Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-20

cations. As to the captain, he presented
Nine. Durand with a bag OF marrons
glaces in Uhlan's helmet.
Madame said he magnihcently -!
am sorry did not bring in it the head Of
its owner"
WHAT" cried Nine. Durand, almost
speeches. with emotion; Ibid you XIII
him?
"Ay, to get this bonbon box, madam,
a performance which. make cold to say
would not have been attempted by MANY
men,"
| will pass over the recital of this ad-
venture, of which you may be sure our
Bombastes did not spare US the smallest
detail. Crouched down behind a cask he
had watched tor, surprised and knocked
down the wearer OF the cap, solitary
sentinel, and had strangled him in order
not to arouse the attention OF the enemy
BY using his revolver! What a poor show
ing the hare, strangled, too, made beside
this glorious triumph!
"Wel." said |, II would not think OF
rivaling such hero as the captain; but
also have my little surprise. But it has
not yet arrived, and hope you will dine
without waiting for it,
We sat down to table, and very pleas
ant dinner it was. We had just reached
the coffee, when a servant informed Us
that an artillery man had just deposited
my present in the drawing room. Re-
pairing thither, we found the object on
the table, wrapped in bright-colored paper
and tied no with gay ribbons.
"What in the world can it be ?" asked
Nine. Durand.
'Don't try to guess, my dear madam;
1t is bombshell."
"A bombshell ?'
''Durand has often expressed to me
desire to possess bombshell one that
has seen service, and at my request my
friend Roland, commandant of a bat
terv, has sent me this. 1t is from the
Akron plateau, where it fell, but failed to
explode"
As | spoke | united the blue ribbon,
took off the paper, and the bombshell
appeared, black, sinister and menacing.
my dear fellow" said Durand, 81 am
delighted. | shall hang it up in my
study"
But" objected Nine, Durand, eff it
has not gone OFF,
"Oh. have no fear. 1t was understood
that Roland would only send 1t to me
empty and harmless. However, there is
a letter accompanying it"
| opened the letter and was about to
read it aloud, but at the first line my face
began to express surprise, then anxiety,
when everyone cried:
Whats the matter?"
Great heavens II have-listen," and
read:
DEAR FRIEND-Here is the bombshell
you desired. But have been unable to
find an artilleryman who knows how to
unload it. Send it to the armorer in the
Passage de l'Opera. who will fix it for you
perfectly. But | warn you 10 take great
precautions not the least shock, not the
faintest friction, for if you strike it with
even sheet of paper it will explode.
Yours as ever, ROLAND.
was interrupted by cries of fright.
'.Oh, take it away" cried Nine. Du-
rand. "Oh, this is terrible? A bomb.
shell in my housed"
.'For heavens sake" said |, raising my
hand warningly, "be calm Do not be
fri ghtened; the artilleryman who brought
it shall take it away"
"But. SIR" said the servant, who stood
trembling in the door, "the artilleryman
has gone"
"Ihen," said I. ait is who must"
Il forbid you P'' cried Durand. You
are not strong enough to carry it. You
would let it fall on the way-perhaps on
the stairs, or even in this room"
Nine. Durand threw herself on me, cry
ing "No, no, not you. 1t is too danger
GUS Not YOU"
This" said Durand, sis work tor a
strong soldier. Happily, the captain is
here
81 ?' said the captain, uneasily.
Eyes; you are as strong as bull, and
besides, you are used to these dreadful i'm
plements of war You play with cannon
balls and bombshells as schoolboy does
with his tops and marbles"
"But-but, pardon me-" said the cap.
tain, who grew slightly pale, "a bomb
shell, you see-er-hum. Can we not
wait until tomorrow, and have it taken
away then ?'
morrow" cried Nine. Durand.
"Why, couldn't close my eyes the whole
night. would rather 60 to hotel"
Here Victor stepped forward:
''Do not put yourself to so much trouble,
beg" said he. Il will take the bomb
shell away"
"You are mad, my boy" cried Durand,
stopping him. Just of sick bed. and
with your wounded arm! Do you want to
bring the house down about your ears?"
LET it be, Victor said I, "this is no
work for a sick man."
''But it is just the task for the captain. ~
continued Durand II will confide it to no
one but him. Come. captain, be quick
Pick up the monster and deliver us from
this nightmare.
The captain did not like the situation.
that was evident. But he was not the man
to be disconnected at such triie. =
You are right" said he, smiling uneas-
lily; this sort of thing is in my line.
was about to say. however. when you in
terrupted me Just now, that it would be
dangerous for a man on foot to carry it.
The sidewalks are slippery, and single
false step in the street would be enough to
blow to pieces ten men. To take it away
in carriage is the only reasonable way.
General Lefevre. who brought me to your
door in his carriage is dining at Brebant's,
and his carriage is in front of the restau-
rant. will ask him to lend it me. He is
an old friend of mine; so the matter is set.
tied. Just let me buckle on my belt, and
| shall be back here in ten minutes, or a
quarter of an hour at the outside.n
Fly, them" said Nine. Durand. 81
shall scarcely dare breathe while YOU are