The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-03-15
CHAPTER XIV.
All Is Lost.


IN made no answer but raised
50 my head and looked into his
eyes with a dignity that came
to NE as my right from suffering So
regarding each other we stood for
very short minute. in which the Capt
taine the Count de Lasselles raised
his head from his kisses Of salutation
upon my hands.
And, mon enfant is this the good
uncle to whose care you came into
American asked that Capitaine the
Count De Lasselles as he reached out
his imprisoned hands for greeting to
myrelative
| did not make any answer TO that
question Ny head raised itself yet
higher, and l looked my Gouverneur
Faulkner full in the face while | wait
ed TO hear what he would answer of
my kinship TO him.
"Sir. | am the friend Of General Car
ruthers. ana / am also the governor of
the state Of Harpeth. l have come
across the mountains to talk with YOU
about the business of this contract for
mules for Your army. and | have
brought your Young friend to assist
me If I should need tranSlating from
or to yoG. We Americans. captain. are
poor handlers of any language not our
own, and the matter is Of much grayi-
ty" And As the Gouverueur Faulkner
spoke those words to my Capitaine the
Count de Lasscles. with great courte-
sy. but also great steruucss. in which
he named me. not as his friend. but as
the friend of that Capitaine the Count
de Lassclles. | knew that | was placed
by him among all women liars of the
world and that to him his boy Robert
Of honor was of a truth dead forever.
at is indeed of such a gravity that |
have come from the English Canada to
make all clear to myself" answered
my beloved Capitaine the Count de
Lasselles as he drew himself to his
entire height, which was well nigh as
great as that of the gouverneur of the
state Of Harpeth.
And | have ridden "A day and a
night, sir. for the same purpose an
swered my great Governor Faulk-
ner. with that beautiful courtesy Of
business | have always observed him
to use in the transaction of his affairs
in his Office at the capitol Of the state
Of Harpeth And as one Of us must
make a beginning viii You not tell me
captain, why you are here and in this
predicameut?'
In Il few words | will make all
clear to you. your eXcellency,' made
answer my Capitaine the Count de
Lasseiles. with an air Of courtesy
equal to thar Of the Gouverueur Faux
ner. Il sent down into your state Of
Harpoth one Of my commission, to
whom | gave the direction that with
lack of annoying publicity he should
investigate the preparedness of the
state Of IIarIeth to deliver those 5000
of mules to the republique of France
as was being proposed. Behold. a re
port that all is wen comes to me. but
all. il is with sorrow and shame THAT
SUtu 81 lat-.- t'llt ne zone 10y "a son
Of poor France who struggles for life,
among tie sheets Of that report were
left by mistake the fragments of
draft of 4 letter to an American WON
an which made a partial disclosure of
an intended falscEess Of that state
meut to me Immediately | came alone
TO interview that false officer, and ]
find him gone from that small town
not far from here into your capital l
was seeking rapidly to ride alone by
directions into your capital city to pre-
vent that he make a signature. which
l had given to him the authority to
write, to those papers of so great an
importance. | was thus arrested by
that man Of great wildness, whose
patois | could not understand, as he
could not comprehend the EngLsh ]
make use Of. and you see me thus. l
beg Of you to tell me il that wicked
signature has been made
The Dauers have not been signed.