The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-19
The Story of a Frenchman Hunted by the
Germans
CHAPTER VII-CONTINUED.

Germans.
CHAPTER vII-CONTINUED.
That which Monsieur Oberforester had said
n closing, "that it would be difficult to find
post in France, and that the Germans would
force us to leave without pity was terrible;
the brayest bowed fheir heads.
Some of them would have entered the ale
house of Sapin in order to deliberate. They
wished to know my opinion, but said to
them stopping before the door of the auberse.
cat this hour comrades, let US all save what
little money we have, five cents for pint OF
wine are five cents always! 1t will be neces-
sary for us to move, and in these times Of
trouble everything is dear-journeys cost,
when we take wives, children-and the old
people,"
The great Kern would know absolutely
what I thought, many being gathered around
me, I said,
ssListen! As far as I am concerned, know
what l shall do, but in such moments, each
one must remain free; each one has his own
conscience, shall give counsel to no per-
son.
Seeing the poor Jacob Hepp, father of six
little children, his shoulders STOPPING, his arms
hanging down listlessly, and his eyes on the
ground, said:
ssIet us shake hands heartily once more, it
will be perhaps the last! May the old mem
cries of friendship follow us wherever
Heaven may lead usr' Then we said good
bye and separated. Jean Merlin and took
the path to Falberg. 1 know not what the
others did, whether they entered the auberge
or each returned to his own home. As for
us, so many thoughts rushed through our
minds that we walked on for a long time
without saying word. Leaving Zornstadt
we climbed up the Brugeres hills to the
table land of Graafthal, when suddenly the
sun pierced through the clouds and shone
upon the woods. 1t was magnificent sun
beam which disclosed to us across the leaf
less hedges in the heart of the valley, the
title house where I had passed so many
happy days since father Bruat had given me
his daughter in marriage. stopped short,
Jean, who followed in the path, halted near
me, and our hands resting upon our sticks,
we watched for long time as if in dream.
All the past days passed before my eyes.
The little house in this clear cold day
seemed as if painted on the hill side in the
midst of the tall pines. Its roof of gray
shingles, its chimney from which thread of
smoke was curling, its windows where Marie
placed in the spring time her pots Of
-.==zr III 5nUnette, the treilis over winch
the ivy climbed, all were there before us.
It almost seemed as If we could touch them.
Seeing it all said to myself,
"Look well, Frederic; watch this corner
of the world SO peaceful, where thy youth
was passed, and which thou must now leave,
gray headed, without knowing where to 60,
this poor barrack where thy dear wife Cath
crime has given thee so many children, some
of which sleep near her under the ground in
Dossenheim. Look! and recall those mo-
ments so calm where thy life has passed, sur
rounded by brave men who called thee a
good son, good father, an honest man, and
prayed God to crown thee with blessings.
What matters it now, to have been a good
son and father, to have always performed thy
duties Loyalty, since thou art driven away
and not soul in the world to give thee any
assistance! The Germans are the strongest,
and force is better than right, established by
God even."
1 trembled in daring to raise my reproaches
to the Eternal; but my grief was too pro-
found, the inquity too great. God forgive
me for doubling Him!
As for the rest my resolution was I'M
shaken. 1 would have rather died than stoop
to such baseness. Seeing Merlin leaning
against birch tree, near me, with anxious
eyes, 1 said to him,
''It is TIE last time that shall see the bar
ceive my reply, and the day after my goods
will be on the cart. Tell me now what you
think to do"
Then he bushed and murmured,
"Oh! Father Frederick, can you ask me
that? You give ME pain. Do you not
know what I shall do? 1 shall do as you.
There are not two ways to remain an honest
man."
''That is good, knew it, answered,
Shut am above all glad to hear you say so.
Every tLing must be clear between us. We
are not Germans who go thirty-six ways and
find all good, provided they succeed, Come,
let us be off Jean, with good couragep'
We began to descend the hillside and l
own George that in approaching the house,
thinking that must tell my daughter and
the grandmother the terrible news, my heart
trembled at the thought But we reached
the threshold, Jean entered first and I fol-
lowed, closing the door. 1t was about four
o'clock. Marie Rose was peelng the pota-
toes for the supper and grandmother sitting
in her chair listening to the crackle of the
fire as usual in these last years. Fancy our
position! How could we tell them that the
Germans had turned US out of doors? But
it was only necessary for the poor women to
look at us to comprehend that something
grave had happened.
After having placed my stick in the corner
by the clock, and hung my cap on its nail, 1
walked round the room two or three times
Then as | must begin somehow began to
tell them the details of the proposals of the
Oberforester to enter the service of the king
of Prussia. did not hurry, l told them just
as it was, neither adding nor concealing any
thing, that these poor creatures might be free
to choose between misery and shame.
Marie Rose turned pale, raised her hands
and murmured
SIS it possible? Do such knayes exist in
this world? Alb, rather to die, THAI live
with such scoundrels!" | was clad to see
that my daughter had so much spirit. Jean
Merlin was touched, saw his lips culver.
The grandmother reused up like snail in
its shell, her dim eyes snapped with anger I
was surprised TO see it, and when told her
hat if we refused to become Prussian sub
jects, the Oberforester would allow us only
twenty-four hours to quit the barrack, her
indignation overcame her. Bowed with age
rising, she said, "To quit this house! but
this house is mine! was born in this house,
more than eighty years ago.I will never leave
it. My grandfather Duchene came here to
i've at first. moro fban ,,oo,. o,.o