Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-10-15


was afraid you wouldn't like it, but
papa told me what to say in order to
escape indignity. You see there are
so many Russian spies passing the
frontier-some very important ones
nave been escaping with papers and
they are mostly women"
She seemed reticent about her IA
Their, saying he travelled most of the
tlme and was in the diplomatic service
and that she and her mother lived in
Paris. But last September dear grand
pa had had stroke and her mother
had TO rush TO America to a place
called California, and she-Claire-
was sent for safekeeping to madame's
school.
Monsieur lie pere met us at the sta
ton. Claire saw him in the distance,
and with cry of joy skinned along
the platform and into his arms. l
came up sedately. just as her father
set her down. and was introduced and
! thanked
Monsieur de Ravenol had an air
and way. and the way was as con-
! vincing as the air. He gave me all the
| gratitude for the favor rendered that
| IT was worth-and / thought rather
more. and then Immediately insisted
on my breakfasting with them.
| Where monsieur took US / don't to
this day know, but it was an expen-
sive, obsequious place and he seemed
TO be at home there.
1T was when | was biting into my
second roll that monsieur came out
plop-no less than that was to take
Claire on the steamer with me and let
her share my stateroom!
| Oh, it was more than a favor he was
asking-madame and himself and
| Claire would he forever in my debt.
He himself had expected to sail in two
days and join madame in New York.
but he was recalled to court" (what
court he didn't trouble 10 tell mel, and
he could neither take Claire with him
! nor yet leave her alone in Paris Mad
ame de Ravenol would be awaiting
her child in New York, hence If l
| could continue to keep the girl under
my so estimable care until delivered
| her on the other side monsieur would
retain for me an everlasting gratitude.
Claire started and exclaimed,
Papa !" when she heard he was not
sailing, and was meaning to send her
on alone, but he gave her hard look
and sharp sentence in what sounded
! German, but I've since learned was a
dialect l couldn't be supposed to I'M
J derstand. All | got of it was stern
"Du must" which silenced the girl
completely.
II was that-the callous rudeness
toward me, though at the moment he
was i'm the very act of asking a great
| favor-that nailed my resolution to
have nothing whatever to do with him
or his affairs. l replied, the moment
got the chance. at is quite impos-
sibIe. monsieur. never share a state
room with anyone"
"Ah, madame--a child--a little child
alone, alone, he looked at me re-
proachfully. "What shall she make
alone on that long voyage? And COM
| ing to your customs house in New
York; hear Eat zey are terrible-zat
ladies receive indignities beyond be-
iief-being stripped to re skin to be
searched by monsters in human form"
| hared up at this-Our customs
house isn't anything 10 give one par
ticular pride, but It's nothing indecent.
and / told him very fatty it was not so.
In an instant of unreserve | men
toned that / had fourth cousin In
the service who always met me and
saw that I got through--he was in
charge of the inspector who examined
baggage on the line always took.
"Ah, how excellent it would be for
/ Claire to accompany you" monsieur
exclaimed with feeling. "All her anxi-
ETY. would zen be set at rest by your so
estlmable cousin. Surely you will not
refuse her to share your stateroom?"
| was eXasperated again in a minute.
I've got Quaker blood in me, and come
from a people whose yea is yea and
whose nay means shat settles it."
snapped out that my stateroor1 was
too small even for one, in comfort.
But l shall most gladly engage re
largest on board for you and my
daughter" he cried, frightening. I'm
deed it is no more ian right Eat | pay
re entire passage"
Claire started and turned furiously
red. Child as she was, she had a
breeding and delieacy of feeling that
her father lacked. AS for me, my eyes
were popping. threw my napkin on
the table and let this icicle slide off
my tongue: Monsieur, l am perfectly
able to pay my way through the world
without the help of strangers, and
with that l rose. adding. Il must say
farewell to you and your daughter
have many things to attend to and my
friends are expecting me-"
Monsieur and Claire Immediately
followed my example In rising, mon
sieur calling the gareon 10 bring the
bill and telling Claire TO 90 with me