Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-23

ie'"S pASN III III" NOOuh, uu'i, ihOu diue'
1t Is beautiful theresa still, so cool
so delightful! AT present they have q
great fear Of tho British. They lie
awake; they hear sound In the night
and. mon Dieu! It is the soldiers CON-
ing"
The count laughed, lifting his shout.
ders with gesture of both hands
Then he pulled thoughtfully at his Gig
arctic
Indeed" he went on presently, II
think the invasion is not far ava!
lhes teil me me woous in the north
are alive with British cavalry. am
MOI able to tell how many, but, Dieu!
It is enough. Tho army should inform
itself Immediately. think IT. Is bet
ter that you penetrate to the river to-
morrow, II you are no afraid, to see
what is between, and to return by the
woods. l shall trouble you to take a
letter to the Gen. Brown. 1t will be
ready at any hour"
"At six?" inquired.
AT six. certainly, If you desire to
start then" he replied.
He rose ard took my arm Affection
ately and conducted me to the big
drawing-room. Two of the ladies were
singing as one played the guitar.
looked in vain for the Misses de Lam
bert. The others were all there, but
they had gone. felt singular de-
preston at their absence and went to
my room shortly 10 get my rest, for
had TO be off early in the morning. Be.
fore going to bed. however. | sat down
to think and do some writing. But
could not for the life of me put away
he thought Of the young ladies. They
looked alike. and yet | felt sure they
were very different. Somehow could
not recall in what particular they diff
fered. | sat a time thinking over it..
Suddenly ! heard low voices, those Of
women speaking in French; could not
tell from where they came.
Il do wish she would die, the hateful
thing" said one. CT must be under
stood these words are more violent in
English than they seem in French.)
The colonel is severe tonight" said
another.
"The colonel---a fine baroness in
deed--vieille tyran! cannot love her
Lord! / once tried TO love a monkey
and had better luck. The colonel keeps
all the men to herself. Whom have
seen for a year? Dieu! women,
grandpapas, greasy guides! Not a
young man since We left Paris"
my dear Louison." said the other,
there are many things better than
men,"
'Au nom de Dieu! But should like
to know what they are. have never
seen them
But otter men are false and evil"
said the other, in sweet, low voice.
Nonsense" said the first, impa-
tiently. II had rather elope with
one-leggcd hostler than always live in
these woods
'Louison' You ought to cross your
self and repea. Hail Mary
Thanks! have tried prayer. II
is mt what need. am no nun like
you. My dear sister, don't you ever
long for the love of mana big,
handsome. hearty fellow who could
take you up in his arms and squeeze
the life out Of you?"
"Eh. bien," said the other, with a
sigh, Il suppose it is very nice. I do
not dare to think of It,"
Mice! II is heaven, Louise. And
to see a man like that and not be per-
mitted Toto speak to him. Think of
it! A. young and handsome mantle
first | have seen for year. Honestly
| could poison the colonel
My dear il IS the count as much
as the colonel, She is under his Or
ders, and he haa an eagle eye
THE ola monEeJ. He enrages me!
| could rend him limb from limb"
l could not help hearing what they
said, but ! did not think it quite fair
to share their confidence any further,
SO went to one OF the windows ard
| closed shutter noisil". The voices
must have como from a little balcony
just under my room
My dear Sister, yoD are very ter
| rible.' said one of them. and then the
| shutter came to, and heard no more.
A full moon lighted the darkness. A
little lake cleaned like silver between
the tree-tops. Worn out with hard
travel. fell into bed shortly, and lay
long time thinking Of those young
ladies, OF the past. OF tomorrow and its
perils, and of the farther future. A
new life had begun for me.