Sharp County record., 1890-02-20


they were, too; full of love and hopes
for the future. Marie was happy, and
the thought that she was experiment
ing, all the excitement and pleasure OF
an intrigue without qualms OF con-
science was to her most delightful
Each day Adrien went to the post-othce
and received a letter from his wife, and
the novelty of the situation served TO
make him happy.
La Colonelle continued to pour sedl-
tions suspicious into Marie's ear, but 1t
can be imagined how little effect they
had upon her. Marie's mother was In
continual correspondence with Baptlste'
From him she learned that Adrien re-
ceived letters every day poste rest""te'
and that he carefully mailed replies at
the general post-oflice. This was GER
tainly suspicious circumstance No
man would carry on legitimate corre-
spondence in such manner. The very
thought of this base villain deceiving
his wife-her daughter, distracted the
poor woman almost to frenzy. Marie
could hardly suppress a smile, but she
feigned anger so perfectly that La
Colonelle fancied that her moment OF
complete triumph had already arrived
That night when Marie retired to her
room she suffered from an acute attack
of the blues. She missed her husband,
and somehow she fancied that he had
accepted her scheme for separation too
readily. What if, after all, he was de-
ceiving her. The thought was too much
for her and there, alone in her own
room, she shed genuine tears. She
scarcely slept that night and in the
morning she looked so pale and dis
tressed that her mother no longer felt
doubts about the sincerity of her daugh-
ter's feelings.
Marie hurried to the post-otiice, and
there she found a letter from Adrien. 1t
told her that he was coming down by
train, and that she must meet him at
little inn just outside the town on the
Versailles road. Marie's heart throbbed
with joy at the prospect of seeing Adrien
so soon. The hours passed slowly, but
finally the two young people met at the
Lion GArgent, and after they had eX-
changed loving greetings, Adrien un-
folded his scheme. Marie was to come
to town under the pretense of making
some purchases, and they would then
dine together in cabinet pdHicu5(er at
Bignon's.
Marie was delighted. All jealous feel
ing had gone, and when she thought Of
her rendezvous with her husband, and
the humiliation her mother would feel
when she learned how she had been
duped, her delight seemed scarcely con-
trolable.
Adrien went back to Paris, and ar
ranged at Bignon's for the most charm
ing dinner which could be procured. At
the same time La Colonelle received
word from Baptiste that Adrien had or
dered dinner for two in a cabinet at Big
mons The poor woman was both glad
and furious. At last the opportunity had
arrived to crush her civilian Son-in-laW.
Marie had gone to town, so she was COM
peeled to act alone. In Rambouillet was
an old comrade of her husband, Com
mandeur Ulman, by name. He was un-
questionably the man to assist her.
La Colonelle sent her cdIet de ped to
the commandeur's quarters with note
asking the miAtaire to call upon her.
The gruff old commandeur had just
returned from morning inspection, and
being man of rapid action he strobe
off toward La Colonelle's villa without
even waiting to remove his full dress
uniform. La Colonelle was delighted
to see her old friend, but she did not
tarry long over old-time "reminiscences,
but proceeded to unfold her troubles to
the commandeur She told him all she
knew about Adrien's pertdy, and when
Baptiste's telegram announcing the
proposed dinner at Bignon's was pro-
duced the old soldiers wrath was fairly
aroused. Like La Colonelle he detest-
ed all civilians and the thought that a
miserable poltroon who had never
drawn sword for his country could dare
deceive the only daughter of his old
commanding officer, called forth such a
storm of passion that he paced the
apartment like Gagged lion, clanking
his spurs at every step, his saber rat
Ting upon the ground and almost keep
ing time to his oaths.
"The infamous rascal" he muttered.
''The insulting puppy, to think that
cowardly popiniay should dare to insult
soldiers daughter. Of course l will
help you, madame. We will go to Paris
together and surprise the guilty pair at
bivouac. They will have no outpost
thrown out as they will not suspect the
presence of an enemy"
La Colonelle was delighted, Here
was man of action, a soldier, who
would help her in her trouble. The
commandeur's words inspired her and
her heart beat with joy at the thought
of the discontinue of her son-in-law
when he should be surprised by the
commandour and herself.
That evening about eight Madame
La Colonelle and Commandeur Ulman
drove up to Bignon's in Sdpn, The
commandeur was in civilian clothes and
La Colonelle wore thick, black vail
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