Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-04-12

NfNH @E"A - 81 -
doubt the watchfaln~~s % my subjects.
J requested that the very next ease II
detected smuggling Re a. once made
known % me.
TO doubt would 10 reasonable
your majesty. said the marquis. with
a smile. DO let Us hear the details.
Count L.axareff has lust beer ar
rested and detained on the frontier for
smuggling al kinds of eoutraband srtt-
cles from Paris. which were most in
g~eniously hidden in the Innings ard
roof of the carriage: and the emperor.
u encourage he detectives. has dis
tribu,~t among them the heavy hue II
eight hundred roubles. hich the cunt
had a. paw. What do YOU saw u that.
marquis
i can but say, your majesty he an
swered. with a shrug of his shoulders
- can but say how clumsy the .hsn
must have been to fail in such a -
thing
simple thing. repeated the n
press. with 4 slight look ~ surprise
Il do not think Won woald find 1t 50
easy to deceive DIR inspectors
"Wii your majesty give me leave 10
try? the marquis quietly asked
Oh no. she answered with 4 smile.
1T would he Of no use. You know
that your person and property as am-
bassador are sacred. and therefore you
would not be a fair test | would
wager. however. this diamond ring
that were You to pass orr frontier a. a
private individual. you would not sue
coed in smuggling in the v%sris-t tia.
without being detected
Il accept the challenge. rep!iedsthe
marquis. with a graceful bow. and
as / am shortly going L France on
urgent private business. I shall avail
myself OF your gracious permission. r.
turn to Russia as a privsts Individual.
and subject myself and property to the
most vigorous search Of the custom
house"
You have accepted my challenge.
the empress reioined 'Rs--em6er.
marquis W. shall have no pity on you.
Great excitement prevailed at the
small frontier station on the road from
konigsberg to - Petersburg Inc ~
tcers Of the custom house we're on the
alert, sor they had received orders from
headquarters that when the travelling
carriage of the French ambassador
should pass through that day it was 10
be most carefully searched and ex-
amin-d, and even the person ~ The
marquis was not 10 be spared Such
"Ese the emperor's orders. and IN
usual as they were they must be
obeyed
1t was a bitterly cold day. the snow
lay deep on the ground. and the cus,os,
house officers, who had been doubled
IN number. were eongregated around
the stove, warming their ~sheepskia-
.Hed kaftans, and speculating on the
rich prize which would urdo-bt~EI4
fall into ,bHit hands.
t0dnt Lazarets ru bles were moth
ing 10 it,. BY 1t Alexander. the en-
Peror IS a kind father to u.. and the
men strokej their long hearts and
gulped down bowls - Eol tea. But
harki there i n faint tinkIe Of bells
and .as swift sound Of horses on the
crisp snow.
Here he comes. cried one o. the
men, jumping from his warm seat Ths
rest quickly followed AMI A. shs IN.
bassaaors revs-e.i sicdze with is four
h~orsss drew In sight it was surrounded
by the band OF officers
Respectfully touching his cap. the
head man aecostei the marquis md
a~pologiEsd fer ths Intrusion. but he had
received orders 20 examine the carriage
effects Of his e~xeelleucy, and mus;
trouble him to alight while the search
was being made
The marquis. wko vas luxpriou<lv
reclining in the warm fold, OF a w,g.
u'hcent blaek-fox cloak. reused aim.
self At the words and replied that tl,.r.
was no occasion to apologize
"AlPhonse.' no called. as his valet
came 20 the door Of the sledre. take
care Of fideie. and see hat the ao,r
little thing does not catch cold coming
out into this frosty air.
The marquis tnen Stepped on, and
hastened into the custom house. fol.
lowed by Alphonse. who had ca~refu,lv
Wrapped a rug around the French
POOLE The poor beast. who had been
snugly seated on a pile of warm fur
evidently disliked being disturbed. for
II give vent 10 its displeasure in 4 short
bark.
Like eager birds of prey over a rich
prize The examiners gathered around
the sledge, and began their search h
the Most systematic manner. rausaek.
ing every possible place OF conceal
menI E~eu the cushions aud %iininys
We're not spared, to The indignation 81
the eoaehman and valet, who Ioo..,
on WIN suilea eyes, not daring To- in
rere' but nuttering NJ the toIiv =,
the4r master in permitting sueh A. ON.
IssS As yet they had not &c.
aslng.e eoutabaRd article. and mr.;
r seeams the search NIL
'nT M aen had 10 abaudon
he marquis neaawbiIe
NJ the stove. VIII I
.a1,nerenee SLIPPING hot tes s.o'eai
ing = iceies curly head. Vae >'Fok-
aloal disturbed wLE ,S s- his
peg@eaed him and init 80 'aey ap
AnA MS two servant |-.ea VA he
being searched " submit 70
Only warn you 49, .roab,. said ne
rsu and nothing I'm,
1-4g by all raa.ss