The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1889-05-03
SHE KNEW IT

that singular gift, intuition. in highly
developed state. The world being all her
oyster, she proceeds to open it with dyna-
mite. Because the story of Baptste
chances. by an accident. to be true, is no
good reason for it being less interesting
Miss Virginia Mascom was so very pretty
and graceful than even in New York she
passed for beauty She had heard this
so often. and from so many people, that
she would have been forced to believe 1t
even If she had originally been freighted
with doubts. She had highly we'll bred
carriage and naughty manner on occa
sion, but was withal pleasant, intelli
gent, well behaved girl. whose wealth
gave her pleasure rather than airs. She
was pretty enough and stylish enough to
make something Of sensation even in
Paris.
1t was in the time Of Louis Napoleon
that Miss Mascom arrived in Paris under
the feeble wings of her mother. Mascom
himself being only a memory. They
wanted to see the city before they became
involved by the claims Of either society or
dressmakers. They had rooms in an ex-
pensive hotel not far from the Place Ven
dome. and made daily excursions. for
sight seeing purposes, from its hospitable
portals Acting upon the advice of a
friend, they hired a carriage by the month,
thus doing away entirely with the nuis-
ance of cochers.
Among the cabmen who were on duty
in front of the hotel was tall. handsome
young Breton named Baptiste. He was
tidy. steady fellow, and lived with his
married brother. Jacques. in the Mont
martre quarter His was a passionate
nature. and the first day he saw the
pretty American he fell deeply in love and
almost off the seat Of his carriage.
de longed for some opportunity to
peak to her, to do some wonderful thing
TO attract her attention and arouse her
good will The opportunity to speak came
at last One afternoon the ladies came
out at the usual tine, only to find that
their carriage was not ready 1t was a
golden moment for Baptiste. He whip
ped up his horses and dashed to the front
Of the house. So did a cocher who
chanced to be passing. There was much
confusion, almost collision, and great
deal of curious swearing. Baptiste was
vehement In expostslations and offers of
his services. The ladies were frightened
by the wrangle, and called the concierge.
who ordered both disputants to take
themselves off, and capped the climax of
Baptiste's despair by calling up third
cabman
That was my Waterlool" cried the poor
Breton. my golden moon is an unlipe
apple shall never speak to her now.
That imbecile has ruined me"
Il thought that young cabman was
rather good looking at first" said Miss
Mascom to her mother 1T shows us
how mistaken we are about foreigners.
wouldn't be bit surprised If he we're
one Of those communists we have heard
of, and she shuddered at her own sug-
gestion.
Miss Maseom's French was limited She
had not understood the cause of the ex-
citement of Baptiste.
The ladies found hotel life bore, and
took an apartment near the Park Mon
ceaux. They were there when the storm
of war came with the cry of "a Berlin"
Their rooms were on the ground floor,
and the low stone balcony in front of
their windows was covered with lovely
red climbing roses.
One evening two drunken gardes mo-
bile were passing the house, when one
exclaimed: Lets pick some of that pretty
girls roses for our wives"
Miss Mascom sat at the window. Being
somewhat nearsighted, she did not notice
that the soldiers were drunk and vicious,
1.-Two very picturesque fellows" she
thought, and having caught the word
roses, she said You may gather some If
you like.
The men did not hear the permission,
but were about to proceed without it,
when a man who had been standing in
the shadow of the next house sprang
upon them and ordered them to 90 away
There was Of course brawl. The attack
ing party was vehement, both in action
and speech.
WHAT he cried. you dogs of the
street, would you insult that lovely one
from the west--that rose of roses Ahl
you shall pay for it, swearp
There were gendarmes at hand In few
moments, and all of the combatants were
hurried off Virginia had watched the
atfray in terror She caught glimpse of
the strangers face and screamed. Turn.
ing to her frightened mother she cried:
'0h, it is that dreadful cabman who
was so impudent one day at the hotel.
feel sure he is Communist. Did you see
how he attacked those poor, unoffending
soldiers who wanted some roses2 Suchs
men ought to be kept in prison" And
for the second time she shuddered because
Of poor Baptiste.
The second reign Of terror had its awful
grip upon the throat of Paris. Mrs. Mas
com was very i'll, and her daughter ten
derly watched at her bedside No one
knew when they were safe, and each night
was made up of hours of dreadful sus-
pense One very dark night there were
shots in the street, and presently mob,
headed by man in a ragged, dirty Garde
Mobile uniform, came to stand In front
Of the house.
"An aristocrat lives here" shouted the
man in uniform, attracted by a light from
the windows on the first floor. "She is a
woman whose servants attact peaceable
men on the street. Let us teach her q
lesson. my friends"