mr.
Trumbull, will you tell me what Mr.
Duplsn, the tall French soldier has done
and what Is to DO his punishment"
The governor, who had taken advan
tsge Of the coloquy between the maid
and the count to draw on his outer gar.
ment Of plain brown homespun-for the
room was sultry and he had removed /,
turned with look Of surprise.
81 know nothing Of any French sol
der, Mistress Prudence, and prithee why
should you visit me on such q night a
this for such mstter!" he said.
Because he Is q good man and q
brave soldier, and because he has done
nothing to merit punishment"
"But why does Mistress Prudence be-
come his intercessor, ehH Count, per
haps you know something of this. What
does the maid mean, for see that she !,
greatly exercised, and know her not II
be disturbed by trifes."
The Count de Rochambeau was very
grave. He looked at the maiden strange
ly, but not suspiciously. At length hs
said: "He Is deserter; there is much
of mystery about him; but of all the
mysteries there is none 81 very strange
as this that has now come to my ears
Tell me-" and he took the girls hand
"whst reason is there that you should
thus intercedeT
81 can not tell that now, sir" replied
the mistress a little demurely, "but il
Is good one"
Here the Count de Rochambeau look
ed very grave, but the Governor at once
said: "Pd plight my honor, sire, the
girl tells the truth. Tell me, Miss Pru.
dence, how came you to know THU
soldier?"
81 have often seen him at the oven
over there, and in passing, have chatted
with him, as have the other maidens, fol
he speaks the English tongue as we'll as
you or l."
"Was that entirely seemly" said the
count, gravely.
Mistress Prudence looked at the tall
gracious Frenchman wonderingly for an
instant, and then slowly and instinct lively
catching his meaning, said, while hel
gray eyes sparkled and the blood mount
ed to her cheeks:
"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.
DAT the oven, you say" continued
the governor; "surely there could be nc
harm in that, for Is not the oven on the
common. at the rear of the meeting.
housed" The brick oven still remains
on the common, sadly broken in and
gone to decay, but there nevertheless.
came to ask you to cause him to be
released, on my word, that he has done
nothing wrong. 1t Is unseemly to shut
such man up as prisoner for the
space of one hour"
The governor and the count exchanged
chances, and the quick eye of Mistress
Prudence saw it. With the most digni.
ded courtesy to the count, she turned
her back upon him. and going to the
governor, said: "Mr. Trumbull, you
knew me when I was q child, before this
war. Did you not see me lead the other
maids to the school house when the mes
senger from Lexington to Norwich
stopped to tell US that blood had been
shed, and did ! not suggest to the maids
that We even take our petticoats to make
the implements of war with? Do you
remember my ride to Hartford, alone
through the forests, that / might carry
to you the special dispatches that were
waiting you here from General Washing
toni"
ain truth, I remember all this, and to
your credit"
"Then have l not the right to ask a
slight fsvor?"
"But, Mistress Prudence, cannot do
what you would seek. Ny authority
extends not to the battalion of the Count
de Rochambeau."
"But you can plead with him?"
~ see, Mistress Prudence, you little
comprehend these matters, and in truth
I wot my pleadings would not avail the
half yours would"
The count listened gravely to all this.
Suddenly he said, but with infinite re-
spect, "Tell me, do you love this man p
What has that to do with it?" she
answered, strengthening up, and her gray
eyes flashing Indignation. If he de.
serves punishment I might lose him and
still suffer him to be punished. But he
does not. beg you to release him, fol
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
"Will you not beg for mel" (This to
the governor, who stood with one hand
on his oaken desk and looking very
stern, as much as to say, Il like this moi
at ALLY
81 'nnot, Mistress Prudence"
az know not what his punishment
may be. 1t is a disgrace sufficient to
have been arrested. But have here''-
and she suddenly drew from the folds oil
her dress thin packet of papers" that
which he gave me tonight, saying that
were he punished ! might keep them for
ever; were he not, might deliver them
to the Count de Rochambeau. They are
of great importance, sir, for they not
only tell who Francois Duplan is, but
certain other hints of value"
"Let me see them, child" said the
count, starting forward.
"Not until you promise; and I will
tell you, Furthermore, that on your writ
ten order for his release, will kiss you
as might my father"
"Verily," said the count, "those ar,
but other words, the meaning of which
il the Affirmative answer to the question
put to you. Then do you love tn,
soldier?"
"That is impudence, sir. Ihave no
said 40. Maybe in your country womel
can do nothing unless the motive of low
be imputed. 1t is not 80 here, as MI
Trumbull well knows"
"YOu are a brave maid" said tn
Count de Rochambeau, "and you shall
have your wish. Now let me have tn
papers"
With Ibis Mistress Prudence rushe,
from the room, the governor and coun
staring at her in amszement. Present.,
she returned, looking demure, sly ant
wondrous pretty.
az have put the papers where the,
are safe, sir. Tomorrow when I have
seen Mr.. Duplan and he tells me that h,
is relieved from duress and disgrace,