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

to the secretary.
] sat in rustic chair by the gate |
side, waiting for that functionary.
All. come in. come in said he,
coolly. as he opened the gate little.
He said nothing more and followed
him-an oldish man with gray eyes
and hair and side-wh iskers. and neat
ly dressed, his head covered to the ears
with high hat. tile ed backward We j
took a stone path nd soon entered q
rear door.
She may sit in The servants hall"
said he to one of the maids.
They took my shawl as he went
away. and showed me to 4 room where,
evidently, the servants did their eat
iny. They were inquisitive, thosa
kitchen maids. and now and then I Il
was rather put to if for a wise reply. |
! said as little as might be. using the
dialect, long familiar TO mo, Of tho
French Canadian. My bonnet amused
them. II was none too new or fashions
able. and | did not remove it.
Afraid we II steal it," ! heard one
! or them whisper in the next room.
Then there was n loud LAUGH.
They gave me a French paper n
read every line Of il. and sat loo in,J
out of window at the tail trees. at
/ servants VINO passed to and fro. at his |
/ lordship's horses, led uD and down for
exercise in the stable-yard at the twi-
light gloomine the last pictures of 4
long day until they were all smudged
with darkness Then candle light. al
trying supper hour with maids andI
cooks and crooms and footmen ut tho
big table. English, every one of them,
and set up with naughty curiosity II
would not go to the table. and had al
cup of tea and biscuit there in my
corner. A big butler walked in hur-|
riedly awhile after seven. He looked|
down al me as if were the dirt Of the|
gutter.
They re waitin'." said he. curtly.
can Sir Chawes would like to know
If We would care for a hum berreler?"
"Ah, 'sieu. he rains?" I inquired.
"No. mum"
"Ah. he is going TO rain. maybe?"
He made no answer. but turned|
quickly and went to near closet i
from which he brought faded UNI
brella.
"There.' said he rs he led me to|
the front door. sec that you send i'll
back"
On the porch were the secretary and
the ladies-three of them.
"Ciel what is it?" one Of them
whispered as | came ont.
The post-liehts We're shining in their
faces, and lovlier ! never saw than
those OF the domoiselles. They
stepped lightly to the coach. and the
secretary asked if I would go in with
them.
mo, m'sieu'. was my answer, II sit
by re drivare.'
Come in here. you silly goose" said
one Of the ladies in French, recognize
ing my nationality.
Grand merci," said taking my
seat by the driver: and then we were
off. with as lively a team as ever
carried me, our lights flashing on the
tree trunks We had been riding NOR
than two hours when we stopped fol
water at spring-tub under hill
They gave me cup, and, for the
ladies, ! brought each bumper of the
cool. trucking flood.
lei, my tall woman" said one OF
them, presently, my boot is united
Her dainty foot came out of the
coach under ruffles Of silk. hesitated,
) for | was not accustomed TO that sort
of service.
, "Lambine." she exclaimed. Make
haste. will you?" her foot moving i'm
patiently.
My fingers got numb in the colo
air. and | must have been very awk.
= ward, for presently she boxed my ears
and drew her foot away
1 "Dieu.' said she. Tell him tc
drive on"
3 | got to my seat quickly. confident
that nature had not intended me fol
a iady's-mad. Awhile later We heard
, the call of a picket far aield, but saw
no camp. A horseman-f thought him
a cavalry officer-passed us. flashing in
, our faces the light OF a dark lantern
but said nothing. 1t must have beer
near midnight When as We were goins
slowly through deep sand, | heard the
[ clang of cowbell in the near dark.
ness. Another sounded quickly BIT
farther on. The driver save no heed