Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-10-13
AN AWKWARD PREDICaMENT.

L was dining one evening with nv
friend Pascal. and. as we sat over our
wine, he mentioned that he had lust re-
turned from Stra>5ourG, where his atteil-
ton had been directed to the extensive
Notifications The Germans had erected
since the city had come into their hands.
From this subject the conversation di-
verged to the Franco-prussian war, and
Pascal said:
'By-the-bye. was in Paris during the
Commune. and on one occasion met with
rather curious adventure"
"What was it?'' Inquired
81 will tell you,' he replied. "You
are aware that the firm of which | am a
member has extensive dealing with vari-
Gus French commercial houses Shortly
after the siege of Paris was over, | went
there. and had not been in the city more
than a week or ten days before the in
surrection which resulted in the estab-
lshment of the Commune broke out.
After the Versailles troops had made
themselves masters of Paris, hundreds of
unfortunate wretchcs were ruthlesSlv
snot, but little trouble being taken to
discriminate between the guilty and the
innocent. For several days it was not
safe to venture into the streets: but at
last made my way to the local prefcct-
ure and obtained a pass to leave the city.
On the following evening, at the railway
station, | found that each passenger 8
passport was subjected to rigid scrutiny
Mine, however, being perfectly en- rcgie,
/ was allowed, alter only brief interru-
CATION. to pass on to the platform. |
took seat in coupe, the only other oc-
cupant of which WAS a lady dressed in
deep mourning. She was a tall and
rather good-looking woman. l bowed
slightly on entering the carriage, as is
the custom in France. but no word was
spoken by either of us for some little
time. Presently my travelling companion
took out her watch. A slight exclama-
ton of vexation escaped her, and, turn
ing TO me. she said:
''Pardon, Monsicur-can you inform
me what o'clock it is? l find that my
watch has stopped"
''Just twenty minutes past nine,
madame"
"After brief pause, she said:
"Monsieur is English is it not SOP"
Snow l rather pique myself upon the
correctness of my accent, SO | was
slightly annoyed at the speakers ready
conclusion that l was n foreigner.
therefore simply bowed. With French.
woman's intuitive tact, my companion,
perceiving that my amour pr0pre was
hurt. hastencd to add:
"Monsieur speaks our language adj
mirably, and his accent is. if may be
permitted to say so, thoroughly Partisan.
But there is slight intonation which
led me to believe that he was a for.
eigner."
1 could not resist the compliment, and
replied, smiling:
"Madamc iatters me ~
There was silence between us for q
few moments; and then my companion
Said. rather abruptly, rs thought:
"Monsieur, may venture to solicit 9
favor at your hands?"
''lf madame will indicate the nature
Of the service she requires of me-" | re.
piled. guardedly, II will inform hel
whether or not it be in my power tC
render it,"
at is simply, Monsieur, that, if when
the train stops at any station, we are in.
terrogatcd. you will have the goodness to
declare that | am lady well known tC
you and travelling under your escort. "
"But, madame" began with sur
prise, when she interrupted me by say
ing:
Monsieur, you netM be under no ap-
prchensions that you will compromise
yourself by acceding TO my request, 1t
must appear TO you an extraordinary
one. admit, but reasons | am not at
liberty to explain render it desirable for
me not TO be supposed to be travelling
alone
.'But You would have travelled so had
mot by pure chance entered this COM
partment." said.
That is true; and it is most fortu-
nate accident which has given me mon
sieur for fellow traveller" was the quick
response.
l reflected moment before | again
spoke. and made shrewd guess at the
motives which hal actuatcd my fair
companion in making the proposition
she had Just addressed to me. She ap-
peared a resolute, determined woman,
and it was, L thought. more than pos
sible that she had played a part during
the Commune which rendered it absO-
lutely essential to her safety that she
should escape from France. Chance
having thrown us together, the idea had
evidently struck her that, by represent
ing herself as lady under the escort of
an Englishman. suspicion would be less
likely to attach to her than if she were
found travelling alone. In any case |
could not see that ran any very serious
risk by acceding to her request, so l
replied:
Il will do what you require of me,
madame, relying upon your promise that
no ill consequences will arise from my
compliance"
II thank you most sincerely for your
HeYr nreat kindnoca Mnnsiar - WaS the