Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-09

will have no mercy. because madame has
entertained him royalty"
When l ask this gentleman to do any
thing out OF the ordinary rules Of war for
me. jacques. said Madame Forester. with
much decision, Il know that he will do il.
For the present, it is not for you to trouble
about the master; 1t Is for you to obey my
orders. and I insist-and 1 think, Jacques,
II Is the first time 1 have used that word
to you'll insist that you treat this German
gentleman and the 1--WE men who are under
his orders as you would treat your own
master. Some day, when all this trouble
mas gone by. will explain why / wish You
10 DO this; and then, jacques. you win not
only understand me, but you will feel ready
trample on you"
The old servant bowed. murmuring some
thing about his chiefest desire being to
serve the house of Forester, and he took
himself away to his own pantry, where he
busted himself In polishing the bits Of plate
which still remained to the family.
shes an Englishwoman," he murmured
to himself. or to the walls. "she's an En-
glishwoman. and the English are an astute
race. What has she in her head? Has she
had q communication from the master-has
she even seen htm-what Is 1t, then? She's
not against us. although she's English
she's meaning for all that she does: she's
not coquetting with this Prussian pig-as
some OF the fools among the women DO
with his hullsing followers. No, she's an
Englishwoman. and the English are an
astute race"
But in spite of all his reflections jacques
learned nothing. He tried to pump Annie,
the English nurse, as to what she knew,
but Annie secuted the idea of knowing
anything
"Lor', Mr.. Jacques" she said innocently,
what have you got in your head? Surely
it's better for the mistress to keep on civil
terms with this great brute-especialiy If
she saves the Chateau by doing II. AS to
the master-why she worships the very
ground he walks on. Surely you don't
doubt 1t now-why you ought to be ashamed
Of yourself"
Annie's French was not OF the best, but
she managed to make the old servant man
understand her. notwithstanding. and mean
time went on her way, flirting pretty hard
with any Of the big Prussians who came
across her path.
And so the weeks went over. and in the
occasional absence Of her visitors Madame
Forester and Annie contrived to replenish
the store Of provisions In the secret cham
Der below madame's bed room; and. al
though Forester felt Ike a rat trapped
In a cage and chaffed and fcmed and fret
ted at the notion of being absent from the
regiment. still after all the hardships
through which he had gone. and the weak
ness consequent on the loss of blood from
his wounded arm, 1t was well for him that
he had this chance Of peace and quietness.
So the days crept over until the army of
occupa ton pressed on toward Paris, having
laid bare the country like swarm OF To-
1t was fairly safe for the master Of the
Chateau to come out from his hiding
place. Madame Forester sent for old JAG
Ques to come to her bed room.
Jacques" she said, in a queer, shaky lit
tie voice midway between tears and
laughter. you wondered that was so civil
to our Prussian guest. / am going to tell
you the reason-surely you had forgotten
the secret chamber beneath my bed room? -
Madame" said Jacques. in a Quivering
voice. rs It possible"
Yes. Jacques" she said. at is quite pos
sible: more than possible-it is true-your
master has been in this house since ten min
utes before those Prussians arrived here.
/ did not keep II from you because did not
trust you, Jacques. but because ! knew IT
would be easier for you to keep the secret
II you did not know it,
'But they searched the room?" he cried.
$50 they did," she answered, with a
laugh. but we put Master Rene on heap
Of cushions just over the trap door. and
they never thought to search the middle Of
the room. 1t was baby who saved his
father"
"Ah." mur,aured Jacques. as she lifted the
trap door and motioned him to 60 down and
see his master. but the English are an as
tute race"