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■P '- smops/s OP CHAPTER ONE.
ZZ?‘£i£ fXZg Ji/p!£££* M
t XSP , i‘i e Vl" ,HC,mth '** ‘renck Gentral
- C V. m ? x *">••"» *« *r*» « /*»
s, JJJ"Jkdklrrn border. Adams declares Skis a\
I AM /fa areas balloon reconnaissance Co the
5 YZl*!f u •”? detail of troops to Hock advance.
ZH:fl&!Zf%A%?r- ‘ko ascent ^nade
Kv ■ ■
CHAPTER IX.
Th« balloon waa now within half a
ratio of the earth, and settling steadily.
Beneath ue wae a tea of troops, tfhe
bullets came In e shower. Rechere
cave a croan and sanr
“y
was shattered as It
_,«cte(f # death, and
Krasplnc the sup-
seemed miserable to be thus a tar
S et for the bullets of a thousand sol-
lers with no opportunity to reply,
suddenly the basket gave a violent
Instinctively my grasp tight-
i the supporting cable; and well
for at that Instant a well dl-
MHkRJl
cable at the other end, and the car
f by the one slender
swayed, hahglng by the
.Wire rope. 1 drew myself
a firm hold of the networ
Ing *ho gas bag. There I
network surround
ing «he gas bag. There I hung, grip
ping for my very life with both hands;
an<T as X looked down I saw Martini
tt 1 lool .
whirling over and over In raid air, and
the body of poor dead Rechere falling
like a - *' *
plummet. Then the single sup-
and faint from my tremendous muscu
lar effort* As In a dream I was con
scious of swift flight through the air.
”*he sounds of shooting became fainter.
1 real-
basket, was rising rapidly Into the up-
ner air, J Ah, then I would es “ ~
5 tried to collect my
I *
L escape,
—........ my thoughts,
knowing that should I lose consclous-
> my grip would weaken.
Suddenly 1 felt that I had entered a
stratum of cold air. It waa aweet and
^ urn
pure. It .stimulated me, 1 opened my
* «...— "arth
SIS,
to of half-inch rope forming a ca»-
I knew that
should toon be compelled to rest or
must let go and follow my late eon.
Summoning all my nerve, I
the net. I pushed my leg through un
Jhe rope was under my knee; then
a few sweet minutes hang
ers -like a crab, one leg owing-
■|. Presently I secured a similar
th the other foet; then worklnr
and carefully, managed to gel
bothnirms Into the meshes, and for a
bles&ed Interval war —
•train, though my
means secure.
balloon seemed now to be raov-
Sing nor falling. Ths steady gliding
motion, the absolute quiet, and the
* weariness of body resulting from my
* tight grip of the net, produced a ten-
* dency to sleep. I wae compelled to
talk to myself to keep awake, and
Bj finding that even this would not suffice
. I determined to make myself secure.
k V*At Imminent risk, for I was getting
woefully cramped, I let go with my
right hand, and reaching In my pocket
* \ with my teeth.
meshes of
right hand, and reaching In i
v<. got my knife, opening It with
I cut through half a dosen
> the net and thus made a 1
dera, pushing away
_ bby bal
degrees I worked mj whole body
>ough, and finally, with a prayer of
inks to Qod found myself lying flat
heart had found Its mats. Ah, 2 was
valet came In and assisted me to dress.
Hy clothes were tom to shreds In the
balloon wreck, and I found myself
compelled to accept the count's offer
accept
of a complete outfit from hla own
wardrobe. Behold me, therefore, seat
ed In an easy chair, clad in a handsome
suit of plum-colored velvet, with short
breeches, white silk stockings, silver-
buckled shoes, and a long-tailed coat.
What with lace and ruffles and all the
trimmings of royalty; I felt like a
trussed goose; but Aimee regarded me
as the very apotheosis of perfection
at that time courage to ponetrate.wlth
1 h\i.. v>
wait a few days, my precious." And
(bolt c- — *-•—*—
my request for his daughter's hand.
