Smyrna times., 1900-12-12
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A light touch from the aid-de-camp,
spring, and she is in the saddle. Away
she goes. who loves me follows me-"
They invariably follow her. One should
see her as she passed through the town,
flew over the roads and gained the
country. Nothing seemed to stop her,
neither wood nor field nor flood Then
came the sudden wave of her hand,
gay "GOodby!' to the general, an "Au
revoir!' to the young officers, and she
was out of sight, leaving never a trace
behind.
Thunder and lightningr' grumbled |
the general. How does she do it? We |
have once again been Outwitted.'
The next morning found her again |
at the commandant's, saucy as ever |
She gave the sentinels a merry little |
military salute with her dainty riding
whip, delivered up her horse to be tax
en- care of and moved straight toward
the dining hall, where covers were set
for the generals breakfast They
breakfasted together quietly, but to-
ward the end the general seemed to get
somewhat restless. He could not re-
strain three or four formidable "hems,"
and he sent the attendants flying about
in all directions.
I'VE are not here for amusement"
she remarked. Drink your coffee"
He drank it, mentally feeling any
thing but amused. Certainly he had
met women of many kinds, but never
Aov. hn frsosA Of
the little creature. he wondered? He
recalled their meeting just a month
before in Paris. He remembers still
how the moment the train was starting
she had climbed in with the rapidity of
a little squirrel and taken a seat be-
side him in the compartment, settling
herself so coZily and cOquettishly and
arranging her packages with pretty
order. Then little by little the eyes
closed the head leaned heavily for
ward and was soon lying in sleep
against her neighbor's shoulder.
Thunder and lightningw One does
not disturb the sleep of little child,
but when she opened those big aston
ished eyes and looked about it was diff
ferent He might surely be forgiven
for STOPPING to get a kiss. UnfOrtu-
nately it was the greasy cushion of the
seat which received it. while ma
demoiselle moved into a corner for the
rest of the journey. Not very vexed,
however, for he saw slight smile how
ering about her lips.
1t happened that both were going to
the same place.
Two days after the garrison was up
side down. and the funniest part of the
affair was that while she seemed tC
know everybody nobody knew her.
handkerchief which she unwittingly LEI
drop had a baron's wreath embrOider
ed in the corner, whence she came to bC
called the Little Baroness"
If only that animal. his nephew. wht
was so shrewd and was keen on tn,
scent as bloodhound. would turn up
the general felt things might g
straight. But no! Guy was sulking. l
was three months now since they hat
that quarrel. The imbecile. not to wisl
to marry the young girl who was beini
specially trained for him at the Con
vent Of the Assumption and to take
into his head to marry Il widow!
widow! He never would consent t
Guy uniting himself to a woman oil
enough to be his mother. Never!
So the fine captain had taken his dc
parture and the pleasure of the genel
ais sister with him. For the two wer
all that remained of the old family. an
nothing ought to have separated them.
Yet a mere caprice had done it. Th
I'm hfu mind I
disinherit the nephew. His none
would 90 to some charity unless
And the image of the little barones
came before him flying over the hedge
and the bitches, with her sharp litt
speeches and clear ringing laugh. Ye
Why not? He would marry her! Gu
Of course would retort, You should
her father" Well, every one to b
taste.
This resolution taken as the result
the reflections which had prevent'
him from swallowing his coffee, his a
ger against Guy became stronger al
stronger.
But what a dance the little barone
led him! Though each day seemed
add to her charm, 1t also seemed to az
to her capriciousness. Not wo
could he get with her. The moment
opened his mouth to say anything
advance his suit there was a piroueti
and she was off like fash.
One morning she said:
"Our last promenade, general.
"WhyT"
you will soon know. Would y
mind having this last ride witho
companyT
She went at her everyday made
pace, all the time leading the wa
When she came to the wood, the g