, 1886-09-17
A DISPATCH BEARER.


humilia g the prids tnat man naturally
{ lkes In his ability to reason. Listen AMI
| Will relate you something hat occurred
fifteen year ago.
Toward the enc of March 1870, Comte
de Brassey, whose chateau is only ten
minutes walk from here, on the hill.
sent for me. Early left a widower, the
comte had abstained from marrying again
in order TO devote his entire time to
the education of his only daughter, Their
ese.
On my arrival the comte received me
with n del .ctei air.
My poor DOCTOR said he. "you see be-
fore you one OF the most wretched of men.
You know that | have been to Therese the
most Affection At OF fathers AMI tn, mot
devoted OF frirnls. Well, here Is my re-
wardl7
And he handed me a letter. | can repeat
1t word for word, as it remains craven in
my memory:
My BELOVED FATHEgs-I am about to
cause you intense suffering, but I am your
dau ghter and 1 should be unworthy OF
you were | to seek to conceal what | now
disclose.
II feel drawn toward God In q way l
can not resist. and have decided to devote
my life to Him. It was the wish of my
f'Nh - AAtbbARAr AANA IN ~ $3.50
designed to inspire INC with the will to
carry out her desires.
Il therefore beg you to give your con
sent to my becoming a Carmelite nun
Our short separation here Will no doubt
be painful. but the prayers of the wife in
heaven and those OF the daughter on earth
will render certain our reunion hereafter
among the elect, where we will love each
other, world without end. THEREsE."
"And what was your reply, my dear
ComteS"
Il answered that l would never be n
party to carrying out such a scheme. and
hat | would use all the authority which
the law gave me as a father to prevent its
contamination; that on coming OF age she
could do as she plensed.p
Your daughter, my dear Comte, has
fallen in love with religion aud n religious
life for van OF any other object upon
which to expend her affect on. Do not an
tngOnize her ideas, and leave her unmo-
Tested with this love, which can have no
earthly contamination. and which can not
entirely satisfy a handsome and intelli-
gent girl like Therese whose heart IS rs
yet unaffected"
The war broke out. If grief over his
daughters resolution had not greatly
nged him the comte, who had been n cap
tain OF lancers in his youth, would nave
again sought service. The accounts of our
successive disasters were, however, not
calculated TO excite his enthusiasm.
One day the German cavalry m de its
appearance A squadron of Uhlans quar-
tered themselves upon us and secured the
surrounding country. The commander
and five officers were lodged in the chat
eau.
One morning about 10 O'Clock | arrived
on my round OF visits. The comte had
evacuated the ground fioor for the benefit
OF the enemy and taken refuge in the first
story. Tde weather had been exceed
ingly mid for "A few days and | found him
reading in his arm chair near an open
window.
The Prussian officers had finished break
fast and had had II table placed before the
veranda, Mt the foot of the flight OF steps
leading TO the lawn, on which coffee and
liqueuers had been set, and were smoking
their cigars. couid hear them chnttins
and laughing.
Therese came in hurriedly.
All mon Dleul Old Bridant. the bend
gamekeeper, mas told me that the Uhlans
nave captured n poor fellow in the woods,
whom they have pound and are bringing
here
While she was speaking two cavalry
men came through the principal entrance
driving before them, with Their wooden
%lances, II man with h 5 hands tied behind
him, with II halter, one end of which one
of his capture kept firm hold Of.
His trouser, were stuffed into his hunt
ing boots, which were covered with mud;
he wors a PEASANTS vest OF coarse cloth; u
whistle hung from a corl thrown over his
shoulder, AMI n cap was pulled well down
over his eyes.
His face was hidden by the cap, but he
was evidently n well-built lad, with o
broad chest, and with that erect bearing
which had no doubt been acquired while
wearing II uniform.
An officer rose and listened To the re-
port of one Of the soldiers. He then pulled
OIL the prisoners cap. stinsd an excla-
nation Of surprise and stepped buck from
the window.
PIERRE | muttered.
"What Pierref' asked the comte.
Pierre Brissac, my god-son and nephew,
according to Brittany customs. How I'M
Fortunate
NJ de Brassey and his daughter watched
the scene with great interest,
He, Pierre, fixed his great black eyes on
the fellow who had taken of his cap. With
his clo-e-cut hair, his peculiar figure, and
his dark mustachc, there was no m.staA-
ing HIM
you are a soldier said the officer, "or
IN c capped prisoner, or Il franc tireur who
IS playing the spy, or n bearer of dis
patches"
He shrugged his shoulders. They had
pushed hun forward, and he was stand
ing before the table. The others, while
slipping their coffee, examined him at
tentivcly Tne cavalryman had DIS
mounted.
The major said something in German,
and the mon searched him thoroughly.
He smiled.
what are you laughing att You won't
laugh much when you are stool up
against the wall before n firing party
Il nm laughing because you see spies
everywhere. | am the son OF a widow and
consequently was not drafted into the
army. | was ordered by your people TO
drive some cattle fifteen leagues from
where | live to the corps OF Prince Fred
erick Charles. have made a long detour
in order to visit a friend OF mine who
lives three leagues from here, at Yer
plain"
"Iou must have the order, then"
DO you tnke me for an IDIOT II | had
fallen in with the franc-tireurs with that
order on my person, I should nave been
shot as one OF YOU spies"
True, but not having it now we will
shoot you as one of theirs"
lie again shrugged his shoulders.
"Nou are very brave interrupted a cap
tain. "for one who did not have courage
enough to take up arms when his country
was invaded"
Then. turning to his companions
Notice the cnt OF his beard. | bet he
belongs TO the infantry
~ientlemen," said the major, "the col.