The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-21

ilOTTlUie uncertainty IN WHICH we spent
the day. Never, never shall I forget
those slow hours during which we sat
together, starting at every distant
shout, lest it should be the first sign
of the rejoicing which this news would
| cause in London. Monsieur Otto passed
from youth to age In a day. AS for
me, / find it easier to go out and meet
danger than to wait for it. / set forth,
therefore. toward evening. / wandered
here and wandered there. / was In
| the fencing rooms of Monsieur Angelo
and in the salon de-boxe of Monsieur
Jackson, and in the club of Brooks and
in the lobby of the chamber of depu-
ties, but nowhere did hear any news.
Still, 1t was possible that Lord Hawkes.
bury had received 1t himself just as
we had. He lived in Harley street, and
there 1t was that the treaty was to be
signed that night at 5. entreated Mon
sieur Otto to drink two glasses of Bur
gundy before he went, for feared lest
his haggard face and trembling hands
should rouse suspicion in the English
minister.
well, we went round together in
one of the embassy's carriages, about
1880. Monsieur Otto went in alone; but
presently, on excuse Of getting his port
folio, he came out again, with his
cheeks flushed with joy, to tell me that
all was well.
"sHe knows nothing he whispered.
All, ii the next half hour were overt
Give me a sign when it Is settled
said l.
For what reason?'
Because until then no messenger
shall interrupt you. give you my
PROMISE, Alphonse Lacour.'
He clasped my hand in both of his.
I shall make an excuse to move one
of the candles on to the table in the
window said he, and hurried into the
house, while was left waiting beside
the carriage.
well, If we could but secure our
selves from interruption for single
half-hour the day would be our own.
l had hardly begun to form my plans
when l saw the lights of a carriage
coming swiftly from the direction of
Oxford street. All, If 1t should be the
messenger! What could I do? / was
prepared to kill him-yes, even to kill
him rather than at this last moment
allow our work to be undone. Thous-
ands die to make glorious war. Why
should not one die to make a glorious
peace? What though they hurried me
to the scaffold? I should have sacri-
feed myself for my country. 1 had a
little curved Turkish knife strapped to
my waist. My hand was on the hilt
Of 1t when the carriage which had
dldTIH0Q lie TdlLIeQ safely past me.
But another might come. ] must be
prepared. Above all, must not COM
promise the embassy. / ordered our
carriage to move one, and 1 engaged
what you call hackney coach. Then
/ spoke to the driver and gave him a
guinea. He understood that 1t was a
special service.
You shall have another guinea If
you do what you are told said l.
0tA II ri oh col he
his slow eyes upon me without a trace
of excitement or curiosity.
If enter your coach with another
gentleman, you will drive up and down
Harley street and take no orders from
any one but me. When 1 get out you
will carry the other gentleman to Wa
tiers club in Bruton street.
All right, MASTER said he again.
$50 I stood outside Milford Hawkes.
bury's house, and you can think how
often my eyes went up to that window
In the hope of seeing the candle twin
kle in 1t. Five minutes passed, and
another five. Oh, how slowly they
crept along! I paced up and down,
slapping my hands to keep them warm,
and still straining my ears. And then
suddenly out of the dull hum of the
traffic down in Oxford street / heard a
sound detach itself, and grow louder
and louder, and clearer and clearer with
every instant, until two yellow lights
came flashing through the fog and a
light cabriolet whirled up to the door
Of the foreign minister. 1t had not
stopped before a young fellow sprang
out of it and hurried to the steps, while
the driver turned his horse and started
off into the fog once more.
'Ah, ii is in the moment of action
that am best, monsieur. You, who
only see me when l am drinking my
wine in the Cafe de Provence, cannot
conceive the heights to which I rise
AT that moment, when knew that the
fruits of ten-years' war were at stake
was magnificent. 1t was the last
French campaign, and the general and
the army in one.
SIR said I, touching him upon the
arm, are you the messenger for Lord
Hawkesbury
Yes said he.
At have been waiting for you half
an hour said /. You are TO follow me
at once. He is with the French am
bassador.'
81 spoke with such assurance that
he never hesitated an instant When
he entered the hackney coach and /
followed him in my heart gave such a
thrill Of joy that could hardly keep
from shouting aloud. He was a poor
little creature, this foreign Office mes