United States or Afghanistan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Had to," explained Tanrade, as Suzette helped him into his great coat. "The Baron is out of cheese; he added a postscript to my invitation praying that I would be amiable enough to bring one. Eh voil
Under my friendly but somewhat judicial cross-examination that ensued, it was evident that not a word had escaped Alice's lips that any one but that big optimistic child of a Tanrade could have construed as her promise to be his wife. He confided her words to me reluctantly, now that he realized how little she had meant. "Come," said I, in an effort to cheer him, "have courage!
The more I know this modest great man the more I like him, and I have known him in all kinds of wind and weather, for Tanrade is an indefatigable hunter. He and I have spent nights together in his duck-blind a submerged hut, a murderous deceit sunk far out on the marsh cold nights; soft moonlight nights the marsh a mystic fairy-land; black nights -mean nights of thrashing rain.
The mayor sat breathing irritably. As for the Municipal Council, it was evident to Tanrade and myself, that not one of these plain, red-eared citizens was eager to send a priest to jail it was their custom occasionally to go to mass. "Marianne's illness," continued the curé, "was an important item. You seemed to consider her case of typhoid as a malady that would cure itself if let alone.
Monsieur le Curé. "You, too?" I exclaimed in delight. "Yes," he smiled and added, with a wink: "I could not refuse so gamy an invitation." "And I would not let him," added Tanrade. "Quick! Where are your traps? We have a good forty kilometres ahead of us; we must not keep the Baron waiting." And the composer of ballets rushed into the house and shouldered my valise containing a dry change.
All of you!" At the same instant he tore open his blouse and displayed, to our dismay, an oval brass plaque bearing his name and the number 1247. "There!" cried the old man, white and trembling with rage. "There's my full commission as guard." My companion with the gloves next to me fidgeted nervously and coughed. I saw the Vicomte turn a little pale. Tanrade shrugged his shoulders.
"Look out for that row of gold bottles back of you, you brute of a farmer!" Tanrade counseled me, as the curé found his seat. "If you scratch those monograms the Baroness will never forgive you." Then, with a wave to Suzette, we swept away from my house by the marsh, were hurled through Pont du Sable, and shot out of its narrowest end into the fresh green country beyond.
Even Tanrade was silent now, for his reverence had made the sign of the cross. As his fingers moved I saw a peculiar look come into his eyes a look of mingled disappointment and resignation. Again Alice spoke: "Your cracked bell at Pont du Sable has not long to ring, my friend," she said very tenderly. "One must be content, my child, with what one has," replied the curé.
"Monsieur Tanrade and Madame de Bréville are going to be married," I announced as calmly as I could. "Hélas!" gasped Suzette. "Et voil
You who are a bohemian, you who live with all your freedom all my freedom! Non, merci! I have seen all that! Bah! You are as crazy as Tanrade." "Alice," I cried, "you think " "Precisely, my friend." She rose swiftly, crossed the room, and before I knew it slipped back of my chair, put both arms about my neck, kissed me, and burst into tears. "There, there, mon pauvre petit," she whispered.
Word Of The Day