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

carry it to the house of the armorer near the
entrance to the opera house, who can do it
very skillfully. Take the greatest care. The
least blow, the least friction for it is only the
thickness OF paper. and the shell will ex-
plode'e-
was interrupted by cries of fear.
'sTake it away" cried Mime. Dutai1ly.
sit is terrible! this shell in my drawing
room!'
s'Alas!' said I, extending my hand.
"Do not touch it."
''Be calm! Be assured! The artillery
man who brought it will take it away"
'But, SIR" said the servant, who stood
trembling on the doorsill, che has al
ready gone"
New EXPLANATIONS.
"Then," said I, sit is r.
81 forbid you," quickly cried Dutailly.
"You have not the strength to carry
that all the way to the opera house,
'You will only let it fall on the stair
case or in the ante-room.
Mime. Dutailly chung to me.
''NoE you; it is too dangerous! not
your
.'This," said Dutailly, sis the deed of
a soldier. a strong soldier; happily the
captain is that"
SIP said the captain.
eyes, you are as strong as Turk and
can do such deeds. You play with balls
and shells as a schoolboy plays with
marbles and football!'
pardon me, pardon me-" objected the
captain, growing pale, cit is shell
the devil! Can't you wait until to-mor-
row to have it taken away?'
"Whatr' cried Mime. Dutailly, ''to-
morrow? Why, I cannot close my eyes
all night shall go to a hotel to sleep!"
Then Anatole said, quietly:
"Remain AZ home, madame; I will
carry away the shell.
Dutailly stopped him.
"You are fool, my dear boy, just
convalescent with your weak arm. Do
you wish to blow up the house?"
"Truly," said I, ''this is not the task
of weak man."
''But the captain" said Dutailly, 81
have confidence only in him. Go quick-
ly, captain, take the monster and deliver
US from this nightmare
The captain at this moment felt badly,
that was evident, but he was not discon-
certed by SO small matter. Surely"
said he, smiling, ''that is my right.
only wished to say, as you interrupted
me several times, that to take this OBJ
ject and to walk is too dangerous. 1t is
slippery, and single false step might
kill ten people in the street. To take it
in carriage is the only way"
'sBut carriage" replied Dutailly, sat
this time? They are nearly all required
for ambulances."
'sTrue," said the captain. General
dimes at the Brabant, and his carriage is
waiting at the door of the restaurant. l
will ask him to loan it to me, as he is a
friend of mine. It is done. Taking time
to buckle on my sword belt and go there,
1t will be ten minutes or quarter of an
hour more"
$50 quickly" said Nine. Dutailly,
81 shall not live longer than that time"
81 will run, dear madame" Saying
this, the captain took his military cap
and cloak and went. By the way he ran
down the stairs it was evident he was in
hurry.
I went back to the drawing room,
where fear reigned. Nine. Dutailly
wavered between the wish to fly and the
desire to watch over the shell. Without
seeming to do SO, looked out into the
moonlit street.
"It would have been so easy to let me
take it," murmured Anatole.
"Be SILENT" replied Dutailly, little
surprised by the quiet courage Of this
boy. SIT is better the captain should
do it,"
Provided" groaned madame, che
does not wait too long"
"He will wait, dear lady," said gay.
ly. "You may count on that. For he
will never come back"
"He will never come back?"
"Certainly not. The way to GO to the
Brabant House is to take the right hand
street; he went to the left and very
quickly"
"What do you mean?"
81 wish to say, friend Dutailly, that
your captain is an impostor, and I re-
joice to have dismounted the batteries
of this boaster by the aid of this engine"
Then taking photograph album l
struck blow on the top Of the shell,
which broke into a thousand pieces-of
chocolate, and scattered on the carpet
volley of sugar plums, burned almonds
and pistachio nuts.
A shout of laughter greeted the explo-
sion, and, I may say, the climax.
Three months later Anatole married
Gertrude.
And the captain was never heard Of
after.-Translated from the French Of
Victorien Sardou for the New York
Home Journal.
POpuIar Study.