Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-01-17

that evening, and had for me, as al
ways, the warm heart Of a father. He
heard our report with . kindly SYM
patty.
Next morning rode away to see
the Comte de Chaumont at Leraysville.
I had my life, and great reason to
be thankful. but there were lives dearer
than my own to me, and they were yet
In peril Those dear faces haunted
me and filled my sleep with trouble.
! rode fast, reaching the chateau at
luncheon time. The count was reading
in a rustic chair at the big gate. He
came running to me, his face red with
excitement.
"M'sieur le Capitaine!" he cried, my
hand in both of his, II thought you
were dead"
And SO L have been-dead as
cat drowned in a well, that turns up
again as lively as ever. Any news OF
the baroness and the young ladies?"
"A letter." said he. Come, get OF
your horse. l shall read to you the let
ter"
Tell mellow were they taken?"
/ was leading my horse and we were
walking through a deep grove.
Eth bien, am not able to TELL" said
he, shaking his head soberly. "You re-
member that morning-well, I have
20 men there for two days. They are
armed, they surround the Hermitage,
they keep a good watch. The wasp he
Is very troublesome, but they see no
soldier. They stay. they burn the
smudge. BY and by l think there is
nothing to fear, and bring them
home, but leave three men. The
baroness and the two girls and their
servants they stay awhile to pack the
trunk. They are coming to the cha
teau. It is in the evening: the coach
Is at the door: the servants have start
cd. suddenly-the British do not
know how many. They come out of
the woods like lightning. and bangi
bang! bangl 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 rsturn, they come, and they
tell US. We follow. We find the
coach; It is in the road, by the north
trail. Dieul they are all gonel 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 force of cavalry" said.
II want you to come with me and talk
to him."
mo, no, my capitaine!" said he: 'it
would not be wise. We must wait.
We do not know where they are. /
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 had met them that
night in Canada and what came Of It.
They are cruel people, the Eng
lish," said he. II am afraid to find
them will be matter Of great diff
Guilty"
"But the letter."
"Ah, the letter" he interrupted, feel
ing in his pocket. '"The letter is not
much. It 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 1t
with an eagerness could not conceal.
It went as follows: s
my Dear Count: II this letter reaches
| you, It will, hope, relieve your anx-
tety. We are alive and well. but where?
am sure have no better idea than II
| We're baby Just born. We came here
with our eyes covered after long ride
| from the river, which we crossed in the
night. think 1t must have taken us
three days to come here. We are shut
| UP in big house with high walls and
trees and gardens around tia beautiful
place. We have fine beds and everything
to eat, only we miss the bouil-labaisse,
and the Jokes Of NJ. Pidgeon. and the fine
old claret. A fat Englishwoman who
waddles around like big goose and who
calls me Mumm Gas II I were 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. Dieui he
Is lord who talks as IL he were too lazy
! to breathe. It Is Your Lordship this
and your Lordship that But I must
| speak we'll of him, because he is going to
read this letter: It is on that condition
Il =
say he is great and good man, a beau
tiful man. The baroness and Louise send
love to all. Madame says do not worry
we shall come out all right: but say
worryl and, good man, do not cease te
/ worry until we are safe home. Tell the
have worn out my rosary, and am losing
faith Tell him to try his Your affec.
| tionate, 5 ana LOUIsoN."
"She Is an odd GIRL" said the count
a. gave back the letter, $50 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
shall make you glad to be here"
A groom took my horse, and the coun,
led me down wooded slope to the
lakeside. Octagonal water-houses
painted white, lay floating at anchor
near US. He rowed me to one Of then
for bath. Inside was rug and {
table and soap and linen. A broad
panel on q side Of the floor came up az
| pulled q cord, showing water cleal
and luminous to the sandy lake-bot
| tom. The glow of the monday filled
the lake to its shores, and in a mo
/ ment I Glove the sunlit depths-a rar,
delight after my long, hot ride.
| At luncheon we talked of the war
and he made much complaint of tn
northern army, as did everybody thos
days, lt. # r5
i MY boy" said he, you should joil
Perry on the second lake. It is you
only chance to fight, to win glory"
4 He told me then Of the impending
battle and Of Perry's great need o