The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-16

! With briers, on the upside of the way.
Presently looking over a level stretch,
could see trees arching the road
| again, from under which as ! was
| looking, squad of cavalry came out
in the open. Ii startled me- began
to think | was trapped. | thought of
dodging into the brush But. no; they
/ had seen ME. and would be a fool now
| to turn fugitive. | looked about me.
| Cows We're feeding near | picked up
a stick and went deliberately into the
| bushes. driving one of them to the pike
and heading her toward them. They
went by al a gallop, never pulling up
while in sight of me- Then | passed
The COW and went or, stopping an hour
later at a lonely log house. where
found French people, and a welcome
that included moose meat cup of
coffee and fried potatoes Leaving, |
rode some miles with a travelling
tinker voluhle, well-meaning youth
who look a liking for me. and went
far out OF his way to help me en-. He
blushed proudly when, stopping to
mend pot for the cook at a camp
of militia, they inquired if | was his
wife.
NO but she may be yet" said he;
who knows"
| knew Il was no good place for me.
and felt some relief when the young
man did me this honor From that
moment they sci me down for a sweet
heart.
She's too big for you, my boy, :"
said the general, laughing.
The more the BETTER" said he:
cant have too much of a good wife.
| said little 10 him as we rode along
lie asked for my address, when | left
him, and gave me the comforting as
surGnce that he would see me again
| made no answer, leaving him at a
turn where. north of us, could see
the white houses of Wrentham. Kings
ton was hard by its fort browning a
hilltop by the river.
1t was past three by tower clock
at the gate of the Weirs when ! got
there. A driveway through tall oaks
led TO the mansion of dark stone.
Many acres of park and field and gar
den We're shut In with high walls.
rang a bell, at the small gate, and some
fellow in livery took my message,
wait ere. my lass" saS he, with
an English accent Il II so at once
10 the secretary"
sat in a rustic chair by the gate
side. waiting for that functionary.
"Ah. come in come in" said he.
coolly. as he opened the gate little.
lie said nothing more and followed
bim-an olGish man with gray eyes
and hair and side-wh iskers, and neat
ly dressed. his head covered to the ears
with a high hat. tilted backward. We
took a stone path. and soon entered
tear door
she may sit in the servants hall"
said he to one of the maids
They took my shawl. as he went
away. and showed me to a room where.
evidently. the servants did their eat
ing They were inquisitive, those
kitchen maids. and now and then
was rather put to il for a wise reply.
! said as little as might be, using the
dialect. long familiar to me. of the
French Canadian My bonnet amused
them. II was none too new or fashion
able, and | did not remove it.
Afraid we II steal ii" heard one
of them whisper in the next room.
Then there was a loud laugh.
They gave me a French paper.
read every line Of it. and sat looking
out of a window at the tall trees. at
servants who passed to and fro at his
lordship's horses. led up and down for
exercise in the stable-yard at the tw!-
light glooming the last pictures of a
long day until they were all smudeed
with darkness. Then cande-ight a
trying. supper hour With maids and
cooks and srooms and footmen at the
big table. English. every one Of them.
and set mp with naughty curiosity
would not go to the. table, and had a
cup of tea and a biscuit there in my
corner. A big butler walked in hur-
riedly awhile after seven He looked
down at me as if were the dirt of the
gutter.
"They re waitiu'." said he. curly.
AN Sir Chawles would like to know
if We would care for humberreller?"
"Ah. m'sieu'' he rains?" inquired
No. num-"
"Ah, he is going TO rain. maybe?"
He made no answer. but turned
quickly aud went to a near closet
from which he brought a faded UNI
brella
There, said he. as he led me to
the front door, see that you send ii
back"
On the porch were the secretary and
the lsdies-three of them.
"Ciel, what is it," one of them
whispered as | came ont.
The post-lights were shining In their
faces. and lovlier never saw than
those of the demoiselles. They
stepped lightly to the coach and the
secretary asked If / would 90 in with
them.
mo. m'sieu was my answer, Il 81.
by re drivaire"
Come IN here. you silly goose" said
enc OF The ladies in French, recognize