"But the-- • * —* *
ere Is no hurry," I said. "Let
manner of pet names. Very undigni
fied and breathlessly hasty lovo-mak-
lng a for an American of^tMryr-flve. But
In love are we not all i
day part of my mind suddenly got
work again. I was seated la the gar
den, on the fourth day after my descent
upon Laguna y, musing npon ths
AIMEE.
oharms of Aimes who had gons to ths
houso to attend to the preparation ot
door shut with n-ulam.
like a pistol-shot. I jumped to my
feet with a shout. The Germans—the
War—tho French—Martini—Rechere—
all the exciting events of the past ten
Here I sat. In ths very path <
....... dream of love and seven
teenth-century Indolence. I ran to the
house. Preparations must be made
against the arrival of the troops. At
the porte-cochere I taw the count, just
alighting from bit ancient chaise,
hurried to his ajds.
"A word with you in private," 1
said. The serious look upon my face
startled him.
ths post week, of ray
nolssance, of ths plai_ __ _ _
mans. Living, as he did, In such com-
ths days of the 8econd Empire, he had
heard only rumors, and was quits un-
heroicany, clearing out much of the
fins old tapestries and carpets, and
some of the mors valuable pictures
and ornaments. When morning
dawned the Count left us, going south
to offer his services to the General
issimo—a somewhat childish proceed
ing, I thought, though I did not op
pose him, as Aimee was thus left Ri
my care. »I had confided to him my
tender sentiments, and after blessing
us both he bade me watch her care
fully and at the approach of the on'
crajr to set out for Bethel, a small town
to the northwest, where Aimes had
numerous cousins.
„ The Meuse In front of ths Chateau
Lagunay was perhaps a quarter of a
mile wide, running swiftly beneath
rowed, at the town of Ramune, '
a massive stone bridge spann"
deep waters. This point was i
spanned the
— — was selected
by the Germans for crossing.
lng Aimee with a strong gua:
armed servants, some of whom
veterans of the Franco-Prussian war,
* — t on horseback for Ramune,
like & French dandy In my
iqokuiL _
elegant clothes.
..I found the town In great confusion.
Many persons' were loading up their
household goods and making ready for
departure; others had already fled. 8o
stealthily had tho Germans approached
that their advance at that point was
unknown half a dozen hours before my
arrival.
. From a atone tower on a wooded
hill back of the town I looked across
into the valley beyond. As far as the
eye could seo stretched the ranks of
the Invaders. They had risen out of
Prussia and Baden and Saxony, out of
Wurtemburg and Brunswick, out of
Hesse and the Mecklenburgs; and mob-
ler of Lorraine, that ancient bone
of contention, and neutral Luxemburg.
As I learned later, once they stepped
upon French soil they swept down like
a storm. Spies preceded them cutting
telegraph wires in all dircctlona The
thirty miles between the frontier and
the Meuse River had been covered In
swinging trot And hero they were at
the crossing without the leaet a* —
of opposition.
Meanwhile the French were advi
lng with characteristic deliberation,
their main force being then at and
around the great military camp of
Chalons, some fifty miles to the south
west. They ha# been apprised on the
frontier of several __
and Hussars. There had been _
further reporta, (tho wires wore cut
about that time) and It appeared un
necessary to make any decided move.
Of the detachments sent out In auto
mobiles at the time of my departure In
the lllfatcd La Jaune, I could hear
nothing. It wae not until montna
later, when I returned to Paris for a
honeymoon with Aimee, that 1 learn-
tho facts. Our wireless message
had not carried. Martini's sacrifice
wae vain. T-he scouts in their ma
chines reached the rendezvous, did a
little scouting on their own hook,
found nothing suspicious, and_ toured
leisurely back to Paste a
where they reported that
a northern Invasion was a canard.
Therefore the mobilising proceeded, all
eyes being centered on Luneville, Bel
fort and Besancon, where the German
Crown Prince, with his Bavarian, army
manoeuvred at a safe distance, threat
ening, retreating, building mock forti-
;lons, and steadily pullli " ‘ *
ling the Gcr«
__,ere wae no defense possible for
Ramune. an old, provincial town witt
weak fortifications. Yet the amal
garrison, with true military spirit an
nounced its presence by a volley of
cannon, which seemod to anger the
Germans. A battery of mortara was
brought up to the river bank. Into
the town were thrown a hundred or
more sixteen-inch shells, which broke
Hvuuvrvua vuiunei ui UHlViliry aaOUl to
voter. X had taken the precaution to
arm myself with a rapier taken from
tue wall of the armory, and with this
slender weapon I felt reasonably se
cure, expecting to meet only gentle-
I bowed to tho Colonel. "Thla le pri
vate property." I explained. "To the
grounds you are welcome."
