Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-07-28
THE IDIOT HUSSAR

Pcrussard guarded two things carefully,
the old clock and her daughter and IT was
n happy day for the latter, when she could
got away from the tiCk-tick Of the clock,
and tho clatt"r of tho old danes cane on
tho stops especially the more 50 now when
she could look down on the Hussars who
had ridden into town in their bright uni
forms and were tn remain there through
tho summer
But on" sunday, whom tho old lady had
locked tho door below. TO mako sure that
no ono rntor.d while she went mp to wind
IN" clock. Sin" found TO her great anger
some one ion short Jacket and foraring
Z ~ gazing into tho machinery OF the clock
striking tho stone steps in her rage,
"rhof, Napabond," cries she, what are
Won doing hero" But the intruder turn
ing to her only Erinncd Pointing TO the
clock. h" made q noise, tick-tick and then
jumping over tho old ladvs cano ran down
stairs. "Ah," said Dame Pcrussard he's
nothing hut \ poor idiot the soldiers are
amusing thomselvos with, poor lad. Poor
lad and with pity in her heart, after the
winding Of the clock had been slowly and
painfully accomplished she came down to
her chamber. only TO find tho poor idiot
on his knees before her daughter. holding
a skein Of yarn which was veXatiousy on
tangled. and could not for long time he
got free.
Anxious. yot sooN- no harm, the old
lHuN n'fflfd Nun bli rs soon dS Ih'NSlDle.
and giving HIM u holiday cake, and A pat
on the hack. besides - stern warning not
n come again to 500 tho tick-tick. deter
mined henceforth to lock the door always,
and keep tho key in her pocket,
A merry day had been planned for q
dance on the grass in n secluded valley
rcar tho noighboring chateau, and m"rr'l'
tho carriages ratified about tho town pick
inC ip thor fair froghts But poor Lis
ette could only look down from her IN
dow in the hclfry upon the stir below.
| Now Dame prrlfsSLrd aS she cr"pt ~
stairs after mathis thanked heaven tina
/ l.i.,tto was not going to be one of th'
! guests at tho fetc when bark, sh" near'
mans voice talking in tho helfrv. Sh
listened again ana quickly slipped hor fe"
ont of her wooden shoes.
| Tho pleading murmur continued an'
unable to control her anger -hc olutch"'
her cane and rushed forward to the " lin
| dow At tho same time the head # IN
| intruder was thrown back and the gilt
herring and ldIotic smile of ma" hUssar-
"tick-tick" checked the blow. II"r ango
melted into pity. Poor silly lad h" h"'
contrived to draw ~ the garden ladd"
| and had climbed to 500 the clock bringing
a flower to r.isctte. Extending her hand N
drew him gently in through IN" wiudoy
and as II WIS now market time she trudE
/ ed contentcdlv off with her stick and has
ket
An hour later liscttn and tho husSar
| not with tho simple face nj an idiot lu
gallant. spirited ana gay wcr" tho ccnte
" . crowd Of merry dancers. made AL tn
more merry as the tho story went round a.
tho trick played ON Dame f"rus>drd an
tho hight OF l.isott".
But one can not depend an tho sun j
summer Up from tn" west y sudden st"rr
darkenod tho sky and the soldiers LUrrio
! 80 d
nearest grange And now every ono treat
| ed the niiSsar with iuStrurtlN" dot"ronr
and even the old farmer at tho crduE
pulled out his wagons at his request an
cleaned tho floor soon tn" Who'll" Iart
were dancing Faily again ON tho smoot
thra shinG floor .Tcrardloss of tn" hoaN
rain
The clnttor Of horses foot AT swift ga
lop made known that annthor Wandoro
was seeking shelter. The newcomer join
cd tho party. ana making courteous so'
turo that tho dau"iuC might not no inter
ruptod. turned his attention 10 IlSctt" an
tho hussar. uoN tho only couple IN motion
who wcrc smiling r cach others faces r.
eardlcss Of tho pr"~"no" Of any but tnen
solves.
Gerard" ho ~udlculy called ont in
tone ~ surprise aud anger. Tho muSi
stopped. and tho hussar turned his after
tion in tho direction from which the vote
came.
"Gcrard Count Gerard"
And without saving another word, IN
old man pointed with his riding whip (
the farm house. Tho disguised count r.
spcctflllv bowed ms mead. hut continue
holding Iisottc's hand. At this mom"r
Dame Prussard streaming with rain an
leaning on her cane appeared also.
"piscraco not yoIr nIIno' said q
count. still pointing to tn" door. Who
disgraccd by dancing with my daughter