The Press., 1901-01-10
DIS A[RML[E[D.
BY ED0WAR|D DIElPD7r,
FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HIS LIFE.
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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 food. Then
came the sudden wave of her hand, q
gay "Goodby!" to the general an EAU
revoir" to the young officers. and she
was out of sight. leaving never a trace
behind.
Thunder and lightning!' grumbled
the general. How does she do it? We
have once again been outwitted."
The next morning found her again
at the commandments, saucy as ever.
She gave the sentinels 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.
1--WE 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
anything like her. Was he afraid of
the little creature, he wondered? He
1n1 hot
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 neighhor's shoulder.
Thunder and lightningr 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 corner for the
rest of the journey. Not very vexed,
however. for he saw a 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 to
know everybody nobody knew her. A
handkerchief which she unwittingly let
drop had a baron's wreath embroider-
ed in the corner, whence she came to be
called the Little Baroness
If only that animal. his nephew. who
was SO shrewd and was keen on the
scent as bloodhound, would turn up,
the general felt things might go
straight. But no! Guy was sulking. 1t
was three months now since they had
that quarrel. The imhecile, not to wish
to marry the young girl who was being
specially trained for him at the Con-
vent of the Assumption and to take it
into his head to marry a widow! A
. widow! He never would consent to
Guy uniting himself to woman old
enough to be his mother. Never!
So the fine captain had taken his de-
parture and the pleasure of the gener-
ais sister with him. For the two were
all that remained of the old family and
nothing ought to have separated them
Yet mere caprice had done it. The
uncle Of course made up his mind to
disinherit the nephew. His money
would go to some charity unless
And the image of the little baroness
came before him flying over the hedges
and the bitches, with her sharp little
speeches and clear ringing laugh. Yes!
Why not? He would marry her! Guy
of course would retort. You should be
her father" Well. every one to his
taste.
This resolution taken as the result of
the reflections which had prevented
him from swallowing his coffee. his an
ger against Guy became stronger and
stronger.
But what dance the little baroness
led him! Though each day seemed to
add to her charm, it also seemed to add
to her capriciousness. Not word
could he get with her. The moment he
opened his mouth to say anything to
advance his suit there was a pirouette,
and she was Off like flash.
One morning she said:
"Our last promenade. general"
"Why?"
"You will soon know. Would you
mind having this last ride without
company"
She went at her everyday madcap
pace, all the time leading the way.
When she came to the wood the gen.
eral thought for moment she was go
ing to give her usual laughing fare
well and disappear forever from his
sight. Now or never he must make his
proposal. Let Guy think of it what he
might. In two bounds he was by her
side. She coolly demanded:
"What, you are not out Of breathw
Whether he was or not had little to
do with the matter. He murmured
through his mustache in a voice which
slightly trembled:
listen. have something to say to
you very serious"
She shook her head in tender raillery.
"Let us have gallop. Seriousness
is so fatiguing."
Never had she looked so beautiful:
never was Guy farther from the gen.
erals thoughts.
They were now going along a well
kept avenue. The chestnut of the little
baroness neighed. She touched him
lightly with her whip-a fash-the gen.
eral was alone.
A sudden turn in the avenue brought
him in front Of large square, and he
was just in time to see glimpse of q
riding habit disappearing through q
door.
Furious, he knocked as IL to break
down the house. There was no neces-
sity for such violence. The door was