The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-09-12
CHAPTER II,

He was quite right. We were marched
across the town, through its narrow
tnoroughfares, over it's sharp paving:
stones, and into the courtyard Of the
Castle of St. Michael. BY the time we
got there and the heavy oaken gates
were shut behind US it was nearly dark.
Here you pass the night, announced
our officer. in the morning-humph!
we will see"
DO you mean to say they are going
to afford us no better accommodation
than this?" I demanded, apostrophizing
the powers of the air, rather than any
definite personality.
But the dark young man took it upon
him to reply. so it seems, said he.
Fortunately, however, the night is
warm, the skies are clear, and to gaze
upon the stars is reputed 10 be most
! elevating for the spirit"
Our officer, his brief but pregnant
harangue concluded, had vanished into
the castle, leaving us q corporal and
three privatcs for guard Of honor.
We, tho prisoners, gathered together
in the middle of the courtyard, all OF us,
! and held sort of impromptu indigna-
ton meeting The women were espc
cally eloquent in their complaints.
Two of these women recognized as
having been among my neighbors o. the
doorstep half hour since, and We cx
changed compassionate glances. The
other four were oldish women, who wore
caps and aprons and looked like do
nestle servants.
Cooks" whispered my comradc.
Some good burghers will be kept wait
ing for their suppers. Oh, what lark"
| Our convention finally broke up with
an informal resolution to the effect that,
though we had been most shabbily
treated, there was nothing to be done.
I'VE must grin and bear it, But let
us make ourselves comfortable as We
may, and seek distraction in an inter-
change Of IDEAS" proposed my mate.
He seated himself upon a barrel thai
lay lengthwise against the castle wall,
and motioned me to place myself beside
him.
you are Engish?" he inquired in an
abrupt, German way.
NO, am an American"
"Ah, it is the same thing. tourist?
Have you been long in N-?"
Three days.
For heavens sake, what have you
/ found to keep you here three days?"
Il am @ painter, and the town is
paintable.
Still life! Nature morte!" he cried.
1t is the dullest little town in Christen-
dom. But am glad you are painter.
l am musiciar-a fiddler"
Il suspected we were of the same
general clan, said 1.
Did you, though? How funny! But
also seemed to scent a kindred soul.
Here is my card If we're not be-
headed in the morning, hope we may
see more of each other, went on.
He took my card, and, by the light of
the match he struck for the occasion,
read aloud from it: "Mr. Arthur VAIN
wright. pronouncing the English name
without difficulty. II have no card, but
my name is Sebastian Roch."
You speak Euglish?" was my infer
ence.
"Oh. yes, speak kind of English!"
he confessed, using the tongue in ques-
ton. He had scarcely q trace Of q for
eign accent.
You speak it uncommonly WELL, I
! declared.
"Oh, learned it az child, and then
I have relatives in England" he ex-
planned.
DO you suppose there would be any
objection to our smoking?" I asked.
"Oh. no! let us smoke by all means. I"
offered him my cigarette case. When
We had our cigarettes afire we resumed
our talk.
Tell me, what, in your opinion, is the
truth about Mathilde?" I began. rs
she in voluntary hiding? Or is her
uncle at the bottom Of it?"
"Ah, that is too hard riddle!" he pro-
tested. Il know nothing about it, and
have scarcely an opinion. But [ may
say very frankly that I am not one Of
her partisans. She has no worse enemy
than l."
What! Really? I am surprised at
that. thought all the youth Of y
were devoted to her."
| She's harmless enough little per-
son in her way, perhaps, and I have