Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-28
A UsErUL BABY.
By John Strange Winters.

great war was raging between tn
countries of France and Germany
Our story concerns q dear little DO,
baby, who was the only child of
French officer,
He was not altogether a Frencl
baby, for he had an English mother
but he had been born in beauulu
old chateau not very far from Metz
the capital city OF sunny Lorraine.
Nine. Forrestier's troubles began il
real earnest when the country wa
thrown into confusion and panic b,
the hosts of fugitive French soldiers
and the incoAllng hordes of grea
Germans.
Annie said Nine. Forester t.
her English nurse, iii anything hap
pens remember that II is on you
shall rely"
"You may trust me, madame" sai(
Annie, quickly, 1T will take clever
Prusslan--aye, or l. clever French
man, cither-that viii get me Il
speak what I've got a mind to keep Il
myself
THAT is not what | am the most
afraid Of said Nine. FORESTER, III
is your GOODNESS and your presence o.
mind that need.
Listen, madame; what is that?'
exclaimed Annie, putting up her fin
ger and listening mtently. Some
body at the window"
Rosie, Eosie!" cried low voice
without.
Nine. FORESTER uttered a glad cry
IT'S the master" she cried, "the mas,
ter and she rushed to the window
md tore it open, when tall figure
a long military cloak
tumbled in.
shut the window quickly" he
gasptu. Ailey "a. 49,, ~., .ley Al
be here in ten minutes. knew the
short cut through the wilderness and
| gave them the Slip"
"You are wounded, my Andrea
cried Nine. Forester, with her arms
around her husband.
"Yes-not dangerously-only a cut
In my arm" he answered. No. don't
open tit may start the blood flow
Ing and that would betray me. Not"
bitterly, as he looked around, that
need take care. ! am caugl.. like a
rat in n tran. but determined TINT
would see you before they took me II
It was only for a minute"
"They shall not take YOU" she said,
firmly, unless they burn the chateau
down, and | fancy 1t Is too comfort
able and too well provisioned for
them to do that. am ready for you!
Annie and | have cleaned out the
secret room and there are provisions
there for month or more. You can
be quite comfortable and | shall come
and see you when | can manage It,"
Andre Forester burst out laugh
Ing. "My darling! NV dear love-"
he said, land how do YOU think YOU
are going to keep the prussians out
Of the secret room? Nav, nav. child!
A secret room that has no better con-
cenled entrance than trap door in
the floor of your own apartment is no
more likely to be secret from these
Prussians than any other room in the
house"
"But, Andre. they do not know that
You have reached the chateau at al, )"
Nine. Forester urged. 1--WE, Annie
md /. will devise some means of COW
ering over the door"
"a rup and an armchair" said For
restier. teasingly INV poor Rosie,
nv Door, poor pirl!"
Listen said Annie. who had been
standing at the door. 81 hear horses
coming nm tbe avenue Get down the
tran door. sir. At least II is n chance
tbat they NAV not very closely search
The mistress own bedroom"
"'All is fair in love and war; An.
ME" said CAPTAIN Forester. signi6-
,nntly. "But I will do MS YOU wish.
nv darling. nv brave love! God bless
,ou ,nd he with vouw
She kissed him tenderly and hurried
,im down fine stems into the score,
Dom closing tbe tran dorr ,,pon him
"Annie. what can we cover it within"
,he asked. anxiously. looking down at
I "Reollv II hardly shows in tho
of the parouetry"-for tbe
loor was made Of short pieces Of
wood fitted together so as 70 form n
,ottern
"Not TO an ordinary eve. madame"
mid Annie "but these men are after
he master, Won know and will he
ytra keen in nokinp their noses