Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-03-25
By A. CONAN DOYLE

Ano Always Uccu brought I'D
curing all these years to look upon
the French as very evil folk, aad az
we only heard Of them IN connec-
ton with fightings and slaughter
ings BY land and by sea, 1t was nat
ural enough to think that they were
vicious by nature and i'll to meet
with. But then. after all. they had
only heard Of us in just thesame
FASHION, and SO, no doubt, they had
just the same idea of us. But when
we came to go through their coun-
try and to see their bonny little
steadings. and the douce, quiet folk
at work in the fields, and the wo-
men knitting by the roadside, and
the old granny with a big white
smutch smacking the baby to teach
1T manners, it was all SO homelike
that l could not think why it was
that we had been fearing and hat
ing these good people for so long.
But l suppose that. in truth, it was
really the man who was over them
that we hated, and now that he was
gone, and his great shadow was
cleared from the land, all was
brightness once more.
We logged along happily enough
through the LOWEST country that
ever set my eyes on, until we came
to the great city. where we thought
that there would be battle. for
there are SO many folk in 1t that
il only one in twenty comes out It
would make a fine army. But by
that time they had seen that 1t was
pity to spoil the whole country
country just for the sake of one
man, so they had told him he must
shift for himself in the future. The
next we heard was that he had sur
rendered to the British and that
the gates Of Paris were open to us.
which was very good news to me,
for l could get along very we'll Just
now on the one battle l had had.
But there were plenty of folk in
Paris now who loved Boney, and
that was natural when you think
of the glory that he had brought
them, and how he had never asked
his army to go where he would not
go himself. They had stern enough
faces, for us. can tell you. when
we marched in, and we of Adams
brigade were the very first who set
foot in the city. We passed over
bridge which they call Neuilly.
which is easier to write than to say,
and then through fine park, the
Bots de Boulogne, and so into the
Champs d'Elysees. There we bivo-
hacked. and pretty soon the streets
were so full Of Prussians and Eng
lish that 1t became more like a
camp than city.
The yerv first time that l could
get away | went with Rob Stewart,
of my company--for we were only
allowed to go about in couples
to the Rue Miromesnil Rob waited
in the hall, and l was shown up
stairs, and as I put my foot over
the mat there was cousin Eide, just
the same as ever, staring at me with
those wild eyes of hers. For a mo-
ment she did not recognize me. but
when she did she just took three
steps forward and sprang at me
with her two arms around my neck.
oh, my dear old Jack!" she cried
chow fine YOU look in red coat. =
Yes, I am soldier now, Edie,"
said I. very stiffly, for as l looked
at her pretty face I seemed to see
behind II that other face which had
looked up to the morning sky on
the Belgian battle field.
Fancy that" she cried. What
are you then. Jock? A general? a
captain"
mo. l am a private"
What! Not one of the common
people who carry guns?"
Eyes / carry gum
"Oh, that is not nearly SO inter-
sting" said she. and she went
hack to the sofa from which she had
iisen. It was wonderful room, all
silk and velvet and shiny things,
and | felt inclined to go back to
GIVE my boots another rub. As Edie
sat down again I saw that she was
oil in black. and so knew that
she had heard of De Lissac's death.
81 am clad to see that you know
all" said l, 'for am clumsy
hand at breaking things. He said
that you were to keep whatever
was In the boxes. and that Antoine
had the keys
Thank you. Jock thank you.'
said she. It was like your Kindness
to BRING the message, | heard OF
It neerlv week ago, | was mad
for the time. quite mad. shalt
wear mourning all my days, al
thOuRh YOU can see WHAT IliShe
II makes me look. All. ] shall new
err get over It, I shall take the veil
and die In convent"
IF you please madame" said
maid looking in. "the Count de Be-
ton wishes to see YOU"
My dear Jock" said Eide. jump
ing up. this is very important. l
am SO sorry to cut our chat short.
but am sure that you will come
to see me again, will you not, when
l am less desolated. And would
you mind going out by the side door
instead of the main one? Thank
you, you old dear Jock; you were
always such good hoy. and did
exactly what you were told"
And that was the last I was ever
to see of cousin Edie. She stood in
the sunlight with the old challenge
in her eyes and fash Of her teeth.
and SO I shall always remember her,
shining and unstable like drop of
quicksilver. As I Joined my com
rade In the street below ! saw a
! fne carriage and pair at the door.
80 Lnow that she had asked MT