In the Yule-Log Glow, Book I

al and palm-seeds. The little thing had such loving, dark eyes, such a soft bloom on her cheeks, and such a sweet mouth, that I could hardly blame the Général for wishing to have her sit besi

plate. When we retired to the drawing-room, matters went a little better. The tame gazelle was brought in for Mademoiselle Marie to see; and while the Général and the Commandant had a long discussion on military affairs

rossed, but we heard one or two pleasant things talked of. Upon my word, Capitaine,

ral," answered the Capitaine, adding, na?vely, "but I

ht after Christmas. Mademoiselle Marie, I shall do myse

scended to accept mine," the Ca

brute he offers you has no more mouth than an elephant. Keep on the safe

ate herself from the difficulty by declaring herself half afraid to ride either horse, being an inexperienced horsewoman. Bu

ill be for my sister to try the horse

Diffa, or feast, provided,-Mary's judgment being asked in every instance. All this time the Lieutenant had turned over the leaves of a n

said, stooping down to stroke the little creatu

ry triste here witho

r go to Fran

moiselle, that is a long time to look forward to; and if

the Arabs in the Des

ile are choses entendues. I often sigh for a settled, domestic life; but

g lived all her life in a school-room, was quite ready to make a hero of any man that smiled kindly upon her; and here were four heroes, in handsome uniforms, all smiling upon her at once! The

s she gave me her good-night kiss; "but, o

red suns. The warm, intoxicating light took possession of our senses, and so sweet, so rarefied, so indescribably delicious was the air, that it seemed to give wings to our dull bodies. Every now and then we were overtaken by clouds of locusts, their little wings glistening like diamonds against the soft sky, or flocks of starlings darkened the air, or a serried line of wild geese passed majestically overhead

e poor child stood a fair chance of being spoiled, what with suddenly finding herself transformed from a school-room Cinderella to a fairy-tale princess, and having four lovers, all heroes, at once. For it was impossible to deny that the Général, the Commandant, the Capitaine, and the Lieutenant all behaved

ugly hack, she led the way with the Général, her long, bright hair flowing in curls over her shoulders, her cheeks glowing with excitement. The pleasure and picturesqueness of the last

esert, we came to a majestic sierra of crag, down which fell a dozen water-falls, narrow and bright as sword-blades. A thin little stream threaded the ravine, and on its banks grew clumps of the tamarisk, the oleande

t fare,-roast quails and plovers, cous-cous-sou, figs, dates, an

if you are not here. Persuade monsieur, your brother, to purchase some la

nudged the

on is sure to be sent into the interior this spring; put all romances out of your

ou, mon Général, did us all the honor to spend Christmas at Teschoun. We can

f a fellow-officer but jests with him. What a terrible slur it would be upon the glorious annals of French-African conquest, if such a brave officer should show himself f

y accepted our tokens of homage,"

acceptable to her," went on the Général, adding, au grand sé

ary's cheeks burned with mixed vanity and mort

e Général,-"to settle here, or to follow his escadron to the D

in the warm atmosphere, and, instead of a single orb shining overhead, large and golden, we had

to splendid silvery moons, we passed under the gate of Teschoun, and saw our shadows, darker and deeper than real things, fall across the white walls of mosque and fortress.

about my sister's lovers till we were fairly in our little sitting-room. Then Mary bega

e, and the Commandant says he never loved any one in the world until he saw me, and t

utenant,-wha

oking down; "and,"-here came a s

or you, we must leave him out of the question,

too modest: I'm sure he likes me,

d," I replied. "Meantime, what am I to say to the Général, t

the folds of her riding-skir

e the Capitaine; but I cannot marry one without offending the others; an

d turn Mahometan. But, in any case, could I desire for my sister a happier fate than to marry one of these brave gentlemen, and live in the sunny Sout

s should be spent together; but you may be quite sure that nothing would utt

half in love with the Général and the Commandant, and wholly in love

new to me to have lovers, and so delightful, that I wish I could go on forever being hap

néral's splendid, brown-skinned, red-cloaked spahis dashing into the town at a furious rate. He pulled up at Dominique's door, a

etter in my hand, adding, in broken French, "Le Général,-envoyer cela,-va faire le guerre

he Général's letter,

ociety of your charming sister and yourself without making my adieux; but a soldier's duty forces him from the consummation of his fondest desires, when such a consummation seems close at hand, and I go, if not with joy, at least without soldierly reluctance. I shall ne

to advise your speedy return to Mascara, and will order a tru

onsieur, the expressi

Mari

parties close to Teschoun. Teschoun would be most likely besieged, as it had been more than once, etc., etc. As the day wore on, the excitement increased. Little groups of French o

ounting in hot h

quadron, and th

orward with im

ne paid us a formal, sentimental visit, and after him came the Commandant, who stood up before us, square and stiff, and stammered out a word or two wit

superior officers, and had only five minutes to spare. We can never do anything with a few last moments, and Mary a

h minute, all that was necessary had been said. We then embraced each other after the hearty French fashion

y color in the South, and the lines of blue zouaves and crimson spahis agai

g came on all at once, and we felt a dreary sense of disenchantment creeping over us. It was as if we had been dream

insurrection as often as they please. It is good for trade

and it was months before we heard of our Lieutenant. When we did hear, the news was good; and

OF B