Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-03-29

AudOC lo dLSWcI, DuL 1 raised
"a my head and looked into his
eyes with a dignity that came
to me as my right from suffering. So
regarding each other, we stood for q
very short minute, in which the Capt.
tame 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 a greeting to
my relative.
1 Gid not make any answer to that
question. My head raised itself yet
higher, and I looked my Gouverneur
Faulkner full in the face while I wait.
ed to hear what he would answer Of
my kinship to him.
"Sir, l am the friend of General Car
ruthers, and l 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 I have
brought your young friend to assist
me if l should need translating from
OR to you. We Americans, captain, are
poor handlers of any language not our
own, and the matter is of much crawl
t." And as the Gouverneur Faulkner
spoke those words to my Capitaine the
Count de LasSelles, with q great courte-
sy, but also a great sternness, in which
he named me, not rs his friend, but as
the friend of that Capitaine the Count
de Lasselles, I knew hat I 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.
ut is indeed Of such a gravity that l
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 we'll nigh as
great as that Of the gouverneur of the
state Of Harpeth.
And I have ridden Il day and a
night, sir, for the same purpose" an
swered my great Gouverneur Faulk-
ner, with that beautiful courtesy of
business I 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 will you not tell me.
captain, why you are here and in this
p~redicament?'
Gin a few words | will make all
clAly to you, your eXcellency," made
answer my Capitaine the Count de
lLaSselleS, with an air of courtesy
equal to that of the G%ouverneur Faulk-
ner. 81 sent down into your state Of
Harpeth II of my commission, to
wlpm l gave the direction that with a
lack Of annoying publicity he should
investigate the preparedness of the
state of Harpeth to deliver those 5000
sof mules to the republique Of France
as was being proposed. Behold, a re-
port that all is well to me, but
ah, it is with sorrow and shame that
such a thing could be done by a son
gof poor France who struggles for life!
among the sheets of that report were
aieft by mistake the fragments of Il
draft of a letter to an American wom-
Ran which made a partial disclosure of
an intended f%alseness Of that state
lSanent to me. Immediately 1 came alone
Ito interview that false officer, and l
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-
went that he make a signature, which
sssI had given to him the authority to
write, to those papers Of so great an
8tmportante. | was thus arrested by
that man of great wildness, whose
spato1s l could mot understand, as he
could not comprehend the English I
mare use of, and you see me thus. l
beg of you to tell me if that wicked
has been made.'
"The papers have not been signed,
God, captain. and your very i'm
patient lieutenant is being shown some
ssouthern hospitality by the flower and
sehivalry Of old Harpeth. And | beg
your pardon for allowing you to be a
Sprisoner a minute longer than neces-
SSary," was the answer made to him
by my Gouverneur Faulkner. Unite
the captain, Jim. He's all right. And
xyou can bring us a little of your noun
Atain dew while l clear this table here
Ito use for the papers of II business"
&And still my Gouverneur Faulkner did
mot speak or look at me, and in my
heart / then knew that he v
n would.
II will make all ready" | said as l
lifted a large gun, n horn Of a beast
full Of powder and several pipes with
tobacco from the table Of rough boards
that stood under the window for light.
"Ah. that is Il good release! Thank
Sou that you did not make tight enough
forS abraslons your cords, my good
man." said my Canltalne the Count de