The Portland daily press., 1886-07-02

| cal editor of LIE Temps had just struck
terrible blow at Prince Charles in the neigh
borhood of Evreux Durand offered us this
good news for our New Years present. Vic
| tor brought hare which he had trapped be-
yond the Notifications. AS to the captain,
he presented Nine. Durand with bag Of
marrons glaces in a Uhlan's helmet.
Madame" said he, magnifcently, 81 am
sorry did not bring in it the head of its
owner"
"What?" cried Nine. Durand, almost
speechless with emotion; did you kill
him?"
SAY, to get this bonbon box. madame-a
performance which, make bold to say,
would not have been attempted by many
men,"
Twill pass over the recital of this adyen-
ture, of which you may be sure our Bombas-
ties did not spare us the smallest detail.
Crouched down behind cask, he had
watched for, surprised and knocked down
the wearer of the cap, a solitary sentinel
and had strangled him in order not to arouse
the attention of the enemy by using his re-
volver! What poor showing the hare,
strangled, too, made beside this glorious tri-
uphmi
''Well," said 1, 81 would not think of ri
valing such herolas the captain; but also
have my little surpripe. But it has not yet
arrived, and hope you will dine without
waiting for it,"
We sat down to table, and very pleasant
dinner it was. We had just reached the cof-
fee, when a servant informed us that an ar
tilleryman had just deposited my present in
the drawingroom. Repairing thither, we
found the object on the table wrapped in
bright-colored paper and tied up with gay
ribbons.
"What in the world can it be?" asked
Nine. Durand.
Don't try to guess, my dear madame; it
is bombshell."
"a bombshell?
'Durand has often expressed to me de-
sire to possess bomshell, one that has
seen service and at my request my friend
Roland, commandant of a battery, has sent
me this. 1t is from the Avron 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,' l am de-
lighted. shall hang it up in my study"
"But," objected Nine. Durand, 'if it has
not gone Off"
sob. have no fear 1t was understood that
Roland would only send it to me empty and
harmless. However, there is letter accom-
panying ii"
opened the letter. and was about to read
it aloud, but at the first line my face began to
one cried:
"What'S the natter"
"Great heavensp'-I have-listen," and
read
DEAR FRIEND-Here is the bombshell you de-
sired. But have been unable to find an artillery
man who knows how to unload it. Send It to the
armorer in the Passage de POpera, who will fix it
for you perfectly. But warn you to take great
precautions; not the least shock not the faintest
Friction for If yon strike it with even a sheet of
paper it will explode. Yours, as ever,
Roland.
/ was interrupted by cries of fright.
sob, take it away!' cIied Nine. Durand.
"Oh, this is terrible! A bombshell in my
housed"
''For heavens sake" said I, raising my
hand warningly, "be calm! Do not be
frightened; the artilleryman who brought
it shall take it away"
''But, sir" said the servant, who stood
trembling in the doorway, ''the artilleryman
has gone"
"Then," said !, sit is who must"
81 forbid you'll" 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, crying:
mo, no, not you. 1t is too dangerous. Not
you"
''This," said Durand sis work for strong
soldier. Happily, the captain is here
"I?" said the captain, uneasily.
eyes: you are as strong aa bull, and be-
sides, you are used to these dreadful imple-
ments of war. You play with cannon balls
and bombshells as a schoolboy does with
his tops and marbles"
"But-but, pardon me" said the captain,
who grew slightly pale, ''a bombshell, you
see-er-hum. Can we not wait until to-
morrow, and have it taken away then?"
Tomorrow" cried Nine. Durand. ''Why, |
couldn't close my eyes the whole night. l
would rather go to hotel"
Here Victor stepped forward:
'Do not put yourself to so much trouble l
beg" said he. Il will take the bombshell |
away"
"Youiare mad, my boy" cried Durand |
stopping him. "Just off a sick bed, and |
with your wounded armI Do you want to |
bring the house down about your ears?"
"Let it be, Victor" said l. 'thiS is no |
work for a sick man.
''But it is just the task for the captain
continued Durand. 81 will confde 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 atsuch trit1e.
"You are right" said he, smiling uneasily; |
"this sort of thing is in my line l was |
about to say, however, when you interrupted |
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 the 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 restaurant. L will ask him to |
lend it me. He is an old friend of mine; so the |
matter is settled. Just let me buckle on my |
belt, and shall be back here in ten minutes, |
or a quarter of an hour at the outside,
ely, them" said Nine. Durand Il shall |
scarcely dare to breath while you are gone"
81 shall run, my dear madame" So say
ing, the captain took his plumed shake, his |
cloak, and fastened from the room. And |
from the way he bounded down the steps it |
was evident that he was in hurry.
| returned to the drawing room, which |
was still all CONSERVATION. Nine. Durand |
vacillated between desire to fly and curios-
ity to examine the bombshell. AS if unin-
tentionally, 1 looked out into the street
which was brightly lighted up by the full
moon.
SIT was a very simple matter to let me take
it away" murmured Victor.
"Tut, tut!' replied Durand, surprised at
the young mans quiet courage. 1T is bet
ter that the captain should do it"
''Let us hope" said Nine. Durand, "that