The Press., 1917-01-25

"
 "Vivs Ia France and the state of Har-
 POthI"
 the room of that Gouverneur Faulk- ner who had just dismissed the good men who had come to thank him for his mercy shown to that poor creature Timms.
 In that room I found my uncle, the General Robert, and the GouverneM Faulkner in deep consultation, and they both turned toward me with anX- iety in their faces.
 What did you make of the letters, boy?' asked my uncle, the General Rob- ert, with keen anxiety. The great gouverneur was silent, and for the first time since l had looked into his face my eyes did not glance fin his direc- ton.
 They both announce the arrival on Tuesday of the Lieutenant the Count de Bourbon to sign the contracts con- corning the mules to be sold by the state of Harpeth to the repubique of France, sir" I answered in cold and formal voice and then stood at an at- tention for any more questions.
 '"The thunder they dO!' exclaimed my uncle, the General Robert, while still the Gouverneur Faulkner was si- lent. Do they give no excuse for be- ing nearly ten days ahead of time. sir?'
 NO, honored uncle" l answered. Madam Whitworth said to me that the GouYerneur Faulkner had set that date for the arrival of the commission and had so informed her, and I think that to be the reason for absence of such excuses" And as l made that answer, which was one of great i'm pertinence from a secretary to a chief who was & great gouverneur, I looked with cold calmness into the dark star eyes under their black lashes, which were darting lightnings of anger at my words.
 "what!' exclaimed my uncle, the General Robert Carruthers. And he turned white with a trembling as he faced the lightning in those eyes of the stars. But 1t was not to his secre- tary of state that the great GOuyer- neur Faulkner made his denial, but to his humble secretary, Robert Car ruthers, who looked without fear into the very depths of those lightnings.
 This Is the first time have heard of a change of date for the arrival of the commission, Robert" he said in calm voice as for a second his eyes held mine, a second which was suffl cient for a truth to pass from his heart and still the storm in mine. l did not understand all that his eyes said of great hurt, but knew that what he spoke was true and would always be.
 And what were you doing gossiping with that lying huzzy, sirf" demanded my uncle, the General Robert, with ln- stant belief in the word of that GOuver neur Faulkner, turning his anger upon me, who stood and took 1t with such joy in my heart from the truth that had come into 1t from those eyes of the night stars that did not even feel it's violence.
 ''Vive la France and the state of Harpeth! Behold! I am a spy" an swered him as I drew myself to my greatest height and gave the salute which his old soldiers give to him at that raising of the banner of the cause that he had lost in his youth.
 You young daredevil, you, I'm great mind to break every bone in your body, as have said before" he said to me, but could see a smile of pride making lightning of the gloom in his cOuntenance over the trouble of his af- fairs of state. You keep away from
 Robert" was the Interruption made by my great beloved GOuverneur Faulkner. upon you will fall the task of making the plans for the entertain ment of this cOuntryman of yours. The general and I will be too busy getting ready to meet them on their own grounds to give any time to that. Re member. they will have to be shown the best grazing land in the valley in mOtorcars. When they are done sizing us up we'll be ready for them. The count and his secretaries will. of course. be entertained at the Mansion. and you can make arrangements at the hotel for the rest of the suite. Also win you please instruct my servants how to make them comfortable, and. Robert. will you confer with Mrs. whitworth. who. as ihe wife of the treasurer of the state of Harpeth, while neither the general nor l has wife, must be considered as the official so- cial representative of the state as to what form the official entertainments must take?"
 And as he asked that question of me my Gouverneur Faulkner did not so much as glance at my uncle, the Gen. eral Robert, who gave an exclamation of contempt in his throat as he began a reading of the two papers which I had handed to him.
 Also I suppose this means l must give up all hope of services from that dy-up-the-creek Clendenning," he grum- bled as he read.
 h4I will do as you bid me, my GOuVer- neur Faulkner, in all things, and will be much helped by both my excellent Buzz and the beautiful Madam Whit