The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1915-03-04

UT '"e eap'nih, Instead Of returning 10
England. 20 complete his recovery IN
Tue climate Of southern France. They
round spot upon the Rhone. within
ride OF the old town OF Avignon and
"l'hin view Of lis broken bridge. which
was all they could desire. They lived
there together six months. then return
'I TO England Mrs Taunton. growing
old after three years-though not no
old as that her bright. dark eyes were
uih'ined-and remembering that her
strength had been benefited by the
change. resolved Ia go back for year
10 those par. 80 she went with a
miihfnl servant who had often carried
her son Ia his arms. aud she was 10 be
relolned aud escorted home az the
years end by Captain Richard Double.
dick
She wrote regularly 10 her children
las she called them now. aud they 10
her She %ent 10 the neighborhoOd OF
AlA. aud there. Ia their own chaiean
near the farmers house she rented.
she grew into Intimacy with family
belonging a. that part Of France. The
Intimacy began IN her often meeting
among the vineyards pretty child.
girl With a most compassionate heart
WHO was never tired ~ listening 20 the
solitary English ladys stories Of her
roor sou aud the cruel wars. The fam.
ly were IN gentle as the child and az
length sue came 10 know them 10 well
TINT she accepted their invitation TO
pass the last mouth Of her residence
abroad under their roof All this In.
ielligence she wrote home. piecemeal
- u came about from time 10 time.
and ~ last inclosed polite note from
the head Of the chateau soliciting. on
the occasion af his approaching mis-.
sion 10 that nelghhorhood. the honor OF
the company of Get homme u jusie-
ment crlcbre. NJ le Capltaine Richard
Doubledick
Captain Doubledick. now hariy.
handsome map In the full vigor Of lie.
hmader across the chest aud shoulders
tlnu be- had ever been before. dispatch
d u courteous reply and followed Il In
lerson travelling through all that ex.
tent Of country after three years OF
peace. he blessed the better days ON
which the world had fallen. The corn
was golden. not drenched In unnatural
red was hound In sheaves for food.
not lrodden underfOot by men In moi.
tai light The smoke rose 40 from
peaceful hearths. not blazing ruins In
sofiened spirit be reached the old
chateau near AK upon deep blue
eveeing
II was large chateau u the genuine
old ghostly Kind. with round towers
aud extingulshers aud high leaden
roof aud more windows than AIad.
iin's palace The lattice blinds were
al thrown open after the heat Of
the day. and there were glimpses OF
rambling walls aud corridors with
in Then there were Immense out.
buildings fallen into partial decay.
ihassrs 1T dark trees. terrace gardens.
balustrades. tanks OF water too weak
to play and too dirty to work. statues,
weeds aud thlekcts u iron railing that
seemed 10 have overgrown themselves
like the strawberries aud 10 have
branched ont In al manner ~ wild
shapes. The entrance doors stood open.
and the captain walked In
lie walked into a lofty stone hall.
refreshingly cool aud gloomy after the
glare OF the southern days travel. Ex.
tending along the four sides OF this
hall was a gallery leading TO suits Of
rooms, aud II 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 a ghostly beginningl"
lie started back aud felt his face
turn white. In the gallery looking
down at him stood the French officer
the officer whose picture be had car
ried In his mind ~ long and 50 far.
Compared with the remembered orig
inal az last--in every lineament how
like II vast
He moved and disappeared. and Cap
tain Richard Doubledick heard his
steps coming quickly down into the
hal! He entered through an 8rchway.
There was bright, sudden look upon
his face. much such n look as II had
worn !n that fatal moment at Bada.
JOS.
NJ. le CapItaine Richard Double
dick? Enchanted 10 receive him! A
thousand apslOeiesl The servants were
all out in the air. There was little
fete among them In the garden. In
effect II was the fete day Of my daugh-
ter. the little cherished aud protected
OF Nine Taunton.
He was so gracious and so frank
that NJ. le Capitaine Richard Double
dick could not withhold his hand.
1T Is the hand OF a brave English.
man" said the French officer. re-
timing II while he spoke, II could
respect brave Englishman even as
my foe. how much more as my friend!
| also am a soldier"
"He has not remembered me as
have remembered him. He did not
take such note Of my face that day rs