Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-20


and besides you are used TO these
dreadful implements Of war. You
play with cannon-balls and bombshells
IS = school-boy does with bis tops and
msrbles
sBnt-but pardon me. said the Cap
tain. who grew slightly pale, 8 bomb
shell, you see--er-hum, Can we not
wait until tomorrow, and have 1t
taken then2'
Tomorrow cried Nine. Dursnd.
sWhy, / couldn't close my eyes the
whole night. | would rather 90 to a
hotel
Here Victor stepped forward:
do not put Yourself TO so much
trouble, beg, said he. 4 will take
the bomb-shell away
You are mad, my boy, cried Du-
rand, stopping him, Just of sick.
bed, and with your wounded armI Do
you want to bring the house down
about our ears?' ,
Let 1t be, Victor, said /, 'this is no
work for sick man.
But it is just the task for the Cap
tain,' continued Durand. 4 will con-
fide it to no one but him. Come, Cap
tain, 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 trifle.
You are right, said he, smiling
uneasily; this sort of thing is in my
line. | was about to say, however,
when you interrupted me just now,
that it would be dangerous for man
on foot to carry it. The sidewalks are
slippery, and q single false step in the
street would be enough to blow to
pieces ten men. To take it away in q
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. I 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 I shall
be back here in ten minutes, or quar-
ter of an hour at the outside.
Fly, them said Mime. Durand. 4
shall scarcely dare to breathe while
you are gone
i shall run, my dear madam So
saying, the Captain took his plumed
shake, his cloak, and hastened from
the room. And from the way he
bounded down the steps it was evident
that he was ina hurry.
| returned to the drawing-room,
which was still ell consternation.
Nine. Durand vacillated between de-
sire to fly and curiousity to examine
the bomb she'll. AS if unintentlonally,
/ looked out into the street, which was
brightly lighted up by the full moon.
1t was very simple matter to let
me take it away murmured Victor.
Tut. tutl' cried Durand, surprised
at the young mans quiet courage. 1T
is, better that the Captain should do
lit'
Let us hope, said Nine. Durand,
that he will not keep us waiting long.
Not keep us waiting long, dear
madamel said I, gayly, You may
rest assured he will. For he will not
come back
He will not come back2'
Most assuredly not. To 20 to Bre-
bant's restaurant he should take the
road to the right, while he went the
other way, and fast enough he was 60
ing, too
Good graciousl What does that
mean?
That means, friend Durand, that
your Captain is ia Dragging cur, and
that I have unmasked the batteries Of
such q scoundrel in favor of such an
estimabIe young man.
And taking q photograph album,
struck it violently on the cap Of the
bomb-shell, which burst into q thous-
and pieces--of chocolate. It was
made Of chocolate and sllowered over
the Carpet fuscilade Of sugar plums,
candies and nuts!
A shout Of laughter followed the
explosion
It is perhaps needless to state that
Victor and Gertrude were married aa
soon as the war was over.
It is also probably needless to state
that the Captain has never returned s..
Translated from the French for the
Argonaut. Il
|
| Horse Notes.