Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-10-13
VOL. XXII.---NO. AZ.

un . Ne i.H"!lri me >ttilon.
Wh'.n the train stopped perceived
>"Ncr:l! il2ii in the uniform of the !'rcnch
i'1iic; upon the platform. and u6.crved
t.i2t they went M 10 one carrIsc.. after
another and int"rroratrd Ia. occupants.
As they were approaching the onr in
/ Whica we We're. my fair companion sud
denly chan rrd her seat for the one nest
I" ihin", threw her arm round nv ncrk,
ami rested her head lovingly upon NV
shoulder. | was dumb with a,tonish-
m"nt AMI modification Il. this. rs con-
sIter''d ii Il mos; outrageous pro .cc,iinr.
and was cnd"aN Orin~ 10 free myself from
the unwe."omc embrace. when one of
the oilciai' cam" up to the door OF the
comparl mrnt. and. pcrcciyin@. as he
/ supposed. the ailrctionatr relations ex-
l>llng between the lady and myself, said
! politely. but with an irOncal smile:
" Pardon. Monsieur. DO not disturb
YOURSELF Then. turning to his com
rai">: he added: - lie whom we seek is
clearly not there
Here WAS nice situation for hus-
! band and the father of Il family? No
sooner had We resumed our journey than
| said. with considerable indignation:
Z" am surprised at your conduct.
madame. accepted in goo faith Your
assurance that you wouli moi compro-
! mise me; but You have done so, and
most seriously. If the knowledge of
| what has occurred were To reach nv
wife ! should never hear The last of it,"
. Monsieur is married them" was the
quiet reply. the speaker appearing
amused rather than ashamed.
&" am rejoincd, briefly.
Monsieur" said my companion.
after brief pause, in Il graver tone:
II am under too serious an obligation
to vou To permit that YOU should remain
under a miSapprehcn>;un which causes
you lncaSiness can afford voua very
simple explanation of what, at present,
! appears an ineXcusable indiscrotion'
Tndecdr'
'les. Convinced that | am speak
in" to Il man of honor and gentleman
incapable of betraving me, Twill frankly
contidc TO you that am not, as YOU sup
! pose. woman"
Not Il womanr' l exclaimed. with
aStoni~hmcnt not unmiXed with in
crcduliiy.
NO. [ have assumed this dress to
facilitate my escape from Paris. Briefly,
monsieur, the circumstances are these |
held commission as Colonel of ali In
fantry regiment during the Commune.
and, although had no share in the cx-
ceSscs by which it was diSGraced. the
mere fact that had been in its service
would he sufficient to seal my fate were
| to fall into the hands of the existing
Government. For some days past had
been concealed in the house Of nv sister,
This morning she applied for and OBJ
tanned pass authorizing her TO leave
| the city. This, as arranged. she handed
to me: and. armed with il and clad in fe-
male attire. l succeeded thi, cyenin.. in
evading the vigilance of the authorities.
The attitude assumed toward You, and
for which | apologize, was the inspira-
ton of the moment, when | perceived
that the passengers were being examined.
As judged that it would Iisar,n sus-
picion. Hitherto my disguise has served
me well; and. if you will only permit me
at Calais to represent myself rs u lady
under your escort, l have every hope of
being able to reach England in safety"
did not like this proposition at all
1t might prove very serious matter for
me were my companion arrested, since
l should find myself most probably
charged with being accessory to the
escape from justice of n notorious Com
munist. Yet. on the other hand, to re-
fuse might cause the sacrifice of the poor
fellows life. After few minutes de-
liberation therefore. said:
"f YOU will give me your word of
honor that, in the event of your falling
into the hands of the authorities. YOU wnl
under no circumstances reveal the fact
that am aware ofyour real character, |
will render YOU all the assistance in my
power"
THAT is fair" was the reply; and |
pledge you my word as Frenchman
and a soldier that | will exactly observe
the condition you have imposed
''NOthing more was said on the sub
iiect, and we arrived ut Calais without
aught having occurred to cause us un-
sasiness. After a brief detention at the
pier while our passports were being ex-
amined, we walked on board the mail
boat together, my companion leaning
affectiOnately upon my arm. 1t was a
relief to my mind, and must have been
still more so to his, when, at last, the
| packet cast loose from the shore and
fairly started on her voyage across the
Channel. When we arrived at Dover.
the ex-Colonel, after warmly thanking
me for the service | had rendered him.
bade me adieu; and and l have never
seen him since" ."-Famiiy Herald