The Irish standard., 1905-05-13

know how many. They come out of
the woods like a lightning, and bang!
bang! bang! they have killed my men.
They take the baroness and the Misses
de Lambert, and they drive away with
them. The servants they hear the
shots. they return, they come, and they
tell us. We follow. We find the
coach; it is in the road, by the north
trail. Dieu! they are all gone! We
travel to the river, but" here he
lifted his shoulders and shook his head
dolefully-"we could do nothing"
"The general may let me 60 after
them with a force Of cavalry" l said.
II want you to come with me and talk
to him."
mo, no, my capitaine!" said he; ut
would not be wise. We must wait.
We do not know where they are. I
have friends in Canada; they are doing
their best, and when we hear from
them-eh bien, we shall know what is
necessary"
told him how l had met them that
night in Canada and what came Of it.
"They are a cruel people, the Eng
lish," said he. II am afraid to find
them will be q matter of great diff
Guilty."
"But the letter."
"Ah. the letter." he interrupted, feel
ing in his pocket. "The letter is not
much. 1t is from Tiptoes - from
Louison 1t was mailed this side Of
the river at Morristown. You shall
see; they do not know where they are"
He handed me the letter. read it
with an eagerness l could not conceal.
It went as follows:
my Dear Count: If this letter reaches
you. 1t will, l hope, relieve your anx-
iety. We are alive and well, but where?
I am sure l have no better idea than II
were baby just born. We came here
with our eyes covered after a long ride
from the river, which we crossed in the
night. l think 1t must have taken US
three days to come here. We are shut
up in q big house with high walls and
trees and gardens around it-a beautiful
place. We have fine beds and everything
to eat. only we miss the bouil-lnbalsse.
and the Jokes Of M. Pidgeon and the fine
old claret. A fat Englishwomnn who
waddles around like big goose and who
calls me Mumm (as If | were a wine
makerD waits upon us. We do not know
the name of our host. He is q tall man
who says little and has hair on his neck
and on the back of his hands. Deu! he
is lord who talks as IL he were too lazy
to breathe. 1t is Your Lordshp this
and Your Lordship that But 1 must
speak well Of him, because he is going to
read this letter: 1t is on that condition
I am permitted to write. Therefore
say he is great and good man, beau
tiful man. The baroness and Louise send
love to all. Madame says do not worry:
we shall come out all right: but I say
worry! and. good man. do not cease to
worry until we are safe home. Tell the
cure he has something to do now. I
have worn out my rosary, and am losing
faith. Tell him to try his. Your affec-
tionate, LOUISON."
"She is an odd girl" said the count.
as gave back the letter, 80 full Of
fun, so happy. so bright, so quick-al-
ways on her tiptoes. Come, you are
tired; you have ridden far in the dust.
l shall make you glad to be here"
A groom took my horse, and the count
led me down a wooded slope to the
lakeside. Octagonal water-houses,
painted white, lay floating at anchor
near us. He rowed me to one of them
for bath. Inside was rug and q
table and soap and linen. A broad
panel on a side Of the floor came up as
pulled cord, showing water clear
and luminous to the sandy lake-bot-
tom. The glow of the MONDAY filled
the lake to its shores, and in a mo-
.ment Glove the sunlit depths-a rare
delight after my long, hot ride.
:. At luncheon we talked of the war,
and he made much complaint of tho
northern army, as did everybody those
days.
"My boy" said he, "you should Join
Perry on the second lake. 1t is your
univ chance IN fpht IN win plorv"