The Press., 1917-02-01

ain assent of delight, and for that two days journey down into the grazing lands of the Harpeth valley he had a great eagerness until told that it was to be undertaken upon the morrow.
 ''Is it not that we will be occupied on the morning of tomorrow with the signing of those papers of importance. your excellency?" he asked, with a grave annoyance which was under a fine control.
 The secretary of state, General Car ruthers, and I think 1t will be best that you see the grazing lands of liar peth and some of the mules being put into condition before the signing of the contracts" was what was hand ed out to him." as my Buzz would have expressed 1t. by my GOuverneur Faulkner with a great courtesy and kindliness as he helped himself to some excellent chicken prepared in a fry. l could see d great start of alarm come into the eyes of that small Lieutenant the Count de Bourbon at those calm words, but he gave not sign of 1t. In my heart was a great hope that something had been dis covered for the protection of my sol diers of France, and I also took to myself a portion of that excellent chicken and did make the attempt to consume it as l beheld ell of those great gentlemen performing. 1 be lieve that under excitement men pos sess a much greater calmness of ap- Detite than do women.
 "M. le Gcuverneur, it is not neces- sary that l behold those lands and those mules. The signature of the great gOuverneur of the state of liar peth will make a mule to grow from a desert in the eyes of the French gov ernment," he said, with a smile of great charm spreading over his very small countenance.
 But just at-this moment, when a reply would have been of an awkward ness to make, the music, which is made by a most delightful band of black men for all eating In that club of Old Hickory, began to play the great Marseillaise and with one mo- tiOn all of the gentlemen i'll that din ing room rose to their feet in respect to the distinguished guest of that Old Hickory club. Also many friendly glances were cast upon me, which l returned with a smile of great grati- tude.
 ''vGs, the pen Is mightier than the
 ..,.le stick in his eyes, the scOuRdrel," remarked my uncle. the General Rob ert. nS l drove to the capitol with him - ner took his guest with him in his,
 "Is any proof been found that he shall not do this robbery to France, my Uncle RObert:'' l asked with great cagernesS.
 Trap is about ready to spring. but no; quite. Cad. but Jeff Whitworth is | skilled thief! know what he is up to, but can't quite get it on the sHr face. Keep the French rObber busy boy. for little longer, and I'll lauA him. Here we are at the office! Now you get busy keeping them busy--and I'll land 'em. If not I'll go and show France what real fighting Is. and I'll take you with me into the worst trench they've get. Battles, indeed they ought to have been at Chicka- mauga. Now depart.' With which words my uncle, the General Robert got out of the car and let me t0 direct it to wherever chose.
 It has been my good fortune to b" one of the guests at many very bril- liant receptions of much state i'll some of the very grand and ancient palaces of the different countries of Europe, but at none of them have I seen a greater bTilliancy than at the one given ln his mansion by the GOuverneuF Faulkner of the state of Harpeth in America, Also had never beheld wOm= en of a more loYeliness than those of the state of Harpeth, who had come from many small cities near to HayesYille at an invitation of, very careful selection for their beauty by my Buzz.
 And most beautiful of all those beau tiful granle danes was that Madam Patricia WhitwOrth, who with her huj- band stood at the side of his excel lency the great Gouverneur Faulkner for the receiving of his guests. Her eyes of the blue flowers set in the snow of crystals were in a gleaming. and the costume that she wore was but a few wisps of gOssamer used for the re vealing of her radiant body. In my black and stiff attire of the raven ] stood near to the other hand of the GOuverneur Faulkner, and there was such an anger for her In my heart that It was difficult that I made return or the smile she east upon me at every few minutes. Was there n mOckrry in that smile. that she had discovered my wOman's estate and was using her | own beauty for a challenge to me? l | could not tell nor could iudgc exactly what the smile If lo' ness which the | Lieutenant C0unr tc l:nurdcn cast upon mo might mean. And in doubt