Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-01

TX EngMO constraint seemed
RlHJ1g2 to have fallen upon
.HfTXN the party. He,
MBatD feared that he him.
&SN self must be the
cause of this, and
could not help thinking it connected, In
spite of the colonel's assurance to the
contrary, with the latter part of the
conversation just ended. He resolved,
accordingly, if he had the chance, to
say something polite, and soothe, If pos
sible, the patriotic feelings Of his
friends.
AS a matter of fact he was both right
and wrong in his suppositions; he was
the cause but not the offending cause,
OF this embarrassing silence. The col
onel was pondering deeply upon the line
he must Immediately adopt in order to
utilize the advantages which chance had
so unexpectedly offered him; Camilla
had OWNED the thoughts that were
passing through her brother-in-law's
mind. and instinctively resented them.
1t was no doubt unreasonable of her,
but she was keenly troubled at the idea
of Dick being tempted to take any part
or interest in the enterprise to which
she had devoted herself. OF course he
would refuse and treat such overtures
as an insult; or-if white could after
all be black-if he could be led by blind
devotion into the slightest acquies-
cence, she would hate herself and de-
spise him: and for some unexplained
reason he was the one man of all others
whom she least wished to despise Just
now.
She resolved to show the colonel the
utility Of his design at once, and stop
him at the outset. So she waited until
they were all three face to face again
in the drawing-room, and then began
her maneuvers with cool directness.
Capt. Estcourt,'' she said, chow you,
as an English officer, must hate the en-
peror!'
"Ah" thought Dick. that's it! was
afraid I'd been too strong"
So he said aloud: Hate is hard
word to use; you would scarcely say
that gunner hates his target, would
your
This from his point Of view was skill
full. but it was not what Camilla want
ed.
you mean" she said, "that it is your
duty to hate him?'
DUTY does not necessarily imply in
clination," he replied.
Camilla was In despair. The colonel
smiled, and came gliding into the con-
versation.
my dear Camilla" he said. "you mis-
Judge our friend in thinking him SO ran
corous. He has fought. as he told us,
chiefly against Danes and Americans,
and has no cause to bear malice to the
French
II was not thinking of the French"
she returned, "but of the emperor, who
melted both Denmark and America to
war, and thereby made himself the en-
envy Of all true Englishmen."
Surely not quite ALL said the col
onel; "the opposition have often. both
In parliament and out Of 1t, pleaded
with the government for his release.
Lord Glamorgan.'' he continued, look
ing at Estcourt, Lord Glamorgan, for
instance, is a member Of that party,
and yet in every way a. true English-
man."
Dick, over whose Unconscious head
this sword-play was Pickering, saw only
that an argument was going on: which
side was which. and why. he could not
understand, and so resolved to speak
with caution II he had to speak at all.
Camilla felt that the colonel was
pressing her closely, and tried to dis
aH1a him By straighter thrust.
II don't suppose you are blind fol-
said to Dick; 'you probably do not wish
the emperor released?"
1T would not benefit him II did"
he replied; "but am sorry for him II
he suffers as they say
This was wOrsa than ever for Dick
and the colonel was prompt to seize
the opportunity.
He does indeed suffer-" he said. ut
is our greatest grief, for Madame de
Montaut is entirely devoted to him"
My devotion" retorted Camilla, al
most Indignantly, lis natural enough;
but the loyalty that binds me can have
no hold upon an Englishman."
There are more kinds Of loyalty than
one" returned her imperturbable an
tagonist. II. for instance, am loyal to
the emperor, not only as Frenchman.
but even more strongly from my loyalty
to you. who have made his cause your
own: and this, or something like it,
may conceivably be the case with 9TH
ers"
Camilla looked unutterable scorn.
Capt Estcourt." she said. turning to
him with a bow full of graceful mock
cry at her own question. will you. as
kindness to me. carry the emperor of
from St. .Helena?"
Dick was relieved at her apparent re-
turn to q lighter mood. II can hardly
undertake to go SO far myself" he re-
piled laughing; you had better COM
mission my friend tombstone. the SNUG
\ gler. to do 1t for you"
"Good!" exclaimed the colonel. join
ing in the laugh with the loud tone Of
one who wishes to emphasize jest.
s1'Capital advice, Camilla, and you can't
do better than follow It,"
She did not for the moment grasp
his intention In saving this. and made