The Meeker herald., 1917-04-28
Their Chauffeur
BY F. A. MICHEL

ice me Tor tdriS. lney niu Ho' Eoue
fifty miles from the old town before
they were halted by troop OF Chlans.
and their car was impressed inro the
service OF the government
They were standing In the road. not
knowing, what to do. when man
came riding on horseback Seeing two
girls looking as forlorn as couple of
chickens In shower. lie drew rein and
asked them in German II there was
anything lie could do for them They
spoke the language toleral,iy well and
told him what had happened He look
ed about him for place where they
might he temporarily housed and said
"The schloss is the nearest abode
I think you had better go there. The
count has Joined his command. but his
mother. the countess. will be at home
and l am sure Will welcome inckless
strangers"
The girls thanked the speaker and
resolved to take his advice. Turning
| in at the gateway Of the grounds they
ascended to the entrance OF the schloss
No one being there. they passed
through It and entered court. An
automobile was the only movable arti-
Gle In sight. and as they approached 1t
a living object crawled from under It.
He was clad In overalIs and begrimed
| He rose and. facing the girls. looked al
them InGniringly.
They told their story and said they
wished to go to France. He told them
that he was quite sure the countess
would welcome them. He was Ell;
dea voring to get the automobile In or
der that 1t might take him to Wurttem-
berg. He would take them there. and
from Wurttemberg they might md con
vcyauce to Paris. This suited them ex-
actly. The man said that he was not
1T to accompany them. but pointed to
door Mt which they might gain admit
lance to the schoss. They went TO
| the door, rang a bell. and maid ap
peared.
1--WE were told" said one of them.
"by the chauffeur that " we applet
Mt this door we might see the countess
Plea SO tell her that two American girls
whose car has been taken by the gov
ernment would be grateful for shelter
til they can go forward on their jour
ney." ...
The maid asked them to enter and.
leaving them in reception room.
went away. Presently she returned
and led them to room where white
headed old lady received them and In
vIted them to be her guests as long as
they found 1t convenient.
They told her that they had seen In
the court man working on an auto
mobile who was intending to go to
Wurttemberg and bad offered to take
them with him. AT this moment
voice cailed from above. "Mother!
and the old lady excused herself and
left the room. Presently she returned
and said that the auto would so TO
Wurttemberg the next morning and
she did not doubt that from there they
would be able to make their way to
Paris. They we're shown to room by
the maid and when they had made
toilet returned to the drawing room.
"I have heard" said one Of the girls.
that you have parted with your son.
who has gone to join the army. 1t
must be hard to send him away under
such circumstances.
"Indeed 1t Is" replied the countess
The girls supped with the countess
and ate hearty meal. for they were
hungry. In the early evening they
chatted with their hostess. hut were
tired and went early to their rooms,
where they slept MS soundly us II they
had not been dispossessed of their
| only means OF conveyance.
The morning was bright. but hot.
They brenkfasted with the countess.
and after breakfast she disappeared
for an hour. when the maid announced
that the auto WIS ready and led thefG
to a portc-cochere where 1t stood. The
countess was there with man In uni
form. He turned as they approached.
and they recognized him whom they
had mistaken for chauffeur.
"I regret" he said. that I have not
been able to show you any attention
My chauffeur was summoned two days
ago to join his regiment. leaving me
with an auto needing repairs and no
one but myself to repair 1t. We who
depend upon servants do not realize
how much we are indebted to them
till they are snatched away from u.s.
The girls looked at each other and
smiled. They had mistaken count
for n chauffeur. and when they had
referred to him as such to his mother
he had doubtless followed them into
the house by another entrance and on
hearing their words Ind called her
out and asked her to leave them In
their mistake.
The ride to Wurttemberg proved an
enjoyable one.' and before IL was fin
shed they were all laughing mt the
mistake that had been made. They
were In no danger Of losing the car
since an officer OF the Bavarian army
was at the wheel. On arriving at
their destination he secured them n
safe conduct to Paris and saw to II