Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-14

have been glad of my new uniform {:
 but after had had my bath and put
 on the new shirt and collar the valet
 had brought me, stood before the
 long pier-glass and saw no poor figure
 of man.
 The great dining-hall of the count
 was lighted with many candles when
 we came in 10 dinner It had a big
 fireplace, where logs were blazing, for
 the night had turned cool, and long table with big epergne of wrought
 silver filled with roses. in it's
 center. A great silken rug lay un- der the table, on a polished floor. and the walls were hung with tapestry. sat beside the count. and opposite me was the daughter of the sieur Louis Francois de Saint-Michel. kings for ester under Louis XVI Therese, the handsome daughter of the count, sat facing him at the farther end of the table, and beside her was the young Marquis de Gonvello. M. Pidgeon, the celebrated French astronomer, Moss Kent, brother of the since famous chancellor. the Sieur Michel, and the Baroness de Ferre. with her two wards, the Misses Louise and LouisOn de Lambert, were also at dinner. These young ladies were the most remark able of the company; their beauty was so brilliant, so fascinating, it kindled great fire in me the moment saw it. They said little. but seemed to have much interest in all the talk of the table. I looked at them more than was polite, am sure. but they looked at me quite as often. They had big. 1 beautiful brown eyes. and dark hair fastened high with jewelled pins. and profiles like those of the fair ladies of Sir Peter Lely, so finely were they cut One had form bit fuller and stronger than the others, but they were both as tall and trim as young beech, with lips cherry-red and cheeks where one could see faintly the glow of cut low, showing the graceful lines of neck and shoulder and full bosom. I had seen pretty girls, many of them, but few high-bred. beautiful young women. The moment I saw these two some new and mighty force came into me. There were wine and wit plenty at the counts table, and other things that were also new to me, and for which I retained perhaps too great a fondness.
 The count asked me to tell of our journey, and told the story with all the spirit l could put into my words. I am happy to say it did seem to hit the mark, for was no sooner done with our adventure than the ladies began to clap their hands, and the Misses de Lambert had much delight in their faces when the baroness re- told my story in French. ...
 Dinner over, the count invited me to the smOking-rOom, where, in cor ner by ourselves, had some talk with him. He told me of his father-that he had been friend of Franklin, that he had given ship and a cargo of gunpowder to our navy in '76. Like others I had met under his roof, the count had seen the coming of the Reign of Terror in France, and had fled with his great fortune. He had invested much of it there in the wild country. He loved America, and had given free ly to equip the army for war. He was, therefore. man of much influ- ence in the campaign of the north, and no doubt those in authority there were instructed, while the war was on, to take special care of his property.
 And will you please tell me-" said at length, "who are the Misses de Lam- bert?"
 Daughters of a friend in Paris" said the count. He is a great physi- elan. He wishes not for them to mar ry until they are 2l. Mon Dieu! it was matter of some difficulty. They were beautiful"
 "Very beautiful" I echoed.
 "They are admired" he went on. ''The young men they began to make trouble. My friend he send them here. with the baroness, to study-to finish their education. It is healthy, it is quiet. and-well, there are no young gentlemen. They go to bed early; they are up at daylight: they have the horse! they have boats: they amIse themselves yer much. But they are impatient: they long for Paris-the salon, the theater. the opera. They are like prisoners: they cannot make themselves contented. The baroness she has her villa on a lake hack in the woods. and. mon anne! it is beautiful there-so still, SO cool so delightful! At present they have a great fear of the British. They lie awake: they hear a sound in the night. and, mon Dieu! it is the soldiers con- irg."
 The count laughed. lifting his shoul- ders with a gesture of both hands. Then he puf,ed thoughtfully at his cig- arctic.
 Indeed" he went on presently, T think the invasion Is not far awa-. hey teil ne inc woods in the north are alive with British cavalry. am not able to tell how many, but. Dieu. ft is enough. The army should inform itself immediately. think it is bet- ter that you penetrate 10 the river to- morrow. if you are no afraid. to sec what is between. and to return by the woods. shall trouble you to take a letter to the Gen. Brown. It will be ready at any hour"
 At six?" I inquired.