Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-08-14
A Lovers Ruse.

In N, one of the larger French pro-
vincial cities, during the summer of 1871,
young German officer was quartered in
the house of a rich merchant. M. B
$50 the merchant was called) was Chau-
whist of the purest water. AT the begin
ming of the campaign he was sanguine in
the belief that, within four weeks, all Ger
many would be at the feet Of the Emperor
Napoleon and now, despite all the re-
verses the French arms had met with,
from Weissenburg to Paris, he was thor
oughly convinced that Gambetta, with his
newly-created army, would soon drive the
hated German invaders to a man from the
sacred soil of France"
Until this ardently longedfor moment
arrived, like the prudent man that he was,
he paid the taxes and contributions de-
mandcd of him by the invaders promptly,
and gave vent To his hatred for les mauuists
Prussiens by vilifying Bismarck and the
King of Prussia in his little family circle
and by avoiding, as far rs possible Lieut.
D., who was quartercd in his house.
The ladies of the house, his wife and
daughter, were good patriots; but their
patriotism did not prevent their finding
Lieut.. D. very amiable and interest
IL
considerable share of his leisure hours in
daughter, was 10 years old, and very
pretty. Lieut.. D-- was five or six
years older was an accomplished man of
society, and thoroughly master of the
French language. What was more natur-
al than that, despite national differences,
the young people should be drawn to-
ward each other? The mother, who was
very kindly disposed toward the elegant
young officer, favored his suit, and en-
cOuraged her son-in-law, that would be, to
formally ask Louison's father for her
hand. But Papa B. declared that he
would sooner see his daughter dead than
the wife Of a Prussian, gave the Lieutcn-
ant polite but decided refusal, and for
babe his wife and daughter from holding
any further intercourse with him. The
ladies were requested TO occupy one wing
OF the house, and the servants received
strict orders to deny the Prussian officer
all communication whatsoever with the
fortress.
About this time the railroad accidents
in the provinces occupied by the Ger
mans had become SO numerous that they,
as means of self protection, compelled
some prominent French citizen to ride
on the locomotive Of each train, in order
TO prevent his countrymen from tearing
up the rails Of The road, or otherwise
doing il such injury as to endangcr the
safety Of the train, because now the life
Of one Of their fcllow-citizens would be
imperiled by an accident as well as those
Of their enemies. The means accom-
plished the desired end; railroad acct
dents became rare. But these compul-
sorry trips in mid-winter, on an open loco
motive, were very far from being pleasure
trips and Mr. B was not little
amazed when, within the short space of
two weeks, it was his lot to make the
Journey in this manner to and from s.
no less than five times. His protesta-
tons and remonstrances were Of no avail;
the order from the German headquarters
was there, and had to be obcyed; for
contre Ia force IL ny pas de resistance.
When M. B. was notified for the sixth
time TO hold himself in readiness to make
the Journey again to S., he entered
complaint to the Marie, who replied, with
a shrug:
81 am sorry, but can do nothing for
you. II is certainly very strange that you
should be selected so much more fire.
qucntly than others to make this un-
pleasant trip. Have you, perhaps, a per-
sonal enemy at the German headquar-
ters?"
IL recently refused German officer,
who asked the hand of my daughter"
said he, after moments reflection, land
denied him admission TO my family
circle"
"C'est cap cried the Marie, laughing.
"That explains the mystery. Two or three
times, when you have been away, have
seen Lieut.. D. enter your house. He
evidently has sufficient influence at head
quarters to enable him to send You on
these accursed journeys whenever he de-
sircs to visit your daughter"
Mr.. BIS indignation knew no
Bounds.
my dear friend" continued the more
philosophic Marie, II would advise you to
n H.