The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-05-03

his pencil.
when it happened to me to find the
fragment of the letter to the lady Of
America from my false lieutenant |
had deep distress that tenderness for
the sufferings of poor France should
fail to be In even one American wom-
ans heart. And now I am In deep
concern. Where am l to obtain the
good strong mules by which to trans
port through fields heavy with mud
the food to my poor boys in their
trenches r
fright here, captain, feel reason
ably sure. l think see way to give
you what you want at better figure.
And from it no man shall reap more
than a just wage for honest work. As
the governor Of the state Of Harpeth
can give you at least that assurance"
And as he spoke my Gouverneur
Faulkner looked the Capitaine the
Count de Lasselles in the eyes with
fine honesty that carried with it the
utmost Of conviction.
II give thanks to le bon Dieu," !
said, with words that were very soft |
in my throat, but at which observed
the mouth Of that Gouverneur Faulk-
ner to again become as one straight
line of coldness.
Indeed, thanks to lie bon Lieu. made
moiselle," made courteous answer to
me my Capitaine the Count de Las
selles "But how will you accomplish
that purpose, M. lie Gouverneur?''
"As soon as I've done with these fig
ures I'll have in Jim, your jailer. and
| then you'll hear some things about the
| American mountain mule that you
never heard before, I believe AS he
| spoke my Gouverneur Faulkner pro-
ceeded with making figures with his
pencil, fine glow of eagerness added
to that of rage in his eyes very deep
under their brows. Nov I'll 60 and
call in Jim," he said after few min
utes Of waiting and left the room in
which was then alone with my Cap
itaine the Count de Lasselles. who
came to me with outstretched hands.
"Ah, Mile. Roberta" he exclaimed,
Il am in q debt of gratitude to you
for bringing this great gentleman, your
solving Of this very strange situation
concerning these contracts. Indeed
have you accomplished the mission for
which you enlisted-your friends for
France
But before procedure l must ask
you, little lady, why it was that you
made yanishment from that hotel
in New York. sought you there in
vain, and 1t is a great ease to my un-
happy heart to find you in the care of
family and friends make cOmpli-
ments on your costume of the ride. !
also observe the custom of attire mas
culine to be on those plains Of the
great west where bought the wheat." +"
"It is great Joy to me, mon CAPT.
taine that you give to me your ap.
proval--Much has happened to me In
these short weeks since you left me In
loneliness on that great ship that
must tell to you" l said as sob rose
into my words.
; "Poor little girl! 1t will not be many
hours now before / can say to you thu
, things that have been growing in my
! heart for you since that night upon th'
Ship" he said to me in a great tender
ness as he raised my hand ana bent t
kiss it just as entered the great Gou
verneur Faulkner and the wild Jim.
!, I had not the courage to gaze upol
the face of my Gouverneur Faulkner
e but / felt Its coldness strike into IN.
body and turn it to hardness. For
: second ! stood as stone; then sud
: den resolve rose in me, and again tha
daredevil seized upon my thought.
took piece of that white paper wit
caution and also pencil and wit
J them slipped from the room, while tina
: wild Jim seated himself upon my low
" stool beside the table Mt which agai
the two great men were writing.
And out in the soft light that wa
now slowly fading from the side 9
the mountain because of the retir'
ment of the sun sat me down upO
the step of the hut and wrote to m
Gouverneur Faulkner this small lette
Honored Excellency the Gouvernet
Faulkner of the State of Harpeth-I c
from you into the trenches of France.
your humble boy Robert has done for yc
any small service, / beg of YOU in tn;
name that my uncle the General Rober
and my friends never know Of my di
honor of lies about my wonan's estat
but believe me to die as a soldier 4
France. as will be the case. Make all cle'
for me to my Capitaine the Count do La
ia "a all lies,
ROBERTA.
n9 MarQuise of Gree and Bye
Then LEFT that letter upon the doc
c step, held in place by the weiglt OF
u stone, and very softly slipped out in
st the shadows of the twilight and dow
el the mountain by the path up whi'
that morning l had come with my ;
rs loved Gouverneur Faulkner. then n
", friend.
he / felt certainty that as many
lis two hours would those men contin
he in consulting with that wild Jim Al
nd in that time by going feetingly cou
gain the place where were tether
as the horses before complete darkne
! had come From my honored father
he lad learned the ways Of woods ia hui
en- Ing, and also l knew that the go
at Lightfoot would in darkness carry
rot in safety to his stall in the barn
re- Mr.. Bud Bell, beside which stood !
old cherry.
From there could gain the c
uti- Of Hayesyille in the dead hours OF
1ch night aud in those same dead hours
on part to France after obtaining
non money had left in my desk and VIII
ape | had earned by my iaDofs ana "o