The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-03
CUPID IN A BOX
A wooIng Under Dlmeuitiss.

ed TO watch me during my Temporary con-
fnement. What an outrage to place an
officer under arrest for such q slight
breach of discipline as that Of which l
was guityl
What brutal air these sentrles
havel 1t is true that ! myself have not
q very spiritual air. How stupid 1t is
herel shall certainly dislocate my jaw
with yawning. All, IL the Vicomtesse de
Buala should see me thusl By the way,
n seems to me that my friend Adjutant
Major Gelabert smiled wickedly as he
took NV saber after my arrest. 1t seems
IN mo that he has been very assidhous
IN bis attentions TO the yicomtesse of
Iote-- "What Is II SchnickmatzT
"a letter for you, iieutenant.S
"Achl Give il TO me. 1t Is from the
vieomtesse.
.r,... N,,,s,.,,r--, r,.h vou would be 90 kind
a. 10 sccamp.ny me 10 the opera this evening
As reward for this favor perhaps will consent
TO abridge the period OF what you have 50 gal
lantly called your sentry duty
All. what happiness! By Joye! did
well 10 sneak OF sentry duty. 1t is six
months since l asked for her hand, and
today she capitulates, with arms and
baggage. Gelabert is done fori "Schnick-
natzw
Eyes, lieutenant"
Get out my dress suit"
Eyes, lieutenant. Are you going out?'
"You don't think l want my dress suit
for you. do your
"No, lieutenant. But the sentryf"
"Ah! / forgot the sentry. Well, l will
70 through the stables"
"But the colonel Is there looking after
the grooming of his horses"
"Confound him! He ought to be a
bostler. Well, he can't stay there for
ever. Schnickmatz. tell me the moment
his back is turned" 1t will not do to dis
appoint Louise. Rather court martial
and execution! All, dear Louise!
widow, 26 Such beautiful hair! Such
hands! Such adorable feet! The most
charming woman in all Paris! But
must dress at once. 1t Is quarter past
q. and must take the o'clock express.
All, Louise. My darling! My life! BinS!
There goes a button, Schnickmatz"
ayes, lieutenant"
HAS the colonel gone yetF'
"No. lieutenant"
"Then must plan some other means
of escape Shall l descend by the win
dow? No, should be seen. All, / have
an idea! Schnicknatz, get down the box
in which my horse trappings came"
Eyes, lieutenant, a1d l shall get the
saddlesP'
mo, simpleton. Now, listen. / am
going to conceal myself in that box.
Then want you to have it taken to the
station, and | want you to stay beside it
all the time. If the colonel questions
you, tell him that you are going to send
NV horse trappngs to Paris to have
them repaired."
Eyes, lieutenant"
"Well, now i am ready. The devil!
I shouldn't want to travel far in these
close quarters. Now close the cover, and
be careful not to let me fall"
.YIaye no fear. lieutenant. will car
rv Won safely down stairs and l will sit
on the box while il is being carted to the
station"
All. what a Goliath Schnickmatz is!
He shoulders me as though ! were
child. Now we are going down stairs.
"Sehnickmatz, you idiot, hold me the 9TH
er way! All the blood is running into my
headr' All, thank heavens! At last l am
on the cart. Now we are off! Thunder!
i never knew before that this road was
so rough! l shall be jolted to pieces be-
fore we reach the station! All, at last!
We are there at last! "Sehnckmatz. open
the box! Quick, or l. shall be smoth-
"Wait a moment lieutenant; the colo
mel is at the station"
What! The colonel here? Is he go
ing TO PARISH"
"Yes: he is buying his ticket. Keep
your head down, lieutenant, or he will
see you"
"The devil! dare not meet the colo
mel Schnickmatz, have me sent as bag
gareU
"As baggage, lieutenantT'
ayes: have me sent to Paris as bag
gage. Pay the charges. / shall outwit
the colonel yet"
/ can hear Schnickmatz talking with
the baggage master. 1t is all arranged.
But ! hope they will not forget me and
leave me here at the station. No; the
porters are carrying me to the train.
Be careful, you brutes! They handle
me AS though l were a sack of potatoesl
ought TO have had Handle With Care"
marked ON the box. What strong smell
of leatherl The vicomtesse will think l