Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-03-23


them will be a matter of great diff
Guilty"
The former called to me as passed. l
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 | could not conceal.
1t went as follows:
My Dear Count: II this letter reaches
you, 1t will, / hope, relieve your anx-
iety We are alive and well, but where?
/ am sure | have no better idea than if
| were a baby just born We came here
with our eyes covered after a long ride
from the river, which we crossed in the
night ! think it must have taken us
three days to come here. We are shut
up I'm a 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-lab baisSe,
and the jokes of NJ. Pidgeon, and the fine
old caret. A fat Englishwoman who
waddles around like big goose and who
calls me Mumm (as If | were a wine
-
the name of our host He is q tail man
who says little and has hair on his neck
and on the back of his hands. Dieu! he
Is lord who talks as If he were too lazy
to breathe. 1t is Your Lordshp this
and Your Lordship that But | must
speak well of him, because he is going to
read this letter: it Is on that condition
| am permitted to write. Therefore 1
say he is a 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
worry and good man. do not cease to
worry until we are safe home. Tell the
| cure he has something to do now.
| have worn out my rosary, and am losing
faith. Tell him to try his. Your affec-
| tionate, LOU1SON.'
"She is an odd GIRL" said the count,
as | 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 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 a rug and a
| table and soap and linen. A broad
panel on a side of the floor came up as
| | pulled a cord, showing water clear
and luminous to the sandy lake-bot-
tom. The glow of the MONDAY filled
the lake to it's 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 the
northern army as did everybody those
days.
my boy" said he, you should join
Perry on the second lake. 1t is your
only chance to fight, to win glory"
He told me then of the impending
| battle and of Perry's great need OF
men. had read of the sea-fghting
and longed for part in it. To climb
on hostile decks and fight hand to
hand was a thing to my fancy All,
we'll! | was young then. At the counts
table that day | determined to go, if
could get leave.
Therese and young Parisienne her
| friend, were at luncheon with us. They
bade us adieu and went away for a gal
| lop as we took cigars. We had no
sooner left the dining room than
called for my horse. Due at the Har-
Dor that evening, | could give myself no
! longer to the fine hospitality of the
count. In a few moments was bound
| ing over the road, now cool in deep
forest shadows. A little way on
overlook Therese and the Parisienne
drew rein, coming back and stopping
! beside her The other went on at a
walk.
| m sieur lie Capitaine, have you any
news of them-of Louise and Louison?"
she inquired. you and my father
were so busy talking l could not ask
you before"
Il know this only; they are in cap
tivity somewhere, cannot tell where" +"
You look worried, M'sieur lie Cap
itaine; you have not the happy face,
the merry look, any longer. In June
you were boy, in August-voila! it
is man! Perhaps you are preparing
for the ministry"
She assumed a solemn look glanc-
ing up at me as if in mockery of my
sober face. She was a slim, fine bru-
nette, who, as | knew, had long been
Contidante of Louison.
Alas! man selle, am worried
have no longer any peace"
DO you miss them?" she inquired
a knowing look in her handsome eyes.
DO not think me impertinent"
More than | miss my mother" |
| said.
Il have a letter" said she, smiling
Il do not know thought l should
show it to you, but-but not to-day"
rs it from them?"
at is from Louison-from Tiptoes. >"
"And-and it speaks of me?"
"Ah, m'sieur," said she, arching h?r
brows, "it has indeed much to say of
you"
"And-and may | not see it?' l
asked eagerly. Main selle, tell you
| II must see it,