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

| meet my lady, hand l shall say to Ter:
Madam, know you are an honest woman;
but, ma'am, 'ere's master come, and gone
up to your very room, ma'am. Yes,
| ma'am, there e his, ma'am. Hand saws
'e's your husband, hand that you've been
| eXpectin' of i'm, ma'am. Hand there e
| his, ma'am, lord of all 'e surveys, ma'am.
| o, I've been that put about Mr.. Sims, sir,
| that l.don't know whether Pm on my 'ead
or my 'eels, sir" Here the prim female
| burst into loud sobs, and hastily opening
she gate, seized the arm of the reluctant
Mr.. Sims, and nodding farewell to the
cook, walked away.
'Strange !" soliloquized, as l walked to
the edge of the balcony and lit another
cigar-"strange that Mees Betsee, whoever
| she is, should not have trained her servants
| better than this GosSiping Mt the gate,
under the very nose of the master of the
house" Here | looked sternly at the cook,
who Immediately retreated toward the
| back of the chalet For some time | stood
smoking and looking at the landscape, then
drowsiness overpowered me again, and
retreated to the easy-chair, and puttingmy
feet up on the one opposite me, was soon
| asleep.
"Qu eteS rouS, mOnSieur?"
Was | dreamingI At any rate, my posi-
| ton was too comfortable to be I'elinquished
without a struggle, so murmured, without
opening my eyes, "What do you say"
"Who, sair, air you"
The words were English, the accent
French, the tones glacial. But, still van
| pushed by drowsiness, | murmured, "Je
suiS lie mari de mddGme."
"No, sair, that you air not. And I de-
mand again, who, sair, air you?"
This time there could be no mistake. This
was no dream, but dreadful reality.
started to my feet, and beheld standing
| opposite to me a tall and severe looking
lady, aged about seventy, white-haired,
and clad in widows weeds.
| "Who, sair, air youW repeated she, in
icy tones, and with strong French accent.
''You air not my husband. He 'as been
Thirty year in his grave. For t'irty year |
mourn him. And you come 'ere, You insult
| me--D
THAT he does, ma am" exclaimed IA
miliar voice; and the English woman had
seen some time before appeared in the rear
'"E walked in 'ere as bold as brass, ma'am,
and said 'e was your husband, ma'am. Yes,
ma'am, 'ere's Anne and Jacqueline and
jacques and Michel will hall testify to it,
ma'am. And hopened your very drawers,
ma'am-"
| "Hush, my good Sairah," said the lady.
| Then, turning to me, she said, with awful
majesty: "Sair, as | tell you, l have been
1 t'irty years widow. For ten years l live
in dis house. Yesterday | leave it. | go
to visit my daughter. | take my grand
| ItUuIlts L All lllOb ny my SulI-
wants. Dey tell me, Madame, a stranger
have take possession of your house, your
room, your sairvants-all. My faithful
Betsee have live Thirty year in my house.
She know | have never cease to mourn my
Aiphonse-"
''But my wife, Madame, rented this house
| for the SUMNER" / interrupted, beginning
| to feel seriously alarmed.
"No, sair, she did not. ] have nevare
rent my house, and nevare will, )" responded
| the old lady, in stern tones. And again
| ask, sair, who air you"
"If you please, ma am, the gens-d'armes-
es is here, and Mr., Sims, and DR.. Bertrand
is a-coming directly" said that detestable
English maid, reappearing. And nodding
| insolently at me, she said: THE gems
harnesses is in the hupper 'all, sir, close at
'and, sir"
Be quiet. my good Sairah," saidthe lady.
| And turning to me, she once more re-
| peated, severely: "Who, sair, air yOu"'
"Madame," replied, earnestly, II as
sure you that thought was in my own
| house. Ny wife engaged a chalet at Bou-
gaud sur Constance, and"
| At this juncture the door opened and adj
mitted the meek little man whom | had
seen at the gate some time before, and who
now advanced with much trepidation, evil
IDENTIFY pushed by the English maid. "Dr.
Bertrand will be here in moment, ma
| DAME" he said, addressing the old lady
| with much Difference. Then turning to me,
he observed in trembling voice: "Calm
| yourself, my dear sir. | am the apothe-
cary, and if | were to send you up a sooth-
ing draught-"
| was, then, supposed to be a maniac! II
was too absurd, and | burst into roar OF
laughter, while the old lady drew herself
up haughtily and said again: "Who, sair,
| are you"
rs. |, - ..
know who 'e is" interrupted the maid
while | drew out a card, and said: Ma
dame [ am Commodore in the American
| Navy. Here is my card; and here" (and
seized my beard, which, indeed, ! am rather
proud of)-"here are my gray hairs. | am
neither mad nor inSolent, though | admit
that my conduct appears extraordinary
On my part, madame, allow me to inquire
(here handed her Laura's letter. ''where
am |, and why was my telegram received
| at your house yesterday when it was adj
| dressed to Madame GilbertW
''My name, sir" replied the lady, coldly
as she glanced at my card and Laura's let
ter, is De Ghuibert. This letter. (here she
put on her eyeglasses and inspected ii
closely) lis dated at Bougaud" (she pro
nounced it Bougo,) "and the name of this
is che result of an imperfect knowledge OF
| French"
Gin that case, madame" / replied, while
cold perspiration started from every
pore-''in that case | beg leave to retire
with a thousand apologies;" and, with a
low bow, | moved toward the door. But
my modification was not yet over. AS
left the balcony my foot caught in the san
Ger of that internal bath-tub, / stumbled
caught at the bath-tub for support, and
amid swirl and swish of soapy water
fell headlong to the ground.
The meek little apothecary and the En-
glish maid rushed to the rescue with towels
and as was being dried my eye fell on the
monogram, M. D. &.
MADAME" exclaimed, "that bath-tub
1t is peculiar one; and the monogram is
also peculiar. And my wife has one"
For the first time a smile lighted up the
austere features of Madame De Ghuibert
"That bath-tub, monsieur" she replied
twas sent me by an English friend, who
-
"If you please, ma'am, Ter ladyshiT
'erself lad one. Hand they hall ave the
same monogram, Dover Manufacturing
Company" interrupted the maid. | hao
mistaken the old English G, with its
fourishes, for G.
This was enough. | never knew how
rot out of the house, or how l found the
railway station, or how my clothes were
| extracted from Madame De Ghuibert'S
drawers and brought to me. | do know
that, in the intensity of my modification
/ left nearly hundred francs among
Madame De Ghuibert's servants, and that
4 1, 4 Nl,.,.- 70 frNy hot