Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-23

You can get ashore with this
bateau," said. "You will find the
horses tied to tree
"Wha' does thct mean?" said Dri.
"That we have no right to hold
them" was my answer. "Ronley was
in no way responsible for their COM
ing
Leaning over the side with lam
tern, while one of our men held the
bateau, I motioned to the coachman.
Give that 'humbcrreller' to the but
Ter. with my compliments" whis-
pered.
Our anchors up. our sails took the
wind in a jiffy.
Member how we used ye," Dri
called to the receding Bri,ishers, IAN
ef We ever meet Yankee try t. be
p'lite tew i'm"
Dawn had come before we got off at
the Harbor dock. took the ladies to
an inn for breakfast. wrote a report,
and went for my horse and uniform.
Gen Brown was buttoning his sus-
room.
What luck. my boy?" said he.
"All have returned safely. including
the ladies'" | replied quickly. land /
have the honor to submit n report"
He took a chair. and read the report
carefully, and looked up at me. laugh
ing.
What a lucky and remarkable young
mani" said he. II declare. you should
have lived in the Middle Ages"
All then | should not have en-
joyed your compliments or your friend
ship" was my answer.
He laughed again heartily.
"Nor the demoselles," said he. 81
congratulate you. They are the love-
lest of their sex; but I'm sorry they're
not Americans
Time enough. have decided that
one OF them shall become an Ameri-
can" said I. with al the confidence OF
youth.
1T is quite an undertaking" said hc
"Nou may find new difficultie5. Their
father is at the chateau"
Msieur de LAMBERT" | exclaimed.
m sieur dc Lambert. Came yester-
day. via Montreal. with a fine young
nobleman-the Count Esmon de Brov
ell said he. You must look out for
him; he has the beauty of Apollo and
the sword of cavalier"
/ And no fear of him." answered
sOberly, with a quick sense of alarm.
! They rode over in the afternoon
1o 2
seems the young ladies' father, getting
no news of them. had became w0tricd.
Well. you may go and have three days
for your fun; shall need you pre- ent-
ly."
Breakfast over, got team for the
ladies. and. mounting my own horse.
rode before them. began to consider
very odd thing in this love expert
ence. While they were in captivity I
had begun to think less of LOuison and
more of Louise. In truth. one face had
faded little in my memory: the other.
somehow. had grown clearer and
sweeter. as if by light borrowed
from the soul behind it. Now that |
saw LouisOn. her splendid face and
figure appealed to me with all the
power of old. She was quick, viva
cious. subtle. cunning. aware and
proud of her charms. and ever making
the most of them. She. ah, yes. she
could play with man for the mere
pleasure of victory-if she were not in
love with him. This type of woman
had no need Of argument TO make me
feel her charms. With her the old doubt
had returned TO me- for how long? I
wondered. Her sister was quite her
antithesis-thoughtful, slow, serious.
even-tempcred frank. unconscious OF
her beauty, and with that wonderful
thing. voice tender and low and
sympathetic and full of an eloquenco
could never understand. although |
felt 1T to my finger-tips. | could not
help loving her, and indeed. what man
with any life in him feels not the
power of such woman? That MORN
Ing. on the wOods-pike. I reduced the
problem to its simplest terms: the
one was a physical type. the other a
spiritual.
"Msieur le Capitaine." said Louison,
as | rode By the carriage. what be-
came of the tall woman last night ."
Left lis there in the woods" an
swored. "She was afraid of YOU"
Afraid of me! Why?"
well understand that YOU boxed
her ears shamefully."
A merry peal of laughter greeted my
words.
ut was too bad; you were very
harsh" said Louise. soberly.
II could not help it; she was an ugly.
awkward thing" said Louson. "I
could have pulled her nose"
"And it seems YOU called her a
geante also" I said. "She was quite
offended"
''lt was compliment" said the girl
'She was an Amazon-like the counts
statue of Jeanne dare"
"Poor thing. she could not help it,"
said Louise.
"Well." said Louison. with sigh Of
regret. "if ever see hcr again | shall
give her five-franc piece"
There was a moment of silence, and
she broke it.
Il hope. this afternoon you will let
me ride that horse" said she.
ION one condition" was my reply.
"And 1t is"
"That you will let me ride yours at
the same time"
ga urood uoc hor ouc,yor "CboIl