The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-10-14

nestle affairs, while the young one carried
her milk, butter, eggs and poultry to
market. In the evening, as they both sat
at their spinning wheels, their converse
ton naturally turned on Juan where
Is he now what is he doing while we
are speaking of him % Sometimes their
anxiety was assured by the arrival of
letter, filled with hope and tenderness |;
but at length one came which increased
their sorrow. 1t bore the stamp of Alge-
ria. Juan announced that his regiment
had Just landed in Africa, and was i'm
Imediately to march on the town of Zaat
cha, where lumber of lnsurgent Arabs
had entranched themselves. Some sharp
fighting was expected, as the rebels were
known to be desperate. Under the affiict
ling intelligence the two women found
their only consolation in religion, in com
hitting their dear one to the care of God.
Every day, on her way to the town, Mar
guerite was accustomed to pause for few
minutes at the spot where she had first
met her betrothed, and where, during
the happy days of their corutship, he had
raised a rustic seat she used to kneel be-
side that simple memento, and pray fer
vently nor did she ever arise and 90 on
her way without feeling strengthened
and encouraged. Sd
Every evening, on her return, her first
question to Gertrude was, has Juan writ
ten p And the old woman would silent.
ly shake her head with dispairing ges-
.ture, which seemed to imply Juan will
never write to us again Z One day as
Marguerite was returning from Bagneres,
she was overtaken by a thunder storm.
There was no place of refuge nearer than
her, own cottage and, her eyes nearly
blinded by the driving rain, she fastened
towards it. What did she see A blaz-
ing lightning stricken pile, surrounded
by terrified crowd of villagers
Mother' cried Marguerite, darting
forwards, where are you?'
A cry of agony from within the burn
ing cottage was the reply.
Mother, courage I'll save or die
with you 7 And before the astounded
villagers could detain her, she rushed
through the flames. A minute, which
seemed an age of agonizing suspense,
elapsed, and Marguerite reappeared drag
ging forth her pious burden, and forming
with her own body a rampant against the
flames. Scarcely had she allowed the old
woman to fall into the arms ready to re-
ceive her, when the heroic girl sunk down,
herself, inanimate
"When she opened her eyes," continued
the curate, "she was in an apartment in
my house, whittier I had caused her to
be carried. Gertrude and I watched for
three days and three nights by her bed,
awaiting the moment of returning con-
seriousness, Her first sensation was that
of torturing pain in her face. She raised
her hand to It, and felt that it was so en-
veloped in bandages as to leave only the
mouth and eyes free. A cry escaped her
lips. 'Oh, I remember the storm, the
flames; am disfigured for life,-is it not
SOP
Gertrude and I were silent 1t was but
too true the devouring element, leaving
her body, protected by the wet clothes,
untouched had seized on her face. The
beauty of feature and delicacy of complex
ion, which had procured for her. her
graceful sobriquet, was totally destroyed
Until the bandages were removed,
which the surgeon did not as yet judge it |
prudent to do, he could not tell the ex-
tent of the Disagreement, but that it
would be very great was certain Ourl
silence and the tears we could not repress,
the poor child with her mis-.
fortune She raised her eyes to heaven
with touching expression of resignationj
1T is Thy will, oh, my God, she said,
but let not Juan see me thus
Juan I repeated Gertrude we shall |
soon embrace him.
is he coming -~1- 49,
In ten days,-see yourself She hand
ed a letter to Marguerite, which the lat
ter read with eagerness. - It was written
by the hand of one of his comrades, and |
them that Juan, who had receiY-
ed a severe wound at the seige of Zaatcha
was now conyalescent in hospital had
as reward for his services
cross of merit, his discharge, and pension,
and would be with them in ten or twelve
days at the farthest. .TECo 8Ta8ei
Having finished reading the letter,
fell into a profund reverie,
from which neither Gertrude's fond ca
resses nor my attempts at consolation
could arouse her. 'Oh, sir said she, at
last, 1t is not, indeed, it was not for my
own sake that valued by beauty, but
but how can Juan love me when he sees
me in this state 2 At that moment the
surgeon entered, and having felt his pa
TENTS pulse, he began silently to remove
the bandages. AS seon as Margueritel
felt that her wounds were exposed she
asked for mirror
Not Yet my child ; not to-day said
the doctor She tried to raise her hands
10 feel her face. Hold her arms down
cried the surgeon to the old woman and
myself. We did so, inyoluntarily turning h
away our eyes from the sight of those
muiilated features, once SO lovely. q Il /
Marguerite saw and understood our