The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-16

hilarity became epilepsy wnen the colonel
began a series OF pleasantries about the
An said he, you are lucky to nave
had 10 do With Prussians. Ii you had had
EavariaHs here, you would have had a hard
time. Our Frusslan King is altogether too
good to permit Bavarians SIDE by size with
us Ptussians. The Bavarians should not
be allowed to serve. in the Prussidn army
except as musicians. hing Louis Of Ba-
varia ought TO be held marshal of all the
German bands"
At last we arrived at the end of this obi
Gus breakfast. Inc colonel arose ami dis
missed his oncers, ana, approaching me,
SAID: Anu now snail cono1ct you 10 your
greenhouse. Wish to snow you your
camelliaS
My camelliasi'
~ es, yes, / know your passion. The bar
oness mas been good enough TO tell me you
adore those cameliiaS. 80 L sent for your
gslidener ana explained 10 hlm mat he
would be shot in front OF the greenhouse
door II ne aIIoWed single calneina To uie.
This was a Joke, you understand. l would
not have mad him shot We are civilized
people, but l would not have heSita.eu
about having him tied to a tree Tor "enty-
four hours without anything to eat or
drink. but it mas not been necessary.
Your camellias are in perfect condition.
Come and see them"
We went out, the three of uS-the COLO
mel, Antolnette and l. This Prussian did me
the honorS Of my own PARK. l Was tinSLnS
with anger. "A dozen times l was ON the
point OF breaking out, but Antolnette nunS
on my arm and made SO many suppilcating
little faces and she did look SO pretty anu
yet SO ridiculous under the trees in the gar
ish sunshine with her diamonos and ruDies
blazing about her, that l was appeaSed IN
spite of myself.
We entered the greenhouse 1t was trim
and beautiful. My Camellias had been
treated with the utmost care.
WELL said the colonel, triumphantly,
you see we are not all vanoals. Now l
shall leave you. You must have family
matters to chat about. l hope you will do
us the pleasure to dine with U.S..
He invited me to dine in my own mouse!
but could not voice word IN reply.
He left me, however, which VAS all l de-
sired. / was alone with Antoinette, and
she without awaiting my questions, as soon
as the colonel was gone, said:
All, sir, did you notice how he ogled me
as he went away? 1t is horrible, sir; 1t is
horrible. This Prussian is in love with
me. You must not scold me. You should
pity and thank ma L have devoted myself
to saving your house. When this colonel
arrived on Dec. Is he flew into violent
rage on learning that the people OF the the
flee when we come. DO they take us for
barbarians? Very WELL then, shall act
SO. ] shall stable my horses in the draw,
ing ROOM Then, sir, as the colonel had
not yet seen me, / ran up stairs, put on
one OF madames gowns, and descending.
told the colonel that l was your niece, the
Baroness de Barneville; but l think it's
no harm. 1t seems that have not acted it
too aWkwardly as for more than month
and 1 am too good Frenchwoman to let
him touch even the tips of my fingers.
Moreover, l have made all his dragons
and hussars march as by a magic wand. l
have saved your silVerware, your horses,
your carriages and your camellias. AS to
madames diamonds, j wear them all upon
me, not because | wish to, but because
they are safer upon than in the draw
ers. do not know much about the Bava-
rlans, but the Prussians are not worth
much in my opinion where diamonds are
in drawers. But now, sir, if you will do
me the favor, you will leave at once, be-
I RI on
foot several times during breakfast in order
to prevent you from exploding, and it is
not proper for lady's maid to be pressing
her masters foot under the table. l will
get you a good Prussian passport and you
shall carry away all of madame's diamonds.
shall put them in little casket and Pierre
can drive you away in the break. AS for
me, | shall remain and keep good watch
over the house. Besides you see, it amuses
me to make fools of these PruSSians and
make them believe that | am great lady,"
l was much moved when Antoinette had
ceased speaking, You are, good girl,
Antoinette." said Ia good girl, and
clever. girl. / want to ask only one thing
and then / shall CO."
What is that sir?'
The permission to kiss you
AS niece or as lady's maid?"
AS ladys maid Antonette."
Very well, sir.
l gave Antoinette a good hug and a reso-
nant smack Put the diamonds in the lit
tie casket, Antoinette," / said but do not
put that bracelet in the little casket. Keep
1t for yourself
Thank you, sir Wait for me here, and
in quarter of an hour / shall come for
you. But be careful, commit no impru-
dence and get into no quarrels with these
Prussians.'
She FASTENED away. Scarcely had she
disappeared when l remembered that my
daughter had asked me to bring her two
photographs which were on little easels
upon her mantelpiece. 1 returned to the
house, mounted the staircase, and near the
door of her room | stopped in surprise.
Someone was playing the piano in my
daughters room. ! knocked discreetlIy.
dragon Officers-a tall, blonde young man,
with a single eyeglass stuck in his eye, who
was playing Chopin waltz on my daugh-
terS piano.
All, it is you. sir" said he. Come in,
come in, / beg of YOU"
Il came to look for something in this
Certainly sir-take whatever you like"
and he resumed his interrupted waltz. I
approached the mantel and on the two lit
tie easels l found in place of my portrait a
photograph of King William and in place of
my wife's portrait photograph of Prince
and, in voice strangled with anger, ex-
claimed: Sir. there were two portraits
mitted you to remove these portraits and
replace them by the photographs Of these
two rascals."
II said these two rascals," and, snatching
the photographs from the easels, 1 tore
them into bits; then, with perfect calmness,
The officer rose. He was very pale. He
approached me. The only remaining ques-
ton was which of US should first be slapped
III the face and l was certain that it was
not l, when Antoinette hurried into the
room.
What is the matter" she demanded.
This gentleman has dared to take from
their easels two portraits which l came to
you did that, sir?" said she addressing
the officer Where are these portraits?"
I'm this drawer"
Give them to met
Here they are" and, in the most docile
manner, the Prussian officer passed the
two portraits to Antonette, who gave them
to me. saying rs this what you were
seellng?
Come, then" and she led me away. The
Prussian officer had not moved since An
toinette entered the room. / was con-
founded. Antoinette had played this little
scene with the cleverness and self-posses-
sion of an actress.
How astonished you look" she said, as
we descended the staircase.
"AStonished? Well l."
you need not be. Do you think that 1t
/ returned to Trouville, and another
month passed without a single letter from
Antoinette. l was beginning to he very
much disturbed, and despite the difficulties,
/ prepared to risk a second journey
when, one morning, toward the close of
my room and said: "Antoinette, my dear
1t is Antoinette-but in what state, poor
child"
/ looked and / saw pale. thin. haggared
creature who seemed to have been exhaust
ed by fatigue, hunger and illness.
ut is, indeed, l, sir" said Antoinette
land / bring you bad news. You remem-
Der all the jokes made by the Prussian