Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-02-05
TBHT FRGRCB Baby.
or THE yRANcoPRUss1Ax STRANGE WINTER AUTHOR
OF BOTTLES BABY.

n BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER AUTUMN
rs BABY.
it," Really, It hardly shows in the
Z markings Of the parquetry"-for the
floor was made. as the floors in better
houses in France generally are, OF short
pieces OF wood fitted together so as TO
form pattern. :.
"Not TO an ordinary eve, Madame, "
said Annie; "but these men are after
the master, you know, and will be extra
keen in poking their noses everywhere.
II the worst comes to the worst, I'll
stand hereabouts, Madame, and II l look
very sweet at the soldiers, you mustn' I
take any notice"
Madame FORESTER sighed anxiously
"Oh, Annie, am so nervous-so full OF
dreadw she said, trembling. what Is
that? Oh, they are coming"
]. IT 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 re-
peated.
at is Jacques" said Annie, who was
busy polishing the floor with her soft
slipper, so as TO remove the traces OF the
muddy footsteps which tie master may
have left behind him. "See what he
wants, Madame"
Thus encouraged, Madame opened
the door, and Jacques, the old servant
who had been 90 the chateau In the time
OF Andre Forrestier's father, came In
with with q scared white face.
"Such misfortune, Madame, " said he,
In Quayeriug accents. Here are six
great hulkinR PruSsian pigs with q
reQuiSitiOn for board.and lodging in the
chateau, and some sort of notion that
the master is skulking about the prem
ises hiding. 1 swore by all that's holy
he'd never been back since the war
broke out, but the great brute either
didn't or wouldn't understand me. He
speaks bad French" be added in unut-
terable disgust.
II will come down, Jacques" said
Nine. Forrestier, with last look at
Annie, who was now busy making up
the fire. Where are theSe-tnese gen
tlemen, Jacques?" she asked as she
reached the head OF the stairs.
"In the hall at present, Madame"
Jacques answered.
So, with her brain on fire and q heart
Ike ice, she went down into the hall,
where she found six great German SOL
diers 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 sharge Of the party, turned
from the five and came forward, salut-
ing her politely.
Madame is an English lady" he
said, in some surprise. Il understood
that this was the Chateau FORESTER,
and that Captain FOrreStier-'
Captain Forester is my husband,
sir" she said, simply. Can you
give me any news of him?"
None, Madame, except that twenty
minutes ago he was flying in this dIrec-
ton, but we missed him in a small wood
OF the road" the Prussian answered.
ale is believed 20 be in this house,
Madame, and we must look for him"
Certainly, you shall do that" said
Madame FORESTER, with great calm
ness. "Wil you come now? But did
not my servant tell you that my hus-
band is not here. AMI has not been here
since the war first began?'
THAT he did, madame" said the
Prussian, with a smile, "but l took the
liberty OF disbeieving him."
"Theu l cannot expect you TO believe
me or anything out the evidence OF
your own eyes, said she, with dignity.
''Wiu YOU come with me now and
search the house? Is IL necessary that
you should all come? l ask because
have q little child asleep 10 my room
aHd do not wish bin to be frightened
5y so many strangers"
81 vii, take one of my men with me.
We will not wake the child, Madame"
said the Prussian, more kindly. II am
sorry not 10 be able TO take your word
without searching the chateau, Mad
anne, but 10 is not left TO Us TO use our
own discretion, and my orders are ex-
Dlicit."
come, then" she said, leading the
way.
She took them first to her own room,
feeling that it was best to get that dan
ger over the first; but at the door she
stopped again, aud turned implOringly
90 the two great giants who were tread
ing softly and holding their swords
away from the floor you won't hurt
MY boy?' she said imploringIY "you
are sure YOU wOn't?"
The big Prussiau officer could not
help smiling.
awe are not barbarians, Madame, 5"
ne said, in his pleasant broken English.
''As for me, have a babe Of my own at
home and half a dozen youngsters welt
ing 60 see me again"
Come, then, she said, opening the
door.
She almost screamed out aloud at the
sight which met her eyes, for there,
over the trap-ioOr, Annie had spied a
bright Moorish rug; aud on the rug,
sprawling among heap Of silken cush-
IONS lay little Rene, the baby, the heir,
who had Just wakened from Il late al
ternOOu sleep.
He looked so big and fair and bonny
in his dainty white embroidered, lace
trimmed irock, with wide blue sash and
bows TO Jie mp his sleeves, with one foot
bare and the other in a soft knitted
shoe, that the PruSSian walked right up
90 him and began TO talk TO him with
every cOaXing phase ne could think Of.
And In answer Baby Rene held up his
silver coral and bells and tried to grab
az mis- tamboUriue and his favorite toy
of all, q Few empty cOtton-reeiS strung
together, SIS IL he was anxious to show
them 10 this fascinating newcomer
with the sword and the bright buttons
and the long yellow mOustache not so