Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-01-13
LIE MOUSQUETAIRE
BY ARIsTA E. FISHER.

the ordinary wealthy class usually seen
there. The only thing which distin-
guished them from the freQuenters Of
that most fashionable Of ChIcago's
fashionable hotels was that they APP
peared to be just a little more fash.
lOnable and just little more richly
dressed. "An unusually pretty girl,
with her father and mother" would
have been the thought Of a casual OBJ
server.
Casual observers were scarce in that
hotel corridor, however. There was q
tall figure in a gray uniform standing
near the door, presumably an attend
ant. The girls father handed the
light wraps of the ladies to the man in
uniform and the three passed into the
reception room.
He who was presumably an attend
ant" murmured a surprised '"Thank
you" to the man just disappearing
through the door, and then regarded
the armful of wraps with a delighted
smile. Curious actions on the part of
an attendant! But If the gentleman
who had so trustingly donated two ex-
expensive wraps to a presumable at
tendant had been a trifle less near
sighted, or his companions a trifie
more observant, medal Of the Legion
of Honor which the attendant wore
might have established the identity of
his calling a little differently. Further
investigation would have proved him
to be colonel in the French army and
of very pleasing appearance. This
colonel, after entertaining himself with
many broad grins, observed to the
large marble clock over the door:
"Jean, my son, you have an adven-
ture! My boy, you will guard these
pretty things very carefully, and when
the generous Americans return, per-
haps, If you are very polite, you will
receive a tip" And a smile being in
sufficient, the young Frenchman gave
vent to hearty laugh. He stopped
suddenly and muttered to himself:
"That girl was very much like
wonderW q
He was turning the gentleman's hat
in his hand, and his eyes, CHANGING to
light upon the name of the owner
printed on the band, he uttered an
exclamation.
The real attendant appeared a mo-
ment later. He was made acquainted |
with the situation, which delighted
him as much as it had his companion.
II was called to the office for few
minutes" explained that grinning Off
cial. We've had no guests for the
last hour and I thought could risk
a moment or two"
"Merci, mon ami" responded the
young Frenchman. "You have done me
a great service !"
For the next half-hour he lounged
about the corridor
When Eleanor Howard and her
parents entered the corridor prepare
tory to leaving, they were assisted in
putting on their wraps by the same
person who had taken them from Mr.
Then they left the hotel.
their car, and returned home,
The next day, when Eleanor was
for slip of paper she had
mislaid, she discovered a card in On.
Of the pockets of her wrap, on one size
Of which was printed:
IN. Re Colonel Jean Reillard, Rue
Rationale, Paris, at present the STAFF
ford hotel"
On the other, written in pencil:
II thank you for trusting me with
your valuable property" and in very
fne writing:
DO you remember a certain colonel
Who used to sing lie Mousquetaire'Y
Eleanor, at first dumfounded, then
struck with the humOr of the situa-
ion, laughed historically. Then she
grew thoughtful, and drawing some
paper toward her she wrote:
II assure you there Is no one more
worthy of our trust. The singer Of
La MOusquetaire' is not forgotten"
She addressed 1t to Col. Jean RelIlard,
he Stafford hotel, and mailed 1t
That afternoon Colonel Reillard en-
ertained Miss Eleanor Howard with
tories of bravery, Of death, Of cOur-
lgeous mems deeds in the great war.
But the one that interested them both
he most was something like this:
"Mademolselle, don't you remember
he French officer that was nursed
ack to health by one whose image has
wed in his memory ever since, whose
memory has never left his heart? Do
ou not recall how that officer used
o refuse to be attended by anyone but
ourself, and that when you did come,
nth your soft voice, to dull his suf-
erings, do you remember that he used
D tell you how beautiful were your
yes7 This officer has carried a great
I'VE for you In his heart from that
me. He came to America a week
go, to seek you out and ask you to
ecome his wife. VIII you not tell
i'm that he does not hope In vain?"
The story ended there, one reason
cling that the story teller had an ex-
'emely sympathetic listener who had
list answered a very small word and
Re other being that when a beautiful
-