Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-09-15

CuIIOu3ly hb NlAlpdniDA 40 A0 AIeNAhNA
their military salute Why should Q con-
quering German look so downcastS they
seemed to say. A little further on came
rafting at full speed the Feld-post, brist-
ling with soldiers and bayonets, each cart
driven by q sullen, scared looking French
peasant As we passed them, the men
called out friendly greeting to Heinrich,
but he did not raise his bent head, as with
long absent strites he waded through the
snow. AS we passed through the gates
leading into the town, with sll the bustle
and confusion around ui, he began ab-
ruptly to talk aloud his ipmost thoughts.
mep he said "I have written to her
from time TO time, telling her about my
love for Marie, and she has so well un-
derstood-she has all mans chivalry for
women. AT first she wrote, Do not give
vour heart TO French woman, my CON-
nut in her last letter she said, Whom the
war ia over, and il your life Is spared,
bring Marie with her babe and the two old |
women to our valley Of he Wispcrthali
the house Is roomy, and with us there VIII |
be peace and plenty, and we snall together |
forget all that has been, and now" he |
went on, tlinsing up his arms, IL Is all like |
some wild dream that Is passed. You are |
tired" he said, looking down at me with
his kindly penetrating eyes, but you will
sleep tonight and get rest, while l-l-my
life now will be one long restless night,
when waking find her not"
"You are soldier; you can light, L
seid, feeling more pity Tor Marie
ayes, can do that" ne said, laughing
hoarsely.
Some days afterwards 1 was in the door
way If house opposite to that OF jacques,
when MY attention was attracted by lit
tie crowd collected around his open door.
Two Uhlans had come riding down the
street, and stopped to join Heinrich, who
WAS mountiJg his horse aud bidding fare
we'll to his hosts. Jacques held out his
hand and gave Heinrich kindly shake,
for the wounded Erenchman could afford
to be polite to his enemy; the old mother
had come tottering into the light, and,
while shading her eyes with her hand, was
| irving long earnest look at the depsrtlng
guest. The bustling little mother-in-law
was calling out her last farewell to Helm
rich, who, though he was one of the de-
tested invaders, had proved himself a
helpful and kindly inmate. Marie was
standing with her baby In her arms at an
upper window she was tuu IN the light,
pot psrtly hidden, as q girl might be, look
ing her last on the ma1 she loves. She
was gazing down with her Madonna face,
full OF a high purpose and calm serenity /;
{ the war within her had Teen sharp and
, fierce, but the struggle was over, and she
had accepted her tate as God had willed
it. Sac had come forward into the win
; dow to bring peace and encouragement TO
Heinrich.
There was a divine tranquility about
her whole bearing that struck him as he
1 glanced up with sad disturbed face into
, the calm above him; he looked again, long
AID earnestly, and the shadow Of great
! grief seemed to pass away, and the drawn,
$ hollow lines about his lace soltened INTO
< repose. She, out OF the depth of her
J despair, had taught him that hard life les.
/. son, "que Ia li6srts est 0be1SSGnce U0!0H'
f tatTe" We are not sent into the world tc
e rest in the haven of great love, to seek
: and win cur individual happiness; love
q comes, as spring comes, TO renew all life
r to cover the hard, cold earth with soft
:, ness and sweetness, to bring the tender
q bus to blossomIng perfection, to I'll.
e the clear air with fragrance anc
8 light. What If the spring passes? Ii
there not the long summer of twilight anC
peace? Marie had loved, and her 1--we haC
d made her stronger and better; she had SUI
n fered, ana the suffering had raised ant
;, purified her whole nature; she was going
e to live the life" not as she had planned
p it for herself, but as fate had decreed 1t
e The beauty of remuneration shone out o
e her clear eyes, and in the majesty OF hel
G. figure there breathed the Iestful calm tina
II follows upon the tumult of a storm sub
n dued
% "They are not men, they are ma
re chimes p exclaimed young girl, scorn
b fully, as she moved away fIom the littl'
IS group at the door. She had threaded
S. red ribbon through her ebon hair, and haC
y lifted up her bright eyes laughingly t.
( look into Heinrich's face he was adjust
| ing his long, glitteIing lance in the stir
ID rup at the time, and had either not notices
i her glance, or had gazed at her vacanlly
Id with his dim, griettul eyes.
le stood and looked alter the three fig
1T ures, sitting square and upright on thei
* powerful horses. As they passed out iron
ID the village street on to the straight high
a way, bordered with stately trees, who's
i'd frozen branches, entwining with on
IL another, formed a trellised arch in Ion
ne perspective, one heard the clang of tn
re horses hoofs far up the road. Th
ill scene, as | saw it, with the shadows {
Id evening s0ftening all harsh outline!
es seemed ike some dream picture, bathed i
the rose and amber LIGHT OF a waning sun
x there was no joyous rppling sound {
d. running water; all the fountains wer
frozen dumb; thin clouds of vapory mi.
II. wresthed slowly up into the air from aboy
no the rough-hewn crosses tha bordered th
er roadside, marking the resting place {
ot those killed fighting for their tatheIlanC
". Heinrich turned to give one last look, an
i a then the three horsemen passed out {
he sight.
lst Jacques crossed the street, and caugl
sight of Marie at the window. She smile
W, and held up the laughing baby. Jacque
ed face became radient, as he stood leaniu
on his crutches, watching the mother an
at child, and then limped quickly back AGA
nd into the house. Then Marie leant out f
We, moment, her whole face inVoluntaril
eW Changing as she looked for the last tin
he into the misty distance, beginning peIhaI
-as to realize with something like despair u
eat level dullness Of her future daily life
ed was passionate farewell look-a helples
for wisliul gaze she was young and cage
ter with thTOObing pulses and an eCbiI
nd heart, that revolted against the woman
RE relentless will The child looked up in
he the altered face, its gleeful Growing chan
for ed TO weak scared cry Marie start,
ler back, and bending her head low over h
or. baby hushed its walling sobs. And in Il
-ed fading light | saw the iudistinct outlia
es- of Jacques good humored, mesningle
lis face; he put his hand lightly on Marie
me ouOuluSE, anu uASH uOA 1ulO tue IOol ;
gh shut the window, and began to trim Il
nat evening lamp with his deft hands. Al
ed, from behind the lamp saw Marie's graz
an figure passing TO and fro, as she hush,
I'd, he child to sleep; there was silence
the room, and 10 the blessed stiffness
les knew that she would gain strength al
he calm-that peaceful calm that steals
.ou way into woman's soul, when she hol
nd in her firm arms the sacred burden of
to sleeping child.
a CONCLUSION.
Id; When the snow had melted, and b
me tender blades of grass had sprung out fro