The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-14

WITH HER QUEENLf HEAD Thrown BACK.
the -sile- e-eea4ee-featured erexx y, Aa
surrounded her. l had not taken two
steps from my door before she sprang
10 meet me. her hands resting upon my
arm and her blue eyes sparkling with
Joy and triumph.
"A French soldier and gentleman"
she cried, "now at last am safe"
''Yes, madame, you are safe" said j;
md could not resist taking her hand
in mine in order that / might reassure
her. "You have only to command me-"
j added, kissing the hand as sign that
] meant what was saying.
Il am Polish" she cried, Countess
ralotta is my name. They abuse me
because l love the French. 1 do not
know what they might have done Io nls
had Heaven not sent you TO hclp me-"
kissed her hand again leye sne
-N~ulT doubt NV intentions -shep
nurned upon the crew with such an ex'
preston as knew how to assume. In
an instant the hall was empty.
Countess" said j. You are now
under my protection. You are faint,
and glass of wine is necessary 20 re-
store you" i offered her my arm and
escorted her into my room, where she
sat by my side at the table and took the
refreshments which offered her.
How she blossomed out in my pres
ence, this woman, like a flower before
the sum- She lit up the room with her
beauty. She must have read my adIni-
ration in my eyes, and il seemed to me
that l could also see something of the
sort in her own. All. my friends, | was
mo ordinary-looldng man when | was
i'm my S0th year. In the whole light
cavalry il would have been hard TO find
a finer pair of whiskers. Murat's may
have been shade longer, but the best
Judges are agreed that Murat's were "A
shade too lnnG-And Then l had MAN
ner. Some women are 20 be approached
jn one way and some i'm another, just as
siege is an affair of fascines and
gabions in hard weather and of trenches
in soft But the man who can mix dar-
ing with timidity, who can be outra-
geous with an air Of humility, and pre-
sumptuous with tone of Difference,
that is the man whom mothers have 10
fear For myself felt that was the
guardian of this lonely lady, and know
ing what a dangerous man had 10 deal
with / kept a strict watch upon myself.
still even guardian has his privileges,
and could not neglect them.
But her talk was as charming as her
face. In "A few words she explained
that She was travelling TO Poland and
that her brother. who had been her es-
cort, had fallen M upon the way. She
had more than once met with ill treat
ment from the country folk because She
could not conceal her good will towards
the French. Then, turning from her
own affairs. she questioned me about
the army, and So came round 10 myself
and my own exploits. they were ia
miliar 10 her. she said. for she knew
several of Poniatowski's officers and
they had spoken Of my doings. Yet she
would be glad 90 hear them from my
own lips. Never have had so delight
ful conversation. Mos. women make
the mistake OF talking too much about
their own affairs, but this one listened
20 my tales just as YOU are listening
now. even asking for more and more
aud more. The hours slipped rapidly
by, md IL was with horror that heard
th4-F44laee ei',t-+z- Z r. 2 siftti ,,r,
learned that for four hours had FOR
gotten the emperor'~ business
Pardon me, my dear lady" cried.
springing to my feet. "But must.on
instantly TO IlOf"
She rose also and looked an me with
pule. reproachful snce. And me?"
the asked. "N hat is To become Of meg'
III is the emperor's affair / have
already stayed far too long NJ duty
calls me. and I'must go"
"iou must 20? And must rs abaa.