Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-03-01

posing One had the chance, was 10 ne
lacking in the duties of hospitality, and
my father would not have lacked in
this respect for a amor ball. They
considered, they consulted in under
tones together, but could hit upon moth
ing. Then they were occupied preparing
the repast of the General; my father
begged the soldier to go and get some
water at the fountain, and as soon rs he
was outside he ran to the clock:
"Stir not, madam" said he to the
M%archioness, ''or we are all lost. You
have heard the officer. We have to lodge
the General. When he has supped we
will make a bed upon the floor and give
him ours; then l will open the clock
softly and you will repose at our side.
We will see this evening what we will
do tomorrow. In regard to food, I will
pass it to you through the window of the
case, and to make it easier | will break
the glass" A blow of the fist shattered
the glass; my mother gave the Marcht-
oncss a little stool upon which She
could more comfortably rest and closed
the case.
Five minutes after the General en-
tered, followed by his escort. Good
evening, citizen said he, advancing
toward my father, "since you know not
Wcstcrmann | present him to thee"
"Westermann, the terrible Mayencais!
the terror of the Chouans. What honor
for me, my General, to receive you in
my house,
at is well, my brave; not so many
compliments: give me quickly to eat for
| am dying of hunger
Still talking, he walked about the
chamber, excused himself to my mother
for the trouble that he was giving her,
took me by the arm and raised me to the
ceiling. seated himself before the fire;
got up, paced the floor with long steps,
stopped before the window, and seeing
in the street in front Of the house a heap
of dead Nendeans:
Thunder of Cod" said he to his or
derby, 81 did not know that we had
made such a slaughter of these brigands
there. My hussars have done rough
work to-day. What a pity that did not
arrive two hours sooner! Not a single
one of them would have escaped. La
Rocheiacquelein can boast of having es'
capped cleverly. Bah! it shall be for to-
morrow
Then he returned to the hearth, took
off his boots and stretched his naked
feet upon the andirons and amused him
self poking the fire. lost not a single
one of his movements, | have also KEEP
his portrait in my eye. He was a robus
man of medium height, s~tout-necke(
and strapping. He had the hard look
the brief utterance, the imperious gest
ure; his figure and his gait breathed al
uncommon energy. have never seen
finer soldier. During his supper, he wa
full of extravagant gaycty, although
very fatigued. The soup appeared t.
him good, the wine excellent; he hal
all sorts Of batteries for my mother, an,
complimented her upon her cooking an
upon her boy. l carried my head high
you may believe.
From time to time he consulted hi
watch and regarded the clock. 'You
clock does not 90, them he asked of m
father.
at was afraid of the Chouans, m
General; since morning it has stopped.
"Hold, look you then, byJove, either
thou hadst better set it a-going, for tn
breakfast drum beats at my appearance
in the morning, and it is necessary thI
| shall be up at six o'clock to-morro'
morning"
My mother became pale as death. M
father arose not to appear troubled, thei
reassuringly:
Listen, my General" he replied, :
, would not counsel you to trust to m
clock. ! would like better to borrow
watch from my neighbor, the watcl
maker-and then, you know, l get I
every morning at five o'clock; you hay
nothing to fear; trust me to wake You
My father had no sooner finished tina
the Marchioness gave n or two lit
dry coughs which seemed to come fro
S the bottom of a grave. The poor Lac
= froze in her box, and the fear and Il
! cold affected her throat. ave are dol
for" thought my father; and to dead
the cough of the Warehouses he set
b coughing himself; my mother did d
G same and |, too, so that for a minu
nothing could be heard in the house.
"Ah, come now!' said Westermann
,. my mother, 'have you put . cat in t
V soup that you all strangle? Drink
draught,-thunder of Godw
"Pay no attention, General" respor
ed my father: Every time that we c
of bacon soup we afterward have a {
sire to cough"
a. "Let it go, let it 60! keep thy carr'
for another, they are too white. TIL
he hadst better say that thou vast thirst.
Westcrmann took a bottle and fill
the glasses
Is "To your health! my friends"
m $50 yours. General"
as "To yours! the little mother"
Inc MdTCHloiltSS DtBah NoushI
TT again-and my father also.
e "My word" said Westermann, rega
ing the side of the clock, there is sol
he thing below there. Thou hidest sol
DIS thing, citizen"
el- "You are joking, my G%eneral!'
as ~ joke? Not at all. Open to me I
Of clock"
er, My father defended himself, !
to tested, stammered, said foolish thi
he and was going to reveal all, when
in, mother, with an astonishing presenc
cir mind for a woman, cried to him, ris
nat from her chair:
les "But open them, imbecile, since
lat General asks it Of thee!"
AL Bravo! citizeness, bravo!' said V
les. termann; ''she has we'll spoken"
'elt My father grew red and angry,
ped .menaced my mother with his fist.
zee. General took the part Of my mot
his who set to weeping. In short, tn
the were getting into a pretty mess "
he some one knocked at the door.
h a ''Open!"
oft, An officer entered with a frightt
air.
Ger, General" said he to Western
tout General Marceau prays you to h