The Irish standard., 1905-06-17
took stone path, and soon entered .

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 room where,
evidently the servants did their eat.
Ing. They were inquisitive, those
kitchen maids, and now and then
was rather put to it for wise reply.
l said as little as might be, using the
dialect, long familiar to me, of the
French Canadian My bonnet amused
them. 1t was none too new or fashion,
able, and | did mot remove it.
Afraid we II steal it," heard one
OF them whisper in the next room,
Then there was loud laugh
They gave me a French paper.
read every line of it. and sat looking
out of a window at the tall trees, at
servants who passed to and fro, at his
lordship's horses. led up and down for
exercise in the stable-yard, at the twi-
light glooming the last pictures of a
long day until they were all smudged
with darkness. Then candle-light, a
trying supper hour with maids and
cooks and grooms and footmen at the
big table. English, every one of them,
and set up with naughty curiosity. I
would not go to the table, and had a
cup of tea and a biscuit there in my
corner A big butler walked in hur-
riedly awhile after seven. He looked
down at me as If We're the dirt of the
gutter.
They re waitin'." said he, curtly.
NJ W. f1o1x lac -
II We would care for a humberreller?"
/ "Ah, m'sieu'! he rains?" l inquired.
mo. num-"
"Ah! he is going to rain, maybe?"
! He made no answer, but turned
quickly and went to a near closet.
from which he brought a faded UNI
brella.
There" said he, as he led me to
the front door, "see that you send it
back"
). On the porch were the secretary and
the ladies-three of them.
"Ciel! what is it?" one of them
whispered as l came out
The post-lights were shining in their
faces, and lovlier never saw than
those of the demoiselles. They
stepped lightly to the coach, and the
secretary asked If would go in with
them.
mo, m'sieu,"w my answer, II sit
by re drivaire."
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
of, with as lively a team as ever
carried me, our lights flashing on tho
tree trunks. We had been riding more
than two hours when We stopped for
water at sprins-tub under hill.
ladies', brought each bumper of the
cool, triclsling flood.
"Ici, my tall woman" said one OF
them, presently, my boot is united"
Her dainty foot came out of the
coach under ruffles of silk. l hesitated,
for | was not accustomed to that sort
of service.
"Lambine!" she exclaimed. make
haste, will you?" her foot moving inn
patiently.
My fingers got numb in the cold
air, and l must have been very awk-
ward, for presently she boxed my ears,
and drew her foot away.
"Dicl!" said she. Tell him to
drive on"
1 got to my seat quickly, confident
that nature had not intended me for
a lady Awhile later we heard
the call of a picket far afield, but saw
no camp A horseman-I thought him
cavalry otficer--passed us, flashing in
our faces the light of dark lantern.
but said nothing. 1t must have been
, near midnight when, as we were going
slowly through deep sand, heard the
Glang OF coWbel in the near dark
ness. Another sounded quickly a bit
farther on. The driver gave no heed
10 1t, although recognized the signal,
and kIfew something would happen
shortly. We had come into the double
dark of the timber when, suddenly,
our hoses reared, snorting, and
stopped. The driver felt for his big
pistol but not in the right place: for
two hours or more it had been slowed
away in the deep pocket of my gown.
Not a word was spoken. BY the dim
light of the lanterns we could see men
all about us with pixies looming in the
dark. For a breath or two there was
perfect silence; then the driver rose
quickly and shouted: who are you?"
"Frien's O. these ere women" said
one | recognized as the corporal D'ri.
He spoke in low tone as he opened
the door.
Grace All ciel!" heard one of the
young ladies saying. at is D'ri-
dear old fellow!"
Then all hurried out of the coach
and kissed him.
The "aptain--is he not here?" said
one of them in French But D'ri did
not understand them and made no an
swer.
"Out wi the lights, an be STILL" said
D'ri, quickly, and the lights were out
as soon as the words. Jones, you tic
up front leg o. one O. them bosses.
Git back in the brush, ladies'. Five on
'em, boys. Now up with the pike
wall!"
From far back in the road had come
again the clang Of the cow-bell. I re-
member hearing five strokes and then
q loud rattle. In twinkling I was of
| the seat and beside the ladies.