Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-12-20

awake: they hear sound in the night,
and, mon Dieu! it is the soldiers COM
ing"
The count laughed, lifting his Shout
ders with gesture of both hands.
Then he pulled thoughtfully at his Gig
,-rette.
Indeed" he went on presently, u
think the invasion is not far away.
They tell me the woods in the north
are alive with British cavalry. am
not able to tell how many, but, Dieu!
1t is enough. The army should inform
itself Immediately. / think it is bet
ter that you penetrate to the river to-
morrow, if you are no afraid, to see
what is between, and to return by the
woods. l shall trouble you to take
letter to the Gen. Brown. 1t will be
ready at any hour"
"At six?" inquired
cat six, certainly, if you desire to
start then" he replied.
He rose ard took my arm affection
ately and conducted me to the big
drawing-room. Two of the ladies were
singing as one played the guitar. I
looked in vain for the Misses de Lam
bert. The others were all there, but
they had gone. felt singular de-
preston at their absence and went to
my room shortly to get my rest, for
had TO be off early in the morning. Be-
fore going to bed, however, sat down
to think and do some writing. But
could not for the life of me put away
the thought of the young ladies. They
looked alike. and yet 1 felt sure they
not recall in what particular they diff
| fered. / sat time thinking over it.
Suddenly heard low voices, those of
women speaking in French; could not
| tell from where they came
81 do wish she would die, the hateful
thing!" said one. ct must be under
stood these words are more violent in
English than they seem in French.)
"The colonel is severe tonight" said
another.
1.-THE colonel fine baroness in
deed-vieille tyran! I cannot love her.
Lord! l once tried to love monkey
and had better luck. The colonel keeps
all the men to herself. Whom have
1 seen for a year? Dieu! women,
grandpapas, greasy guides! Not a
young man since we left Paris"
my dear Louison" said the other
there are many things better than
men,"
EAU nom de Dieu! But should like
to know what they are. / have never
seen them"
But often men are false and evil, .
said the other, in a sweet, low voice.
''Nonsense!" said the first, impa-
tiently. 81 had rather elope with q
one-legged hostler than always live In
these woods"
"Louison! You ought to cross your.
self and repeat Hail Mary"
Thanks! l have tried prayer. i
is MT what / need. am no nun like
you. My dear sister, don't you eve
: long for the love of man. big
handsome, hearty fellow who coult
take you up in his arms and squeeze
the life out of you?"
"Eh, bien," said the other, with {
sigh, 81 suppose it is very nice. d.
not dare to think of it."
"Nice 1t is heaven, Louise! An
to see man like that and not be per
mitted TOTO speak to him! Think O
1t! A young and handsome man-th
first l have seen for a year! Honestl
1 could poison the colonel"
"My dear, it is the count as mucl
as the colonel. She is under his or
ders, and he has an eagle eye"
THE old monkey. He enrages me
l could rend him limb from imb!"
l could not help hearing what the,
said but l did not think it quite fai
to share their confidence any further
so l went to one of the windows an
closed shutter noisily. The voice
must have come from little balloon
just under my room.
"My dear sister, you are very ter
rible," said one of them, and then tn
shutter came to, and I heard no more
A full moon lighted the darkness.
little lake cleaned like silver betwee
the tree-tops. Worn out with har
travel, fell into bed shortly, and la
a long time thinking of those youn
ladies, of the past, of tomorrow and ii
perils, and Of the farther future.
new life had begun for me.