The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-08-07

| but ! shook my head and smiled, and
said: ''If the night is fine we shall meet
under the oak tree, but if it rains we
shall meet in the byre" At which they
shrugged their shoulders and gave the
matter up. In this way worked
along until was beyond the northern
outskirt of the town. | could see II
the roadway two lancer vedettes. with
their black and white pennons. and |
knew that when was once past these
should be free man once more.
made my pony trot, therefore, Violette
rubbing her nose against my knee all
the time, aud looking up at me to ask
how she had deserved that this door
mat of creature should be preferred
to her. was not more than hundred
yards from the Uhlans, when suddenly
you can imagine my feelings when
saw a real Cossack coming galloping
along the roadway towards me.
All. my friend, you who read this, if
you have any heart, you will feel for a
man like me, who had gone through so
many dangers and trials only at this
very last moment to be confronted with
one which appeared TO put an end to
everything. will confess that for
moment lost heart and was inclined
to throw myself down in my despair,
and to cry out that | had been be-
trayed. But no, was not beaten even
now. opened two buttons Of my
tunic so that might get easily at the
emperor's message, for it was my fixed
determination, when all hope wasgoue,
sword in hand Then I felt that nv
little crooked sword was loose in. its
sheath and trotted on to where the
vedettes were waiting. They seemed
inclined to stop me but pointed TO the
other COSSack, who was still a couple
of hundred yards off, and they, under
standing that merely wished to meet
him, let me pass with salute.
dug my spurs into my pony then
for if were only far enough from the
lancers l thought might manage the
Cossack without much difficulty. He
was an officer, large bearded man
with gold chevron in his cap just the
same as mine. As | advanced he I'M
consciously aided me by pulling up his
horse, SO that had a fine start of the
vedettes. On l came for him and I
could see wonder turning to suspicion
in his brown eyes as he looked at me
and my pony equipment. 1 do not
know what it was that was wrong,
but he saw something which was
as it should not be. He shouted
out a question, and then, when
I gave no answer, he pulled
out his sword. l was glad in my
heart to see him do so, for l had always
rather fight than cut down an unsus-
pecting enemy. Now / made at him
full tilt and, parrying his cut, got my
point in just under the fourth button of
his tunic. Down he went, and the weight
of him nearly took me off my horse
before l could disengage. l never
glanced at him to see if he were liv-
ing or dead, for l sprang off my pony
and on to Violette, with shake of my
bride and kiss of my hand to the
two Uhlans behind me. They galloped
after me shouting, but Violette had had
her rest and was just as fresh as when
she started.
took the first side road to the west,
and the first to the south, which would
take me away from the enemy's coun-
| try. On we went, and on, every stride
taking me further from my foes and
nearer to my friends. AT last l reached
the end of long stretch of road, aud
looking back from it could see no signs
of pursuers. / understood that my
troubles were at last over.
And it gave me a glow of happiness
as rode to think that l had done to
the letter what the emperor had or
dered. What would he say when he
saw me? What could he say which
would do justice to the incredible way
in which had risen above every dan,
ger? He had ordered me to go through
Sermoise, scissors and Senlis, little
dreaming that they were all three oc.
cupied by the enemy. And yet l had
done it. 1 had borne his letter in
safety through each of these towns
Hussars, dragons, lancers, Cossacks
and infantry, had run the gauntlet Of
all of them and had come out I'M
harmed.
When had got as far as Dammartin
1 caught first glimpse of our own out
posts. There were troop of dragons
in field, and of course could see from
the horsehair crests that they were
French. galloped towards them il
order to ask them if all was safe be
tween there and Paris, and as rode
felt such pride at having won my
way back to my friends again that
could not refrain from waving M
sword in the air. At this a young Of
fcer galloped out from among the dra
goons, also brandishing his sword, and
it warmed my heart to think that h
should come riding with such ardol
and enthusiasm to greet me. made
Violette caracole, and rs we came to
gether l brandished my sword NOR,
gallantly than ever-but you cal
imagine ny feelings when he suddenl!
made cut at me which would certain
" have taken my head off if had no
fallen forward with my nose in Vic
lette's name. Ny faith, it whistles
Just over my cap like an cast wind. o