The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-14

W
l looked at her without answering,
| completely stupehed, but she continued,
| IN row whisper: II was just coming to
get you. was unaware that you also
knew How did you lind It out?" And
without giving me time to answer, she
added, in still more confidential tone:
After all, 1t really doesn't matter.
come, hurry, we have just time But
| are you going unarmed? Take your re-
| voiver, please" made a gesture of pro-
| test, but she said, imperiousiy: "Take It,
| sir! You mustI 1t will be necessary II
| the robbers are numerous"
The robbers l repeated to myself;
then it is merely a question Of robbers,
| and mechanically obeyed.. Going to my
| bureau drawer 1 armed myself with my
| pistol. Then Elisa blew out the light,
| and 1 followed her in silence into the
! darkness Of the hall and out into the gar
| Cen.
| 1 did not dare to ask an explanation.
| Happily for me, however Elisa began to
explain without being Questioned and
| suddenly turning toward me she said:
THE place of meeting was In the CON
| servatory, was it not2'
| Completely nonpfused and not knowing
what to reply / made sort of inarticu-
| late sound, which she accepted as an
| acquiescence, and with her accustomed
| volubility continued:
| Today, just little after twelve as 7
was gathering wild flowers by the side
| OF old Mother Jeanne's cabin, l distinctly
heard voices whispering: Yes, tonight
| While the household are sleeping, We will
meet at Il, III the conservatory! l was
SO frightened that 1 didn't dare to move
or peep to see what the robbers looked
like. My first thought was she went
on, speaking in a lower and more mys-
ferrous undertone, that we were all to
De assassinated; but after rejecting I
decided that this was absurd, and that
l was foolish to allow myself to be SO
easily alarmed. All day I endeavored to
rid myself of these frightful conjectures,
and even tonight 1 tried to put them out
of my mind. But once in my own ROOM
1 was seized with desire to investigate,
and to find out just what the mysterious
Wlhisperers meant to do Just suppose
said to myself, that they should attack
poor old grandma" After that l couldn't
sleep, SO got up and dressed and came
after you"
AS Elisa talked she hurried on, and I,
her unwilling victim, meekly followed.
Arrived at the hedge, she drew me be.
hind a ciump of shrubs. Here" she
whispered, our view will be perfect,
and We will be unobserved. No matter
which path they take they will be
obliged to pass there''-and she pointed
to lilac bush-''to reach the conserya-
tory.
The situation had become quite ludi-
crous, and since I had discovered the
sort of robbers we were in search of, l
did not care to spend the rest of the
night, revolver in hand, waiting for
imaginary burglars. The only difficulty
now presented. was how to get rid, of this
suspicious girl L begged her to return
to the chateau, but she refused points
blank and would not listen to my logical
pleadings.
mo- she declared, with the tenacity
of little terrier, my resolution is ire
Yocable, and 1 shall remain here on
watch.
Soon after the expected happened, and
we heard light rustling of leaves.
Hush! LtstenT' said Elisa, trembling
from head to foot with fright.
Then, in the clear starlight, we saw
Mime. Loudel, gowned in a long, trailing
white Grecian robe Undoubtedly gotten
up for my special delectation), walking
quickly toward the side of the ConsCrva.-
tory. Stunned with surprise, Elisa
opened wide her great brown eyes and
stood transtlXed, watching her grand
mothers guest until she had disappeared
into the avenue of roses leading directly
to the conservatory
For few minutes She remained silent
Trying 10 collect Ier thoughts, and then
repeated half aloud to herself: Mime.
Loudel! Nine. LoudeI In the conserva-
toryr'
Suddenly the whole truth of the situa-
ton flashed upon her, and overcome by
the comical side of the adventure she
burst into a loud laugh-a fresh, piercing.
1nsolent laugh-which was irrita tingfy
exaSperating.
Look here said, "Elisav'
oh
Loudel! she repeated; well. she is a
sweet duck! Nine. Loudel and her rem
dezvous in the cOnserva tory! Why. Won
| could just as Well have left your revolver
in your drawer
Now that we are sure that there is no
| question OF robbers, 1 think we had bet
ter return to the chateau" I muttered.
| In evaporation, flor it is no longer
necessary to remain here
mot at ALL" retorted Elisa. with pro-
voking GOODNESS; 1--WE have seen Juliet.
let us await Romeo!" Then bursting
into laughter, she exclaimed: GLOW de-
| fghtfully amusing! I wonder who she
| is waiting for?"
| This question capped the climax. Her
| laughing curiosity made me furious, and
L could hardly control my temper. as /
| pictured the temptingly beautiful Venus
| &c Louder awaiting me in the conserva-
tory, while stupidity remained a help
less prisoner behind a clump Of shrubs.
| not daring to bulge. The whole affair
was too ridiculous. And the thought of
| the precious time 1 was wasting irri-
| tated me- [ decided I was not going to
| miss my appointment to satisfy the ca
prices of rascally little girl, and that.
| II aftalrs came to a crisis, would simply
| tell her that I was the happy mortal ex-
pected by Nine. LoudeE What right lad
| she to mix UP i'll nv affairs?
| wonder Counsin CASTOR" said Elisa
| suddenly whom Nine. LoudeI Is wait
| Ing for? 1t certainly must be some one
| who is easy to please"
WHY said I, little vexed.
because exclaimed Elisa, because
she Is no longer youngr'
| Indeed 1 replied.
! eyes. But perhaps YOU have never
| observed Nine Loudel very closely. WHY
| Castor, her hair is dyed. One can easiiv
| see that by looking at the roots: then
she is frightfully wrinkled! ONLY her
| wrinkles are half concealed by enumel."
! At that moment 1 felt like giving the
lmpertnent girl good shaking Just
! then cloud, which had partially yelled
! the face of the full moon, passed awav
and Elisa, revealed in the Gear, cold nen
| etrating white light of the Inoonbeans
appeared to me another being The clear
| white and pink tint of her complexion:
! the full fresh. red lips, disclosing a
set of perfect teeth; the expression of her
great, brown. frank eyes; her aburd
ant mass of dark hair; the easy, graceful
movements of her tall, reed-Iike figure
in q word, the splendor of her youthful
| charms suddenly burst upon me and COM
| pletely disarmed my anger
| why, haven't you noticed" she con-
! tinued, that to appear slender, Mime.
Loudel is so tightly laced that she can
| hardly bend? Acknowledge, cousin, that