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

She kissed him tenderly and hurried him
! down the steps into the secret room, clos
Ing the trap door upon him.
| annie. what can We cover 1t within she
asked anxiously looking down at It.
| the parquetry'-for the floor was made, as
the floors in the better houses In France
| generally are. of short pieces Of wood fitted
together 30 as to form pattern.
| moi 70 an ordinary eye, madame" said
annie; but these men are after the master,
you know, and will be extra keen In poxing
their noses everywhere. If the worst comes
70 .ne worst; IN stand hereabouts, mad
| anne, ana II L look very sweet at the SOL
| oiers you mustn't take any notice."
Madame Forester sighed anxiously.
on Annie l am SO nervous-so full Of
| Oh, they are comingr"
| 1t was. indeed. the sound Of footsteps on
the polished corridor. and then there came
a. gentle tap at the door. and the word
| Madame, madame!" twice repeated
| 1T is jacques" said Annie, who was busy
polishing the floor with her soft slipper, SO
as 10 remove the trace Of muddy footsteps
when the master might have left behind
| him See what he wants, madame"
Thus encouraged. madame opened the
door. and old jacques. the old servant who
had been at the chateau in the time Of
/ scared white face
such misfortune. madame" he said. In
quavering accents. Here are six great
| hulking Prussian pigs, with q requisition
Tor board and lodging in the chateau. and
| some sort Of a notion that the master is
| skulking about the premises hiding.
| swore by all that's holy he'd never been
| back since the war broke out. but the great
brute either didnt or wouldn't understand
| me- He speaks bad French" he added In
unutterable disgust.
Il will come down. Jacques" said Mad
anne FORESTER. with last look at Annie.
Where are these-these gentlemen. JAG
ques? she asked as she reached the head
| Of the stairs.
I'm the hall at present madame Jacques
answered
So. with her brain on fire and a heart like
Ice. she went down into the hall, where she
FOUND six great German soldiers, warming
themselves by the wood fire. each one big
enough and fierce enough to brighten any
little woman out Of her senses.
Good morning. gentlemen" she said In
English.
The biggest Of the six. and evidently the
officer In charge Of the party, turned from
| ltely.
Madame IL an English lady" hs said, in
some surprise. Il understood that this was
the Chateau FORESTER. and that Capt.
Capt. Forester Is my husband sir ali.
Of him?'
None. madame. except that twenty min
utes ago ne was flying In this direction. but
we missed him In a small wood OF the
road the Prussian answered. He Is be-
neved to be In this house. madame. and we
must look for him."
Certainly. you shall do that" said Mad
anne Forester with great calmness: will
you come now? But did not my servant
tell you that my husband il not here and
has not been here since the var f3rst h.
gam"
That he did. madame" said the Prus-
sian. with smile. but took the liberty
Of disbelieving him."
Then l cannot expect you to believe me
or anything but the evidence Of your own
eyes,, said she, with dignity. "Win you
come with me now and search the house?
Is IT necessary that you should all come?
ask because l have little child asleep in
my room. and do not wish him to fright
ened by so many strangers"
L Will take one of my men with mo- We
snail not wake the child, madame" said
the RUSSIAN. more kindly. II am sorry not
TO be able to take your word without
searching the chateau. madame, but II is
not left to US to use our own discretion,
and my orders are explicit
Come. then" she said. leading the way
She took them first to her own room. feel
ing that 1t was best to get that danger
over first; but at the door she stopped
again. and turned imploringly to the two
great giants who were treading softly and
holding their swords away from the floor
You won't hurt my boyr' she said i'm
ploringly. you are sure you won't?'
The big Prussian officer could not help
smiling.
1--WE are not barbarians, madame" he
said, In his pleasant broken English las
for me have babe Of my own at home,
ana half -a.dozen youngsters waiting to see
me again."
Come. them" she said, opening the door.
She almost screamed out aloud at the
sight which met her eyes, for there over
the trapdoor. Annie had spread a bright
Moorish rug: and on the rug. sprawlins
among heap Of silken cushions, lay little
Rene. the baby. the heir. who had just
wakened from q late afternoon sleep.
He looked 80 big and fair and bonny in
his dainty white embroidered lace-trimmed
frock, with wide blue sash and bows to tie
| up his sleeves. with one foot bare and the
other IN soft knitted shoe, that the Prus-
sian walked right up to him and began to
could think Of. And in answer baby Rene
held up his silver coral and bells, and tried
to grab at his tambourine and his favorite
toy Of all. few empty cotton-reels strung
together, as II he was anxious to show
them to this fascinating newcomer with
the sword and the bright buttons. and the
| long yellow mustache not SO much unlike
Forrestier's own.
'rDad-dad-dad," he cried In delight
"Ba -ba-ad-da."
II have just such a child at home" said
the big Prussian, with q suspicious Quaver
| In his voice. You will excuse me, ma
udHic, VIII just IooA ATouuo INC room IOT
forms sake"
ITO be sure" said Madame Forester,
| with a smie-she could afford to smile
now, for the baby had warded off the great
danger she had SO much dreaded.
1t was q mere form. He looked into the
| old oak presses, poked his sword under the
| bed, glanced through the dressing ROOM
and opening one window, peered out into
| the darkness, little guessing that less than
| half and hour ago Capt. Forester, wound
| ed as he was, had, with the strength born
| of desperation. swung himself up to the
window by means of the ivy which cover
| ed the walls from roof to ground, and that
| he was at that moment within few feet
! Of him, his retreat safely cut Off by the sill
ken cushions on which the baby lay sprawl
| ing, playing with his toys and his faithful
| dog.
II am satisfied, madame" the Prussian
| said. II must search the rest Of the house,
| and l am afraid you must put up with our
| company for some little time longer But
| we are not, as 1 said. barbarians, and we
| do not wish to annoy you; and from this
| moment your own apartment is sacred"
| II think, Annie" said madame, quietly,
| that you had better show these gentle
men the rest Of the house. / will stay with
| the child"
Eyes. madame" said Annie. Come along.
| sirs."
"Oh. Rene! Rene! you don't know" cried
| Madame Forester, when the door was
| closed. but you have saved him."