Morris tribune., 1914-11-13

He walked into l0ICy SIoHe he.-' i
refreshingly cool and gloomy after tns
glare of the southern days travel. FIX
tending along the four sides Of TINS
hall was a gallery leading to suits Oh
rooms, and it was lighted from the top
Still no bell was to be seen.
Faith said the captain hating
ashamed of the clanking of his bootS'
this is ghostly beginning
He started back and felt his face
turn white. In the gallery looking
down at him stood the French officer
the officer whose picture he had car
ried in his mind so long and so far.
Compared with the remembered orig
inal at Iast-in every lineament how
like it wasl
He moved and disappeared, and Cap
tain Richard Doubledick heard his
steps coming quickly down into the
hall He entered through an archway. |
There was a bright, sudden look upon !
his face, much such look as it had /
worn in that fatal moment at Bada- /
! jos. =
NJ lie Capitaine Richard Double
dick? Enchanted to receive him. a
thousand apologies! The servants were
all out in the air. There was Titles,
fete among them in the garden, In
effect it was the fete day of my daugh-
ter, the little cherished and protected
Of Nine. Taunton.
He was so gracious and so frank
that M. lie Capitaine Richard Double
dick could not withhold his hand.
1T is the hand of brave English
man." said the French officer, re-
tanning it while he spoke. 81 could
respect a brave Englishman even as
my foe, how much more as my friend!
l also am a soldier"
He has not remembered me as
have remembered him. He did not
take such note of my face that day as
took Of his" thought Captain Rich
ard Doubledick. How shall l tell
him?''
The French officer conducted his
guest into garden and presented him
to his wife. an engaging and beautiful
woman. sitting with Mrs. Taunton in
a whimsical old fashioned pavilion.
His daughter, her fair young face
beaming with joy, came running to
embrace him, and there was boy
, baby to tumble down among the or
ange trees on the broad steps in max
ing for his fathers legs. A multitude
/ Of children visitors were dancing to
7 sprightly music, and all the servants
and peasants about the chateau were
dancing too. 1t was a scene Of inno-
7 cent happiness that might have been
= invented for the climax of the scenes
? of peace which had soothed the cap
, tain's journey.
: He looked On, greatly troubled in his
mind, until resounding bell rang. and
Y the French officer begged to show him
o his rooms. They went upstairs into
n the gallery from which the officer had
y looked down, and M. lie Capitaine Rich
q ard Doubledick was cordially wei
d coined to grand outer chamber and
b a smaller one within, all clocks and
d draperies and hearths and brazen dogs
l. and tiles and cool devices and elegance
g and vastnesS.
o You were at Waterloo" said the
e French officer
r. 81 was, said Captain Richard DOu-
e bledick. And at Badajos."
II Left alone with the sound of his own
a stern voice in his ears. he sat down to
d consider, What shall l do and how
Re shall tell him? At that time unhap.
le PLY many deplorable duels had been
4 fought between English and French
officers arising out of the recent war
II and these duels and how to avoid this
. officers hospitality were the upper
If most thought in Captain Richard Dou.
Il bledick'S mind.
!, He was thinking and letting the time
v run out in which he should have dress
lie ed for dinner when Mrs. Taunton
e spoke to him outside the door asking
if be could give her the letter he had
t. brought from Mary. His mother
lie above ALL" the captain thought. How
r. shall tell her?'
a. 'You will form friendship Will
1t your host, hope" said Mrs. Taunton
II whom he hurrfedly admitted, that viii
10 last for life. He is so true hearted ant
q so generous, Richard, that you cal
n hardly fail to esteem one another L
Al he had been spared"-she kissed. no
e. without tears. the locket in which sht
m wore his hair-"he would have appre
N ciated him with his own magnanimit!
8 and would have been truly happy tina
# the evil days were past which mad
such man his enemy"
- She left the room, and the captain
walked first to one window, whence b
could see the, dancing in the garden
- then to another window, whence b
z could see the smiling prospect and tn
- peaceful vineyards.
= Spirit of my departed friend" sal
- he, lis it through thee these bette
- thoughts are rising in my mind? Is
= thou who hast shown me, all the way
- have been drawn to meet this man, tn
- blessings of the altered time? Is
a. thOu who hast sent thy Sfrickpn motF