The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-13

him with cowardice. With what noble indignation the latter pointed out that if ltha EAfaAts Perdus had taken part in the gagemens things would have turned out differently. Thereupon, warming with the subject, he drew the plan ot A sortie, including the passage ot the Oiss, the march upon Rouen. AAd the triurn- pAal arrival at Haue 90 graphically as to excite Dutailly to the highest pitch of en- th usiASm. And this wAile the poor Ana tole, humiliaied. was still suffering in st. lence nom his unhealed wound.
 The next day he was feverisA, kept hts bed. and tor several weeks was absent from tho table. The captain lost DO time in inErAtiasing himself with the charming Gertrude. The day that Aratole re- turned to us, thinner than ever, it seemed to me that the young ladyS eyes were red as the consequence of some wordy skirmish between herself and her mother, who was nov more than ever Infatuated with her Robillard. l thought h was about time to interfere in behalf st these poor children. lt was. in fact, the last Sunday ot the year, and the conversation naturally turned upon New Years Day, which was to be observed as family feast.
 Parbleu! Dear Mme Dutailly," cried the captain, !" must give you a surprise for your present."
 This gave me the idea ot preparing one on my own account.
 On tAc eventfui day Dutailly received us beaming and with open arms. The strategists of the 7s~ts had iust beaten ton pape,) Prince Charles out of hts boots in the neis hborAo cd of Evreux. Du,ailly presented us with this piece of news for our New Years gift. Ana,olc brought a rabbit which had been caught in 6 trap in the devastated island st St. Denis. As ,o tho captain hc presented to Mme. Du. tally an immense bag of matons glaees in a German helmet.
 Dear madame" said he, smiling. "is was quite possible for me to have given you the head of the owner of this helme, as we'll"
 What" cried Mmc. DntAilly, lost In admiration, "you actually killed him p'
 In order to offer you these bon bons, which are not. 1 mako free to say, within the reach of everybody
 spare my readers tho details oi the adventure, not a single one oi which, you may be sure, was omitted by this boas;eI surprised and knocked down the weaIer of tho helmet, a struggling sentinel, and had stranglod him in order not to attract the aucn,ioa of the cnemy by the uss oi his ruvolver. What sorry spectacle th ( poor, strangled rabbit made by the side of this glorious trophy
 "As for me-" said l should no, dare to enter into competition with 60 gal lAni soldiev as the captain but have my little surprise too, only It hNs not ye' arrived, and you will take my advice VIC will dine without waiting for it."
 We sat down aud our repast pr owed [ very jolly one. We were taking ceass when a servant announced that an arttl- lery man had JuI deposited my presen, in the saloon On going Into that apart ment we found the gif placed upon ta- ble wrapped in glazed paper and orns- mentes with blue ,ih0n.
 What can IL 1t be f" said Mime. Du- tally.
 Don't investigate, dear madame l, is bon Absheil'
 "A bombshelll"
 
 to me hs wish 10 have a bombshell a real ono, that had not Seea used 1, SO at my request my friend RslAnd, who com mAnds a battery. has seat me this enc from the plateau of Avron, where 1t for got to explode when |, fell. ."
 While speaking uuued the blue nb- bon, tore of the paper, and there. sure enough, was the shell-b black, sinister, menacing.
 "PArbleu |" said Du,ailly. "You do ligh, me. will have 1t made into a clock for my office"
 "But." objected Mime. Dutailiy. little Dervou,ly, fl IL has not exploded -"
 "Oa rest easy It was agreed that Roland should send IL cleaned out and empty. Here Is hts letter."
 opened a note that had been fastened to the side Of the shell and prepared te read it aloud, but my face betrayed sc much surprise and alarm that every ons exclaimed
 {" Waat's the matter
 " Mon Disu l-that is listep, and read
 for-oniy t wAS impossible fDf me 10 had aI attilsTynaa who knew how Co eEfAet ths load. Have II taken 10 the Eunsmth's "a in ths PassaRe de Opera, who does this s,' col work very clsvsry. Hut ths greatest cautiss @uu be used-not the sliEh est shock CT fro uon--'er the thickness si A sheet oi pspsi would not
 ~as interrupted by cries Of alarm.
 "Take it awaS take it awsy!' cried Mae Dutaiily. 1t IS dreadful to have a bombsheii in ny salos."
 Be calm" said stretching ou, my hand. Be calm. There Is ne cause ios alarm. The ar,illeryman who brough, |, can take 1t a~ay sgain"
 ' Bat, mossieuT." said the tTembliE | servant coming into the room, the mAn has gooe"
 Flesh coasters ation.
 Then" said l, "It h for me"
 forbid t.' eagerly exclaimed Mime Dutailiy. " You arc not strong enough to cary it. You would let it fall on the way- on the SaiTc as<. in the ysytibule or