The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-09-21
CHAPTER VIII.

/ the ribs, without doing worse than 10
rake the bone here and there and weak
en- me with a loss OF blood. | woke
awhile before he came. The baroness
and the fat butler we're sitting beside
me. She was a big, stout woman OF
some 40 years. with dark hair and
gray eyes, and teeth Of remarkable
symmetry. That evening, remember.
she was in full dress.
my poor boy!" said she. in English
and in a sympathetic tone, as she bent
over me.
Indeed, my own mother could not
have been kinder than that good wo-
man. She was one that had a
heart and hand for the sick-room. |
told her how had been hurt and Of
my ride. She heard me through with
glow in her eyes.
what a storyl" said she. what a
dare-devill | do not see how 1t has
beer possible for you to live"
She spoke TO me always in English
OF quaint wording and quainter &C
cent. She seemed not to know that I
could speak French.
An impressive French tutor-a fine
old fellow, obsequious and bald-headed
sat by me all night to give me med
| icine. In the morning / felt as II /
had a new heartin me, and was plan
ming to mount my horse. | thought
ought to so about my business. but I
fear l thought more Of the young la
dies and the possibility Of my seeing
them again. The baroness came in
after | had a bite to eat. told her
| felt able to ride.
"You are not able. my child. You
cennot ride the horse now" said she,
feeling my brow; maybe not for
YER long time. have a large house.
plenty servant, plenty food. Parbleu!
be content We shall take good care
OF you. II there is one message to go
to your chief. you know | shall send
| It,"
l wrote a brief report Of my ad-
venture with the British. locating the
scene as carefully as might be, and she
sent II by mounted messenger to the
| Burg"
THE young ladies they wish 20 see
YOU" said the baroness. They are
kind-hearted: they would like to do
what they can. But I tell them no;
they will make you to be very tired. ="
"On the contrary. II will rest me
/ Let them come" / said
But | warn you" said she, lifting
her finger as she left the room. do not
fall in love They are full OF mischief
They do not study. They do not care.
You know they make much fun all
day"
The young ladies came in presently.
They wore gray gowns admirably fit-
ted to their fine figures. They brought
big bouquets and set them. with a
handsome courtesy. on the table be-
side me. They took chairs and sat
solemn-faced, without a word. as II Il
were a Quaker meeting they had come
to. | never saw better models Of SYM
pathetic propriety. was about to
speak. One Of them shook her head,
a finger on her lips.
DO not say one word" she said sol-
emily in English. 1T will make you
yer sick"
II was the first effort Of either Of
them to address me in English. As
soon knew. the warning had exhausted
her vocabulary. The baroness went
below In a moment Then the one
who had spoken came over and sat
near me. smiling.
"She does not know you can speak
! French" said she, whispering and ad-
dressing me In her native tongue. as
the other tiptOed to the door. "On
your life, do not let her know. She
will never permit us to see you. She
will keep us under lock and key. She
knows we cannot speak English, so
she thinks we cannot talk with you.
Il is a great lark. Are you better?"
What was to do under orders from
such authority? AS they babe me. I
hope you will say, for that is what
did. had no easy conscience about H..
must own. Day after day | took my
part in the little comedy They came
in Quaker-faced If the baroness we're
at hand, never speaking, except to her.
until she had gone. Then-well, such
animation. such wit, such bright eyes,
such brilliancy, | have never seen or
heard.
My wound was healing. War and
stern duty we're as things Of the far
past. The grand passion had hold of
me tried to fight it down. to shake
It off. but somehow It had the claws OF
a tiger. There was an odd thing about
II all: could not for the life OF me
tell which of the two charming girls
loved the better. Il may seem in
credible; could not understand IL my
self. They looked alike. and yet they
were quite different Louison was a
year older and Of stouter build. She
had more animation also, and always
a quicker and perhaps a brighter an
swer. The other had a face more Sc
rious, albeit no less beautiful, and a
slower tongue. She had little to say
but her silence had much In It TO ad-
mira and, indeed, TO remember. They
appealed to different men in me with
equal foTSs, | did not then know Why