The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-24


tending along the four sides of this
hall was a gallery leading to suits of
rooms. and it was lighted from the top.
Still no bell was to be SEEN
+ Faith" said the captain halting.'
ashamed Of the clanking of his boots.
this is a 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 last-in every lineament how
like it was!
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 a 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 little
fete among them in the garden. In
effect it was the fete day of my daugh
of Nine. Taunton
He was SO gracious and SO frank
that NJ lie Capitaine Richard Double
dick could not withhold his hand.
1T is the hand of a brave English
man." said the French officer. re-
tanning it while he spoke. Il could
respect a brave Englishman even as
my foe. how much more as my friend.
l also am soldier
He has not remembered me as I
have remembered him. He did not
take such note of my face that day as
I took of his" thought Captain Rich
ard Doubledick How shall 1 tell
him.
The French officer conducted his
guest into a 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
beam1ng with joy. came running to
embrace him. and there was a 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
and peasants about the chateau were
dancing too 1t was a scene of limo
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
the French officer begged to show him
his rooms. They went upstairs into
the gallery from which the officer had
looked down, and NJ. lie Capitaine Rich
ard Doubledick was cordially wei
coined to grand outer chamber and
a smaller one within, all clocks and
draperies and hearths and brazen dogs,
and tiles and cool devices and elegance
and vastness.
You were at Waterloo?" said the
French officer.
Il was" said Captain Richard Dou-
bledick And at Badajos"
Left alone with the sound of his own
stern voice in his ears. he sat down to
consider. What shall L do and how
shall l tell him? At that time unhap-
PLY many deplorable duels had been
fought between English and French
officers arising out of the recent war.
and these duels and how to avoid this
officers hospitality were the upper
most thought in Captain Richard Dou-
bledick's mind.
He was thinking and letting the time
run out in which he should have dress
ed for dinner when Mrs. Taunton
spoke to him outside the door asking
if he could give her the letter he had
brought from Mary. His mother.
above ALL" the captain thought. How
shall tell herr"
you will form friendship with
your host. l hope" said Mrs. Taunton,
whom he hurriedly admitted. that will
last for life. He is so true hearted and
SO generous. Richard. that you can
hardly fail to esteem one another. If
he had been spared'-She kissed. not
without tears. the locket in which she
wore his hair-"he would have appre-
ciated him with his own magnanimity
and would have been truly happy that
the evil days were past which made
such a man his enemy"
She left the room. and the captain
walked first to one window, whence he
could see the dancing in the garden.
then to another window. whence he
could see the smiling prospect and the
peaceful vineyards.
spirit of my departed friend said
he lis it through thee these better
thoughts are rising in my mind? Is it
thou who hast shown me. all the way |
have been drawn to meet this man. the
blessings of the altered time? Is il
thou who hast sent thy stricken moth
er to me, TO stay my angry hand: Is
it from thee the whisper comes that
this man did his duty as thou didst-