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

again, | thought Matilda foolishly weak
and compliant. To have taken the hovs
out of school fifteen days before the end of
the school year, and to have taken them
with her to Fleur Marie-here it occurred
to me to inquire for my telegram, and M.
Jacques, with notable change of manner
brought it to me on salvar, observing
that it had arrived just after ''madame0
left, the day before. 1t was still sealed
and | opened and read it. Yes, there IL
was, exactly as had dictated it; swirl
come straight through to Bougaud. Do not
come to Fleur Marie"
Tossing the telegram on table, once
more signifed that my luggage must be
carried upstairs. But, to my surprise. [
again met with some resistance. Michel
Immediately resumed the plant-pottinp
with assiduity, the maid began to rub a
table with her apron and Jacques had the
impertineuce to look at the cook for guild
ance. while that audacious woman again
murmured something about "Mees Betsee, -
1t was really too annoying, and | per-
ceived that the time to assert my authority
had come. With bland firmness removed
the frying-pan from the cooks hand and
substituted my dressing-bag. Then turn
ing to the men | said, in tones which Iusu-
ally reserve for the quarter deck: take
that luggage up-stairsW
No sooner said than done. In far less time
than it takes to write it we We're moving
upstairs, a procession of five. The cook
led the way with my dressing bag, the maid
followed with the other packages, then
came Messieurs jacques and Michel With
the trunks, and | brought up the rear. This
was all as it should be, butatthe head of the
stairs there was an unexpected halt. Phat
cook had the impertinence in my sery
presence to look at the maid and say,
obviously, that she did not know, in lees
Betsee's absence, what room to put msysn
She spoke in French, but understood her.
| took one step forward, one stride.
fixed that woman with my eye, and she
quailed. / struck myself upon the breast,
and again i'll quarterback tones | shouted:
".NOj, le mari; Ia Chdmbre de mddGme~
The cook silently threw open the door,
and in we marched. 1t was large room,
with beautiful floor of inlaid woods, all
in the highest state of polish, blue silk
curtains yelled in white muslin, and a
general air of luxury which rather alarmed
me, as ! thought of the probable rent. A
long window opened on one of those deep,
covered balconies which are such a charm
ing feature in Swiss chalets, and this bal
cony was shaded by gay striped awning,
and furnished with a couple of easy chairs
and a low table. 1t looked very comfort
able, but, in examining the room | missed
certain little familiar articles which had
always accompanied us mall our Journeys.
There was, i'll short, an austere look about
everything. And where was Matilda's
work. basket? And all the pretty little
pincushions and pin-boxes which she
always had on her toilette table? As |
turned away from the toilette table, how
ever, my eye fell upon a familiar object.
There in corner, hanked by the proper
array of Turkish towels and sponges, stood
the patent bath-tub, yawning as cheerfully
as ever in its huge chocolate saucer. l had
l. 10,
was really like the face OF an old friend,
and the big scarlet monogram M. ID. g.
looked altogether home-like. [ at once
ordered the maid and cook to bring plenty
of hot water, while jacques unpacked my
clothes, and whils, the bath was in course
of preparation amused myself with ex-
ploring Matilda's drawers and wardrobes.
/ saw that this exploration struck terror
into the heart of the maid, and it amused
me not a little to observe her alarmed
looks.
1t rather annoyed me, however, to find
that all Matilda's ribbons and rosettes and
pretty little caps and cravats had been re-
placed by prim linen collars and cuffs,
plain squares of muslin for the head, and
so on. All the dresses hanging in the
wardrobe were black-a color which
particularly dislike. "Confound itp |
thought, with some irritation, as l opened
a wardrobe in the corner of the room, and
again found nothing but black garments.
"Confound it! !" [ said to my self. "What
crotchet has Matilda got in her head now
She knows L detest black clothes, and
always have"
At this juncture the cook and maid in
formed me that the bath was ready, and
Jacques pointed to the bed, upon which he
had arranged all my belongings in neat
piles. Now there were three bureaus in
the room, and | had examined them all
and found them full of feminine belong
ings. This had rather annoyed me, as |
thought Matilda ought to have been con-
siderate enough to have prepared one of
them for me, knowing as she did that it is
one of my hobbies to unpack and get in
order at once. And then these Swiss SER
wants were SO impertinent. They evident
ly thought that the master of the house
was of no consequence at all. Well, |
would give them one more lesson. And
leading the cook and maid to the bureau [
had chosen, informed them that madame's
things must be taken out and mine put in.
Again signs of dismay and resistance were
manifested, and the cook once more prof
fered remark about "Mees Betsee," which
L telgned not to hear, as | swept one
drawer empty with a single movement of
my hand, and commanded Jacques to fill it
with my belongings.
am an orderly man, prompt and accus-
Jolleu 10 commands; and L confess 1T gave
me pleasureable emotion to see those
three rebellious servitors on the ground,
each with drawer (for, to facilitate mat
tiers, had ordered the drawers taken out
and put on the fioor,) and busily arranging
things under my direction. In less than
ten minutes the bureau was arranged and
''madame's" belongings put in another
bureau, and | was alone. / had ordered
the cook to prepare me an omelet and q
dqtech duG pOnlmeS de teITe: | had also
commanded pint of claret and cafe noir.
Then began my toilette with all the en-
Joyment of man who has been travelling
uninterruptedly for four DAYS and nights.
found the bath-tuh delightfully."- comfort
able and resolved to tell Matilda that |
fully appreciated her good sense in pur-
chasing it. When thoroughly sOidne and
equipped l rang for my breakfast and
stepped out upon the balcony. 1t was de.
llghtfully cool and comfortable there. an
when jacques appeared with the tray [
ordered him to put it on the table beside
me. He fingered moment as if anxious
to say something but apparently thought
better of it, and departed. The breakfast
was delicious and by the time had taken
my coffee and lit my cigar any slight irri-
| tatlon L had felt had quite passed awav.
and was able to laugh heartily over the
conduct of the servants. Matilda had evi.
IDENTIFY engaged them with the house; and
the house, concluded, must belong To
some English old maid-evidently the
| Mees Betsee of whom the cook stood Ga
much III awe, and who was probably most
exacting about her furniture. Weli-and |
glanced about me complacently-she was