The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-23
(Continued.l

l make you welcome to the state OF
Harpeth, In the name of my uncle,
the secretary Of that state" said to
him in the language of his own coun.
try as | 'clapped together my heels
and gave to him the bow from ths
waist of a French gentleman who is
not soldier. ''Nill you permit that
l lead you to that uncle?"
"Many thanks, monsieur, is it Car
ruthers I name you after your dis.
| tinguished relative?" he made answer
to me as he returned my bow with
first one Of its kind and then a mill
tary salute.
Robert Carruthers, sir, and at your
service" I made answer to him with
great formality. And as I spoke ]
saw that he gave me glance of great
curiosity and would have asked a
question, but at that moment my
uncle, the General Robert, stood be.
T side us.
II present to you the General Car
ruthers, secretary Of the state of Har
peth, Monsieur the Lieutenant Count
de Bourbon Of the Forty-fourth chas.
seurs of the republic of France"
| said with again great ceremony and
very deep bow.
I'm mighty glad to welcome you tt
old Harpeth, count. Hoy did you
make the trip DOWN. said my uncle
the General Robert, as he held out hi:
large and beautiful old hand and gave
to the Count Edouard de Bourbon such
o1a hot box %o l.;
most painful.
II thank you, monsieur the secretary
of Harpeth; my journey was of great
pleasure and comfort were the words
which he returned in very nice Eng
lish.
'The1fweM go right up and see Gov
ernor Faulkner at the capitol before
lunch, count, If that suits you," my
uncle, the General Robert, said with Z
very evident relief at those words OIL
English coming from that French
mouth. Here's my car over this wa!
and this is Mr. Clendenning, Who'll
look after the rest Of the gentlemen in
your party and bring them on up to
the capitol"
.Nonsieur," said the Lieutenant
Count de Bourbon, with another bow
and then quick recovery as. he saw
that. he must take the hand Of Buzz,
held out to him in great cordially.
These handshakes of America are very
confusing to, those of Europe.
saw a great laughter almost to ex-
plosion in the eyes Of nay Buzz at the
oo%
manner, and made a hurrying Of him
and my uncle, the General Robert, to
the large car standing beside the sta
ton.
81 will precede you in my cherry"
said, as / saw both the gentlemen
seated together upon the back seat Of
the large black machine.
''No you don't; you take your seat
right in here with us to be on hand il
any bridge Of this international CONVEX
sation breaks down under the count
and me-" answered my uncle, the Gen
eral Robert, with stern command.
els it\that the young M. Carruthers
had an education in France?" asked
the lieutenant, the Count de Bourbon.
Gle has the air Of French-shaH l say
yohth?" And as he spoke again l saw
a CLEAN Of deeply aroused interest in
his eyes which made my knees to trem-
BILE in their tweed trousers.
''Born there; son of my brother, who
died at the Marne," made answer to
the question my uncle, the General
Robert.
cit is now that / make a remem-
brance. That Capitaine Carruthers
was the husband to the very beautiful
Marquise de Gree and Bye. In her
youth I was her friend. I did not
know But as the Lieutenant the
Count de Bourbon was making this
discovery, which sent a thrill Of fear
into the toes of my very shoes, the car
stopped at the main entrance of the
capitol, and halfway down the long
flight of steps stood his excellency the
great Gouverneur Faulkner of the state
oflHarpeth waiting to receive the guest
who came on a mission to him from a
great land &C 'oss the waters. Until I
die and even into a space beyond that
i shall take that picture Of magnif1-
cence which was made by my beloved
Gouverneur Faulkner as he stood in
the May sunlight with his bronze hair
in a cleaning 1 thought him to be
great statue Of Succor as he held out
both Of his strong hands to the smaller
man who had come from stricken
land for his help.
lie bon Dieu keep of his heart a
friend Of France" prayed as 1 watch
ed those hands clasp as my uncle, the
General Robert, made the introduction.
And all the long hours Of that long
day were as dreams OF sadness and
fear to me as l went about the many
duties Of entertainment laid upon me.
At luncheon at that club Of Old Hick-
DRY l sat opposite the small French
man who sat on the right hand of my
Gouverneur Faulkner, and opposite to
me sat my uncle, the General Robert.
No business was in discussion at that
time, but l could see those eyes o.
French shrewdness make a darling
from one face to another, and ever they
came back to me with a great puzzle,
which gave to me terrible fear. To all