The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-12

pleasantly with "reminiscences of his
travels The war brought him to Paris,
whose danger claimed his presence. AS
to his exploits in the suburbs at the head
of the EnfaHts Perdus they passed all
credence. Nine Dutailly listened to
these falsehoods with pleasure. Dutailly
was DESTROYS to believe, too. Gertrude
alone was incredulous. AS to poor lit
tie Anatole, paler and more lost than
ever in his large blouse and afflicted be-
sides with a cold in the head, which
makes one ridiculous, he seemed crushed
by the neighborhood of the great brag-
CART, who did not fail to treat him to
painful illusions, scornful glances and
unpleasant comparisons.
I made an excuse to leave after the
coffee, Disguised with the boasting of
this gascon, to whom thought to bid
adieu forever. In that was deceived.
On the following morning, Sunday, I
found him in the same place; then on
Tuesday. Finally he had his plate
placed at all our repasts.
The Dutailly household was fasci-
mated. Robillard had interested Nine.
Dutailly by his good humor and a grace
full gallantry to which no woman of her
age is insensible, and Papa Dutailly by
the interest he seemed to take in the
military operations of The Times and in
arranging the little flags on the chart.
Anatole, still suffering from his cold,
lost at every meal by this braggart all
the ground he had gained.
His disrepute was more obvious after
the affair of Bourget, where the cour-
ageous boy had bravely done his duty,
and whence he had returned wounded
in the forearm. He told us about the
fight, the death of Baroche, killed by his
side, the surrender and retreat, the sad
end of a brave combat, with SO pitiable
dependency that the captain treated
him for while as a deserter and cow
ard. If he did not continue to do so, it
was only out of regard for his enter
tainers, bat he made him understand it.
With what a noble indignation he dem
onstrated that, if the Enfants Perdus
had been there, the fight would have had
another result. Thereupon, excited, he
sketched plan of sortie by the heights
of Montmorency, Cormei1les, with the
passage of the Disc, marching on Rouen,
and then arriving triumphantly at
Havre, which moved Dutailly to enthu-
siasm; while poor Anatole, Inundated,
and suffering greatly from his still open
wound, received no attention from any
one but Gertrude and myself.
On the next day he had fever and
kept his bed, and for some weeks was
absent from our meals. The captain
quickly established his pretensions to
the hand of Gertrude and her parents
did not discourage him. The day on
which Anatole returned to us GONZALES
cent, but thinner than ever, it seemed to
me that Mile. Gertrude's eyes were red,
and she had on that day quarreled with
her mother, who was more infatuated
than ever with Robillard. thought it
time to interfere in behalf of the poor
children. This day was the last Sunday
of the year, and consequently we spoke
of the new year, saying that we ought
to have family festival.
Certainly, Mime. Dutailly,' cried the
captain. 81 must prepare a surprise for
your gift.
That gave me an idea for mine.
On New Years day Dutailly welcomed
us very cordially. The strategist of The
Times was soundly to beat Prince
Charles in the environs of Coreux, after
having drawn him there by a simulated
retreat, which was the finest deed Of
arms of modern times. Dutail1y told us
this good news for our gift. Anatole
presented rabbit he had caught in
net in the devastated Isle of st. Denis, a
pet rabbit which had returned to its
wild state. As for the captain, he gave
Nine. D1stailly o large bag of marrons
glaces in German helmet.
"Dear madame" he said smiling, 81
would have liked to offer you the head
of the owner of this helmet"
"What!" cried Mime. Dutailly, filled
with admiration, ''have you killed hin?"
"To offer you this box Of bonbons.
May say it is not in the power Of every
one? I will relate the adventure, as yon
think so well of the actor"
He had watched, surprised and fright
ened the wearer of the helmet, desert
ing sentinel, while hiding in acask, and
in a hand to hand fight had strangled
him in order not to attract the notice Of
the enemy by firing his revolver. Oh,
what miserable appearance this rabbit
caught in a net, also strangled, made by
the side Of this glorious trophy!
SEAS for me-" said I. 81 cannot rival
the captain with SO brave gift, yet I
also have my little surprise. But it has
not yet arrived; we will dine without it. )"
We sat down at the table, and the re-
past was very gay. They had killed
pig for the occasion, and the black pud-
ding was o great success. We were
having the coffee and had lighted our
cigars when an artilleryman placed my
gift in the drawing room.
We passed into the room where the
object lay on q table, wrapped in a
frosted paper tied with blue ribbon.
What can that be?' said Nine. Du-
tally.
''Do not open it, dear madame; it is
she'll"
"a IL