The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-11-09

suburbs, for fear that it might tempt the
cupidity of the enemy, and depositing
it in safe places, unknown to the owners.
/ wondered with dismay how the heavy
ruffian was invited to gnaw our part of
the cheese; but Mrs. Dutailly presently
gave me an explanation, not without
emotion. She had been out walking
late in the afternoon, and had fallen,
hurting herself considerably and being
stunned for moment. Robillard, who
was passing, had aided her to return
home, and, in recognition of his kind
ness, she could not do less than in
vite her savior to dinner. This expla
nation reassured me, and l hoped that
my first sight of the hero would also be
the last. He said that the war had
brought him back to Paris, whose safety
required his presence. As to his Prov
css in the suburbs, at the head of the
Lost Children, you can readily conceive
that it passed all belief. 1.-The enemy
could not stand for a minute.
With 5000 bucks like mine, all the in
vaders would be swept awa7," etc.,
etc. Mr. Dutailly listened complacently
to the enormitics, and Dutailly himself
was almost ready to believe them. As
for the poor little corporal of voIun-
tcers, he seemed to be crushed by the
presence of this big fellow.
Iexcused myself and left the house
Immediately after dinner to escape the
buster of this Gascon, to whom, as /
supposed, l babe an eternal adieu; but
in this l was greatly mistaken. On the
following Sunday l found him in the
same place, then on Thursday, and
finally a plate was set for him at all our
meals. The heads of the household
were fascinated. Robillard had cap
tured Mrs. Dutailly by his jOvial humor
and Mr.. Dutailly by the interest which
he seemed to display in the military
operations as conducted b. the Times.
Anatole lost ground visibly at each
meal in proportion as the captain grew
in favor.
Anatole's discredit was especially
marked after the Bourget engagement
where the poor lad had fought bravely,
and whence he had returned to us
wounded in the arm. lie described the
attack, the retreat and all the principal
details of this heroic combat with so
much encouragement that the captain
was ready to treat HIM as q deserter and
coward With what noble Indignation
did Robillard prove that if the Lost
Children had been there the result
would have been very different. There
upon, becoming excited, he sketched
for our edifcation plan of ADVANCE
passage through Disc, march through
Rouen and triumphal arrival at Havre-
which filed Dutailly with enthusiasm.
Meanwhile the despise Anatolc suffered
greatly from the still bleeding wound.
Next day Anatole had the fever and
was confined to his bed, and was absent
from our daily repas,s for several weeks.
, On the evening of his return to the
house, convalescent and leaner than
ever, Miss Gertrude had red eyes, and
, it was evident to me that there had beer
during the day some skirmish between
her and her mother, who was moro in
fatuated than ever with Robillard.
, believed that it was time to intervene il
the interest of these poor children. II
, happened that this day was the las
) Sunday of the year, and naturally w
talked of the New Year, which we in
tended to celebrate as joyously as posi-
BILE. Suddenly the captain said:
e "By Jove! dear Mrs. Dutailly, I mus
r give you surprise for present"
t This gave me the idea OF preparln:
9 my own little surprise.
3 On New Years Day Dutailly was ra
| diant and received us with open arms
g The strategist of the Times had just an
c initiated the army of Prince Charles Of
: the outskirts of Evreux, and Dutaill
A: offered this pleasing intelligence for on
1 present. Anatole brought hare