Amador ledger., 1901-02-01
! DIS AG[RRMI[E[D):
FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HIS LIFE.
BY EID0yARD DEILIPl1T.

| spring, ana 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,
few 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, a
gay Goodbye 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 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
recalled their meeting just month
before In Paris. He remembers still
how the moment the train was starting
she had climbed in with the rapidity of
little squirrel and taken a seat be-
side him In the compartment, settling
herself so cezily 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 neighbours shoulder.
Thunder and lightningw One does
not disturb the sleep of a little child,
but when she opened those big asten-
shed eyes and looked about it was diff
terent. 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
1emoiselle moved into a corner for the
rest of the journey. Not very vexed,
however, for he saw slight smile how
sring 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
| 1rop had baron's wreath embroider-
I'd 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 imbecile, not to wish
to marry the young girl who was being
specially trained for him at the Con-
Jent of the Assumption and to take it
into his head to marry a widow! A
widowl He never would consent to
Guy uniting himself to woman old
enough to be his mother. Never!
30 the fine captain had taken his de-
2arture and the pleasure of the gener-
aPs sister with him. For the two were
Ill 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
iisinherit the nephew. His money
would 60 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 a dance the little baroness
ed 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 pirouette,
and she was off like a fash.
One morning she said:
"Our last promenade, general"
"Why?''
You will soon know Would you
mind having this last ride without
| ,ompany?"
She went at her everyday madcap
pace. all the time leading the way.
Vixen she came to the wood. the gen.
eral thought for moment she was 60
Ing to give her usual laughing fare
well and disappear forever from his
sight. Now or n.rer he must make his
proposal. Let Guy think of it what he
might. In tWo bounds he was by her
side. She coOlly lemanded:
| What, y0u are not out of breath?"
| Whether he was or not had little to
| do with the matter. He murmured
| through his mustache in voice which
slightly trembled
Listen. nave something to say to
| vou very serious
She shook her head in tender raillery.
Let us have a gallop. Seriousness
is so fatiguing."
Never had she looked so beautiful;
never was City farther from the gen.
erals thoughts.
They were now going along a we'll
kept avenue. The chestnut of the little
baroness neighed. She touched him
lightly with her whip-a flash-the gen.
eral was alone.