The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-09-19

Dutol6L4, oulU uC.
But am an American, said I.
"Macht nichts!" said he
"AIacht nichts?" I echoed, anyrily.
"You think so? I shall bring the case
| to the notice of tho Minister Of the
United States, and you shall sec.
How! And prccipitatc a war between
two friendly nations? INJECTING mon
! stcr!'
you laugh! But who laughs last
! laughs best, and l promise you the
Grand Duchy of " shall bp made to
! pay for this pleasantly with a ven
! Scance."
This is not the first time that you
have been arrested while in these do
minions, he said sternly. And must
remind you that lcse majeste is hang
ing matter"
"I.cse maicste!!" I repeated, half in
scorn, half in terror.
"Ja wohl, mcin Herr" he answered.
"But after all, l am but obcying orders.
he added, with an infection almost apol-
ogctic.
! Where had heard that curious, soft
voice before: 4 voice so soft that his
| German sou!,,;cd Almost like Italian.
! Mcanwh.iN We had driven straight
across the town, past the walls, and
into the open county, The night air,
putting in through the open carriage
window, was sweet with the oiors Of
! dcw-ladc grass and vibrant with the
humming Of u million insects.
You are perhaps conducting mo to
! the frontier.' | suggested, deriving some
! relief frcm the fancy.
| "Uh. hardly 50 far as that. let us
hope" he rc:o:nGd, with what struck he
! u, a suppressed chlIckic.
i Far! cred. Can yoll use the VOID
; in speaking of q pocket hand:; crchicf:"
! 1T is small, bu; il is picturesque; it j.;
! pan,ablc, said he; and, What IS more,
y every syllable you utter against it,
You weave /; strand into your halter and
drive a nail into yo"r c3f.in.
The night was intensely dark, and !
! could see no further into it tiian the icw
; yards Of roadway Illuminated BY GU
, carriage lamps We Or we on in silence,
TO" perhaps q half hour longer. Then
at last the horses hobs rcsCundcd upon
stone, and we drew up. My officer de-
! sccnCcI from the carriage: | followed
him. We were standing under a massive
archway, a sort o. porle-cccherc, light
cd by Il hanging lantern. Before ~ small
door pierced in the stone wall fronting
us a sentinel was posted, with his mus
;ct presented in salute.
The three mounted Scndarmcs spranS
from their saddles.
Farewell, Herr Wcinricht." said my
officer. Il have enjoyed our drive to-
gcthcr moro than | can tell you. If we
should never meet again iE this world,
let us hope VIC shall do SO in another
and q better" Then. turning TO his
| sui o'dnatrs: "COnduct this gentle
man TO tho tower chamber" he COM
| mandcd.
Tho sentry stood aside. One OF the
Sendarmes preceding me, the other two
coming behind, l was conveyed up
narrow winding stone staircase, into /,
big OctaGon shaped room.
The room Was lighted by innumeratlc
candles set in scOnce5 round the walls.
1t was comfortably, even richly, fur
nislcd, and decorated with a consider
able degree OF taste. A vast worm
husd Persian carpet covered the stone
floor; books, pictures, biblots, We're
scattered. discriminatinSly about: and in
ono corner there stood a grand piano,
open, with a violin and bow lying on it.
The gcndarmcs bowed themselves out,
shutting the door behind them with an
OminOus changer.
If this is to Ec my dungeon CELL" J.
thought, Il shall not be so uncoaforta-
bic ate: all. But low prcEostcrous OF
them to ioccc me 10 wear my dress
suit
! threw myself into an casy chair,
buried my face in my hands and tried
to reflect upon my situation.
Suddenly l was disturbed By the
sound Of light little cough behind me,
/. discreet little ahcln.
I looked quickly up.
A lady had entered the apartment,
and was standing in tho middle Of it,
smiling in contemplation Of my despair
ing attitude.
Good heavens, saspot, but no.
audibly, as her face grew clear to my
startled sight, the Grand Duchess
herself!'
Il am glad to see you, Mr.. VAIN
right, her highness began in English,
but slightly continental. ~ is Il
dull little place-oh, believe me, the
dullcst Of its size in Christcndom-an
they tell me you are an amusing man.
Now, OF course the reader has fore
seen it from the outset; otherwise why
should be OBTAINING him with this
anecdote? But upon me it came a, a
thunderbolt, and III my emotion I for
got myself and exclaimed aloud: Sc
bastian Roch!" The lace Of the Grand
Duchess had haunted me with (; sense
of familiarity; the voice Of my rcd
headed officer in the carriage had seemed
not strange to me; but now that I saw
the face, and heard the voice, tingcd y
that slight foreign quality Of English,
at one and the same time, all was clear
Sebastian Roch!"
you said?" the gracious lady Guericd,
arching her eyes.
Nothing, madame. 7 was about to
thank your highness Tor your kind
ness, but"
But your mind wandered, and you
made some Irrelevant military obSe,va-
~, -