He pushed mo aside with an oath
apd strode Into the halL He was fol
lowed immediately by another officer,
brilliant with military trappings. The
two ^surveyed .me insolently, then
looked around them.
Colonel to his companion. ....
to the immense drawing „ropm. "1
think we may even have a ball here
tonight, If Monsieur—" he bowed
toward me. "will but Introduce the
ladleB."
I felt the hot blood rising in me as
I replied. "There is but one lady, sir,
■ nd she is accustomed to gentlemen."
He understood my lame German ex
pressions, for his face reddened. But
at that moment Aimee, brave as a lion,
appeared on the stair, and approached
au iia. utj cnea
, to welcome me.
her and but for her sudden shrinking
would have kissed her. I was crazy
with anger. Drawing my swora i
rushed at him. "Dog,” I cried in good
American. "This Is the way we treat
scoundrels."
drew his heavy calvary sabre he was
not quick enough. I caught «m In the
side, below the ribs, and ran him
through before his companion could
Interfere. Drawing back I would have
pierced his bowels had not a sudden
shout at tho door startled me. The
next moment I was seized from behind
in an Iron grip and thrown violently
to the floor, my rapier spinning a dozen
feet away. A heavy knee came down
upon my chest; a pair of strong hands
the Insult of yonder cur of a Colonel.
Then I became suddenly quiet, star
ing Into tho determined face abovt
uie, smootb-shaveu but for a pair of
fierce, upturned moustaches. The recog-
nlilon was mutual. "Your Majesty,” I
said "I acknowledge your superiority.
I am conquered."
My captor arose and lifted me to
my feet. "Mr. Adams," ho rcpled with
a smile, "had I recognised you at first
a- biiiiic, ii.iu a riTugiiiieu jruu ui ursi
I should have been less vigorous In
my treatment of your person. Now ex
plain this unseemly circumstance."
It was the Kaiser, the War Lord
himself, whom I had met a dozen times.
(To be continued next week)
GREAT SHlll WITH THE NEEDLE.
Women of the North Earn Money by
Skillful Manipulation. H
The women of New England, from
early colonial days, have been noted
for their wonderful skill with the
needle, yet It remains for the house
wives of Hancock County, Ualne, to
utilize this art as a means of earning
sufficient funds with which to purchase
winter clothing. More than a thousand
women In this county alone are busily
engaged each winter knitting nippers
for the llshcrmen who sail out from
Gloucester, Mass. A fisherman’s nip
per Is a heavy sbort-wrlsted wool mlt,
with a' forefinger protection for the
thumb and first finger, and a padded
palm. It is designed for protecting ths
hands of fishermen who haul wet lines
In cold weather.
Fully 50,000 palrsof nippers are worn
out every year, of which more than 76
per cent are knitted by women who
lire in the shore town east of Penob
scot River. As a rule, a woman with
actlvp fingers can knit four pairs a day,
lq’addltlon to doing her housework.
The pay for making a set of nippers
is four cents, which Is taken up In
store trade from the agents. In actual
cash value no more than three cents a
pair is given for the work.
The knitters begin their labors late
In November and continue until Febru
ary or later, the busiest season being
from December 15 until the New Year.
It it not uncommon to see aged women
walking along the streets knitting nip
pers in quickstep time, bolding balls of
yarn In their apron pockets.
A smart knitter can use up greater
length of yam than the can cover In
; walking along a good road, her fingers
[ outstripping her feet In a ratio of 7 to
ren _ ..
'. Instant sleep.
3 v It seemed an age later when I awoke,
j&av'hearlng my name spoken hy the voice
r.of a woman. I opened my ejps sod
. looked around me. 1 lay In
surrounded hy silken drapery.
‘ iched, and my head i
I to be several time. Its ordinary slse.
whole
Tlion a voice—that of the woman—
■ spoke again, In sort, rippling Frenchli
fiUgnslsur must bo quiet It Is best
stour 1. sate end will soon be well
it to bo the most beautiful wo-
‘ over seen. Fair and tall, of
inch type, she seemed a v.r-
' . liable angel. Upon her head sne wore
," v a white lace cap. which served only
B ! partially to restrain her brown curls.
