Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-29
Here she broke on into a tramprns

It's powder and reek and thunder
when the. cannon begin 60 shoot.
But It's girls and gold and plumber
When the Ole wives pouch the Loot
What has become Of Mistress Wildwood.
you drunken old ~heathen7" demanded Maui
rice. full of gusty anger.
The young lady-the young lady" re-
peated the ancient wine-bibber, as IL trying
TO recall her memory. that we're too dim
cult a question for me-unless-unless-"
She crooked her claw-hngers SUCCESSFULLY
ana Maurice with an impatient gesture
threw rather than placed a gold coin within
them. They closed automatically upon Il.
She tugged at the ungainly trouser leg
which was about her frowsy forehead with
some vague idea perhaps Of making her
manners.
Il thank you. sir" she said, biting the
gold surreptitiously. Come income in
with you and see that old Elise speaks only
the truth"
Maurice felt a sudden spasm Of disgust,
but HIS curiosity drove him on.
Which was her room?" he said hastily.
as II ashamed. II understand she is gone
away-you will tell me where? In the
meantime l would like to see her room
where she lived, l mean"
For he remembered we'll that in the room
where Patrick Wildwood had received him
there had stood, behind a screen, the plain
campbell Of the. chaplain of Ardmillian's
regiment.
Inc old woman, with a nauseous grumble
about knowing when she could trust to
the generosity Of a great man. led the wav
up a stair and threw open q door. There.
sweet and white and clean as her own pure
skin, was lower-o'-the Corn's chamber
the bed folded Town and showing him linen.
fine and choice, the walls of wood smoked
black from the great open fireplace. with
engrayings Of great men and obiongs Of
embroidery and tapestry work all about,
disposed with a natural taste under this
beam and over that cupboard door as that
the whole Ito the eyes Of Maurice Raith)
wal a wonder and a marvel, so different
from his OWL bare quarters at the Auberi
Of the Bon Chertien.
He almost seemed to hear Flower-o'-the-
Coru's clear voice demanding of him what
he did there?" 1t was like violating a vir-
gins shrine.
G in-go I'M" croaked the vile old yo-
man., who had meantime repeated the dose
Of spirits from a small pocket bottle be-
bind Maurice's back while he stood en-
tranoed. make sure that the little missy
is not theresa pretty as she keeps every
thing! But l wager It is the bird you
want! All, you soldiers. you are all alike.
You would not give many SOUS for the
poor nest. All the same, you will not for
get old Elise for showing 1t to you!"
Maurice Raith felt that it would be a
PROCLAMATION to answer the woman, as 1t
would be an indignity almost personal to
enter the dwelling place of so pure a spirit
in his great dumping military boots. In
stinctively he took of his hat at the open
door, said an unwonted prayer. and so
stole silently away, his head downoast.
leaving the drunken old woman to follow
or not, as it pleased her.
She locked up the chamber and grumb-
lingly descended.
whittier did you say Mistress Frances
had gone2" he asked as carelessly as he
could.
The old woman, a horror OF chalkpale
cheeks and brick-red features, with that
unspeakable headgear of her husbands
breeches' legs swagging this way and that
over her blousy bosom, laid her finger cum
ningly by the side of her nose, with a cum
ming action which said, Don't you wish
you may get it,"
Maurice, ever willing to take the ~plainest
road to the solution OF any problem, ex-
tracted a second gold louis from his pocket.
He held 1t between his finger and thumb in
full view Of the ancient blear-eyed crone.
Has Mistress Frances at the last mo-
ment accompanied her father?" he asked.
Madame Elise shook her head so emphat-
ically that the ruins Of a tobacco pouch,
the brass clasps worn to the quick, tumbled
out Of the pocket Of her headdress and de-
bouched its contents upon the floor.
mo-" she said, "she stayed here by her
self for two hours last night, reading good
bookseller fathers books-and then came
Mistress Foy and took her away saying
that 1t was not becoming that a young girl
so beautiful should be left alone in such a
wide house! He-he! doubtless she knew
OF your coming, sir!"
Maurice turned on his heel as on a pivot
and stamped his way out angrily. But the
crone pursued him, crying, "The gold, good
gentleman! The golden louis! Do not de-
a poor woman, and. indeed, 1 would
have kept her II l could, kind gentleman,
more money would have come to poor
old Elise if she had remained here!"
over his shoulder Maurice angrily tossed
the piece of gold, which the unclean bag
caught ere IT fell, and slowed away in her
pouch carefully Gas containing the means of
procuring many small square-faced bottles
AN unlicensed export of the states gen.
eral of Holland which Madame Elise
counted more precious than whole parks Of
artillery.
CuApTEp YuTI |