Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-03

Monsieur, you are a genius"
lou natter me-, mademoiselle. .
And yet, the plan is not unclever. This
morning, as Banks IA packing me. he
wrapped some novels in an old newspaper
and placed them right under my lid, on
top OF everything else. l can feel them there
now. What, think you, was the newspaper
used?'
Indeed, / cannot guess said the Sara
toga.
1T was a copy of the Gaulois. containing
a full account of the presentation of Fanny
Patte-en-haut on behalf of the raiah of
bundleapore. / am sure, because Banks
read 1t over with a reminiscent chuckle
before he wrapped it around the novels"
But how about your plan?"
rs 1t possible that you have not SIR.
missed my plan? = . In a few minutes
the customs house people will come along.
l snail simply slip when they open me. and
cause those novels and the Gaulois in which
tney are wrapped to fall in your direction.
you can roll over slightly and possess your
sell or the newspaper. When your mistress
or that perky French maid of hers comes
along take care that she notices the Gaulois
and leave the rest to fortune"
"A good plan, monsieur; but too much
Is left to fortune, l fear. = = " And here
come the custom house officials. with Mr..
banks to open you. Now for it,"
The portmanteau strained himself with
excitement, until his straps creaked again.
me customs house inspection was in prog
ress. Miss Durham and Captain Richard
Assheton stood near their respective heaps
OF luggage; while the ~latter's valet and
the formers maid attended more directly to
the matters In hand.
AS Clarisse, the maid in question. was
ABOUT to unlock the Saratoga trunk her
quick eyes caught sight Of a newspaper living
on the dock floor. ~
"Ah!' she exclaimed, GauIois, II
is a good omen, this message from la patrie."
She raised the paper and, glancing at the
year-oid headings, was about to throw IL
away again. when an article in the center
column arrested her attention. She read II
carefully to the end with astonished little
Mon dieus!" and Ma foisl' at every SEN
tence' Finally, forgetting all about the Gus
toms officials, she tripped toward her mis-
tress, newspaper in hand.
On, mademoiselle! What an occurrence!
what a providence" she exclaimed, pointing
to the article in the Gaulois. 1t was a long
article and 1t described in truly Gallo fash
Ion the presentation to Mile. Patte-e n-haut
from II. 81 III. the rajah of Bundleapore,
through the medium of the rujah's obliglng
friend, Captain Richard Assheton.
MISS Durham Pasped when she read this
revelation Then her fine eyes filled with
tears and she turned sadly to her maid.
oh. Clarisse!' she whispered. and
refused him for that and cut him so cruelty
at Waterloo last year, and-and Travelled all
the way over in the same shin without
speaking to him once. And all the time
have loved him. What shall \ do, Clarisse %
Here Miss Durham sank back upon the
dock railing.
ciarisse's eyes frightened. Mon Dleu!"
she cried, II have a scheme. II mademois-
ellie VIII only consent to a little innocent
deception little private tlleatricals, as 1t
were, all will be well,'
II will do anything in reason" sobbed
Miss Durham.
Eth bien! Does mademoiselle observe her
Saratoga trunk yonder. Good! M%ademoiselle
must pretend TO faint, and fall back upon the
trunk. 1t will not hurt, as | can catch
mademoiselle as she falls. Naturally NJ. lie
will see, and, being a gallant gem
tieman. he will come to the rescue. Leave
the rest to me-"
Miss Durham bit her lip. She did not
1T Is the only way" whispered Clarisse,
the temper Otherwise the last chance
is gone"
Miss Durham yielded; and a few min.
utes later the hustle Of that section OF tn,
dock was interrupted by the ~fainting Of
a young and beautiful lady.
As fast as bis legs could carry him. Capt.
A~ssheton reached the Saratoga trunk and
'Ah, NJ lie Capitaine." she murmured.
1T is all about you"
About met said Assheton grufly. Cant
see Why my presence should make her faint
considering we came over together without
exchanging a word"
Clarisse held out the newspaper. "Violar"
she exclaimed. 1T is only this minute that
nademoiselle learned the true story OF that
AFFAIR at the Foliee Bergeres."
Then while eagerly chatting her mistress
and hands. she poured into Assheton's
ears the whole story OF the mistaken
Drother-in-law and the natural error of Miss
Durham.
Just as the narrative ended Miss Durham