K Hsr dress
a touch of blu
Sho camo to
ilmple—of white, with
i throat and shoulders
e bedside and leaned
-—. I shall remember to my dy
ing day her soft cool hands presstd
.upon my aching brow. Her loose slee
ves showed her fair, plump arms nigh
to ths slbows. and I recall, cvea now.
the desire, as I fell asleep, that I could
ggR%
ik, smiling' and nodding st me.
[ lay quiet for & while, and
here fim I?" wag my first ques-
She told mg that Z was In the Cha-
west bank of the
Jstance northwest
prettiest French,
ifau Lapunay, on tho
Meuse River, some di:
/of Verdun. In tho
■£. which I could readily understand!
^though ray own -pronounclation was
*. execrable, she told me how at dawn
TCv balloon had come crashing Into
INT* of trees near the Chateau; how
Sgr/tag gardeners bad released me from
inj* prison in tho net; and how I had
been brought into tho house, by her
o,- father's instructions, and cared for
^/iSrough tho night I was seriously
bfttlsed about tho head and shoulders.
vVw^y thought at first that I was
.-dead. Later her father, a French
nobleman of thd old regime, camo to
. the bedside, expressed his pleasure
j, -that “Momsieur Ad-dams" (they had
/ learned my name from papers found In
my pockets) had recovered, assuring
me that I need have no concern as to
my perfect welcome to remain as blei
- _ 4Westjuntil^I^shonid be completely re-
S. I suppose it was ths shock that blot-
tad out, for the next few days, all
[ recollection of my Identity, or mr re-1
IN
aware of the approaching^ crisis. But
he rose to the occasion, showing even
in these declining years unusual power
of decision and action.
Events moved swiftly then. The
Count summoned his servants and re
tainers and secreted in the woods
large amour* “
chests, and
valuable heir*
Aimee was In great distress;
but I quieted her with assurances that
I would protect her, though how I
would stand off a German army 1
had no Idea. Early In the evening
’ the Meuse. ,re-
shortly afterward.
rode up to apprise the Count, with
whom he was acquainted, of the pres
ence of French skirmishers ja short
distance to the south of the Chateau.
It became evident to the Count that
wo would be In the tone of battle. «•
_j* possible of
„ _ jrty. Myjieart went
the old nobleman. H# made no
Int. He was ready for wbat-
C light come though It should cost
le magnificent estate.
I through the night* we
A fEW MINUTES THE E^JIBE TOWN WAS ABLAZE.
5. She it counted a poor knitter who
cannot knit a mile of yarn while sho
and released a viscid liquid emitting
horrible stench. A shower of fiercely
burning rockets was. sent after the
own was ablaze. The heat
Jlng, he
settled upon the place like a jpall
of the residents as had failed to leave
were Immediately overcome. Peopls
fell in the streets by the hundred. It
was a slaughter pen. Belng_ high
above the town I was not thus sffeeted,
looken on with indescribable hor-
it this method of warfare. Yet It
^perhape^ tio leas Justifiable than
“deal I
death-dealing rapid-fire guns. The pity
wae that It was necessary at
Unhindered, the GermanL ,
the bridge and climbed
SI
across th. brides and climbed th.
steep banks, passing: through th, town.
horse snd mad. tor
I had hardly arrived and .
for gerrlaxts to Uko. Alms, ai
for carriages to taka. Alms, and
servants away when I wss sstoun
at bearing th, galloping of horses
th, oonrtyard. To my dlmay I foni
a body of German staff officers hi
Is walking a mile, though when knit
ting rapidly a brisk
walking pace Is
not easily maintained.
Tbe women carry their knitting work
about with them, no matter wHat else
they are doing At evening prayer
meeting* th# flash ‘ - —
tad dick o( th,
naedles are not unusual accompani
ment, Case, are known In which
women here taken their knitting to
funeral*, though nest 1 relatives of the
deceased ' ‘
ere barred from this privilege.
As the communities are strictly ortho
dox, no knitting Is don, on Sundnya ,
The nipper bralneeg furnlsnes good
revenue to railroads, steamboat* and
•tag**, and involves an expenditure of
•bout. 110.000 a year.
and lilies are artificially
‘r stems In liquid
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