forgotten a moment in all the peril of war.

I saw the handwriting of Louison and then a vision of her--the
large eyes, the supple, splendid figure, the queenly bearing. It
read;--


"MY DEAR THERESE: At last they promise to return us to you on the
12th of October. You are to send two men for us--not more--to the
head of Eagle Island, off Ste. Roche, in the St. Lawrence, with
canoes, at ten o'clock in the evening of that day. They will find
a lantern hanging on a tree at the place we are to meet them. We
may be delayed a little, but they are to wait for us there. And,
as you love me, see that one is my brave captain--I do not care
about the other who comes. First of all I wish to see my emperor,
my love, the tall, handsome, and gallant youngster who has won me.
What a finish for this odd romance if he only comes! And then I do
wish to see you, the count, and the others. I read your note with
such a pleasure! You are sure that he loves me? And that he does
not know that I love him? I do not wish him to know, to suspect,
until he has asked me to be his queen--until he has a right to
know. Once he has my secret. Love is robbed of his best treasure.
Mon Dieu! I wish to tell him myself, sometime, if he ever has the
courage to take command of me. I warn you, Therese, if I think he
knows--when I see him--I shall be cruel to him; I shall make him
hate me. So you see I will not be cheated of my wooing, and I know
you would not endanger my life's happiness. I have written a
little song--for him. Well, some day I shall sing it to him, and
will he not be glad to know I could do it? Here are the first
lines to give you the idea:--