Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-02-10

L lOMUs 1 U0u W AihN w hHNN l'f~NN
on wagon without any springs,
alongside Of the driver, the letter
bag containing that informal docu-
ment | had written TO Louisa and
addressed to the Countess Amelia
being under the seat. | could not
bribe the mail carrier, as | had
only about twenty francs in my
pocket. | intended TO make a final
appeal to the postmaster at VAR
and, if successful, return at once to /
Paris. The more ! thought of this
plan the more became convinced |
il would not work. Var was only
few miles from the villa OF the |
countess. You know what gOsslps |
these country people are. In few
days at most the countess would |
hear that a strange gentleman from
Paris, without any baggage except !
a gold headed cane, had arrived at
Var and had obtained from the
postmaster a letter addressed to
her. From the descriptions she
would know who it was. That
would never do. ! learned that
half an hour after the mail arrived
at Var, letter carrier set out on
foot with the mail for the villa
of the countess and the imme-
diate vicinity. determined to get
my letter from the carrier by hook
or crook.
"That was nice way to get to
the penitentlary."
81 knew that well enough, but
rather than have Amelia read the
letter to Louisa | was willing to
take any risks. On our arrival at
Var the bag containing my letter
was turned over to the postmaster
| went to the local tavern and got
n square meal. | saw the letter
carrier start out on the road to
Amelia's villa. | joined him, and
We soon became quite familiar. He
was dull, stupid peasant. had
a flask with me, and, after taking a
small drink myself, he took a
healthy pull at it. | encouraged
him in his debauchery, and in pass
ing through a village | set 'em mp
again. After two more pulls at the
flask he was beautifully drunk, and
staggered helplessly. Coming to a
gully, l tripped him up. lie fell
like log. A moment more and,
under the pretext of helping him
up, had opened the bag and Sc
cured that long sought letter and
showed it into my pocket. | heard
a noise, and looking up saw a dog
cart. There was a lady drying
| felt myself turning pale all over,
for the lady was none other than
the Countess Amelia herself. She
recognized me, but at first she was
too astonished to speak. thought
to myself: "Oid boy, if YOU have
got any presence of mind, now is
, your time to show it,
"Great God y screamed Amelia,
what has happened? ? How do you
come to bein this condition, JacqesF
WAmelia, DO you believe in
omensf Night before last, while |
, was writing to you, | heard you
call my name three times
As said this tears ran down my
checks, for | had caught a fearful
l
cold, and pulling out my handker-
chief to wipe my eyes, out dropped
that accursed letter. | grabbed 1t
and again showed it into my pocket
"You heard me call your name
jacques ? asked Amelia, her eyes
as large as saucers, with amaze
ment.
"Yes, Amelia, and l left on the
the next train, just dressed as
- was, to come to you. | thought II
was one of those mysterious warn
ings that notify people of the death
of loved ones, and, Amelia, oh, how
- | love you = and here | dropped
down In the mud on my knees
- The rest of the story is short con
" tinued Jacques. "Amellas eyes
filed with tears at this proof OF my
" devotion, and, although ! looked
"" "" like a tramp, she asked me to gel
- in the dog cart with her. did 80
and before we got to the villa sh'
"" "" had consented to become my wife
- That, my friend, is the story of ou
marriage. | have since told my
70 wife all about it, and she laughed
70 until | thought she would hav'
- hysterics. really thought | shonl'
90 have TO send for a doctor" p Trans
% Eated from the German By Aler 4
SlCect.