The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-17


ticipations. At the last momenB my leave
had been extended to the LIST OF October, so
that had a month more than Ihad ventured
To hone for. | knew nothing of Switzer-
land, and was resolved to make the most OF
my time. Ihad arranged ITO meet my wife
and daughters at Fleur Marie, small vii
lace some thirty miles south of Bougaud,
which was said to be very picturesque, and
where we were to dine and spend the night;
but as journeyed northward | felt more
and more pity for the poor boys, who would
not be free until the 18th of July, and | re-
solved to make no expeditions without
them. Twas confirmed in this resolve by a
piteous letter from Geoff, the eldest, which
had been put into my hand just before leav-
ing the ship, and which | had forgotten to
read until well advanced on my journey.
In this letter was entreated ''to wait for
Phil and me. You know, papa" proceeded
the letter, "that the girls usually have all
the larks, and Phil and l have to grind
away at this disgusting school nearly ten
months of the year. Do promise to let us
go everywhere with you all this summer,
and please wait until we come home before
you have any larks." Who could resist
such plea as this? Not /, certainly. |
have always been absurdly indulgent to
my children; so, on finishing Geoff's letter,
| at once resolved to defer the visit to Fleur
Marie, and jumping out at the next railway
station, | ran to the telegraph office.
"1rOis minutes settlement, monsieur"
called fellow-passenger, as he saw where
| was going.
"Dcpechez uouS, monsieur" exclaimed
the telegraph operator, as he hastily
pushed me u form and pen and ink. No
one, | suppose, can have lived to be thirty
years old without having observed the
total depravity in the behavior of inanimate
things when one is in hurry, and espe-
cially when one is told to hurry. l had on a
new pair of gloves with patent clasps. Do
what would, could not unfasten the in
fernal things, nor could | write in gloves.
The telegraph operator saw my distress
and proposed to write from my dictation,
so | hastily dictated few words.
"AteRdez, mOHSieatr," said the man,
when, having paid him, prepared to rush
for the train. Let me read it to you, that
| may see whether it is all right"
Itswas all right, fortunately (the man I'M
restdood English,) and | journeyed on in
complete peace of mind. At about noon
the following day l reached my destina-
ton. [ was rather annoyed at not finding
my wife and the girls at the railway sta
ton, but | had no difficulty in finding a
fiacre, and on telling the man to drive
to Madame Gilbert's, | was relieved
to find from his mods and smiles that the
name was known to him. | thought that
sent this especial carriage to meet me, and
that she and the girls were probably pre-
pairing a triumphal arch in honor of my ar
rival. In about ten minutes we arrived at
the gate of Il large and very swell chalet,
which was surrounded by flower beds and
fountains, and adorned by the gayest
striped awnings imaginable. 1t was very
pretty and luxurious, but it looked terribly
expensive. The fiacre stopped at the gate,
which OplN- pnpIlp1 n Ialo,-
and then there was long parley with Il
smart maid who finally advanced to the
carriage and demanded who | was.
This was u pretty way of welcoming q
man after eight months of separation!
"Where- OF est mdddme?" | inquired,
collecting all my packages together, and
beginning to be very angry.
A food of French followed. in which
could only distinguish three words-'mad-
ame,' "fille," and "Fleur Marie" 1t was
enough, however. [ at once comprehend
ed that everything had gone wrong, that
my wife and the girls had gone to Fleur
Marie, and that in some ineXplicable man.
ner my telegram had gone astray. The
maid seemed by no means ready to receive
the packages which l handed out, and
again, though rather more diffidently than
before, inquired who | was.
This was toOmuch. ',Je Suis 7e n{Gitre
lie SuiS monsieur Monsieur gilbert, lie mari
de ndddme," | Numbered, ordering the
driver of the fiacre to set down my trunks
within the gateway, and piling NV umbrel-
las, shawl straps, etc, in the maids arms.
She received them in silence, looIingrather
blank and frightened, so much frightened
indeed, that when [ had paid the driver,
and the gate was closed, | turned to her
with all my usual urbanity, and pointing
to the luggage, inquired if there were no
men on the premises. ! am not at all elo-
quent i'll French, confess that, but it took
me at least ten minutes to make the stupid
woman understand what | meant. When
she did at length comprehend that the lug
gage must be carried up to the house she
looked more dismayed than ever, and MUIR
INJURED something about Jacques and Michel
then Signified that Jacques and Michel
must at once take hold of the trunks and
bring them up to the house, and myself
walked toward the open door. Standing
just within it, his hands in his pockets, his
wide mouth distended in a broad grin was
the most impudent-looking young fellow
ever saw. He was dressed in livery-act-
ually in livery chocolate colored coat and
shorts, red and white striped waistcoat and
stockings, and his coat was adorned with
bright buttons, on each of which was EN-
blaZoned huge q. | thought this a most
unnecessary expense, and altogether alb
surd of Matilda. but the mans manner so
irritated me that | determined to take him
in hand without delay. "rake your hands
out of your pockets, sir" said, sternly
pointing to the offending members as |
entered the hall. | had spoken in. English
but my manner was significant enough
and the grin disappeared from the fellows
countenance as be Obeyed, while a sulky
old man in shirt sleeves, who was putting
plants in the bow-window of the hail, sud,
denly removed his hat and laid it on chair
beside him.
Are you Jacques and Michel?" / con-
tinued, still in English, so delighted was
and bring up my luggage;" and pointing
to the gate and the luggage, / indicated in
pantonime what was to be done.
But at this juncture a stout, red-faced
female, arrayed in dark blue calico, and
wearing white Golf on her head, appeared
at side door, She held frying-pan or
some such culinary utensil in her hand,
ana really thought she was going to at
tack me with it, so fierce was her manner.
She poured forth a flood of French, but
amid all her angry eloquence | could only
distinguish ''mdddme," "des tongues an.
nees," and continual illusions to a certain
"Mees Betsee, Mees Betsee"
"Confound Miss Betsey!" I said at last
IN good plain English. "What do | care
for Mees Betsee? Hold your tongue, my
good woman" Then, abruptly Changing
to French, l said, in my sternest tones
''Je SuIs.. monsieur, le mari, mari d.
madame"
1t was very strange, but the fat. red
faced creature started, looked at me nerv.
ously, and turned quite pale. Monsieur
jacques 1.-THE young fellow in liyery)
| looked thundar-sf,.1cly