The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-28
The Story of n Frenchman Hunted by the
Germans. %a 80 o. 20 a..1
CHATTER vnNcoNTINUED.

CHATTER vnT-CoNTINUED.
When left him was another man, and
went quietly back to Graufthal when pleas
ant surprise awaited me. Jean Merlin had
put all in order. The crevices in the doors
and windows were all closed up, the floor
washed, the furniture in place, the pictures
hung on the walls, as nearly as possible in the
same position as in the forest house. It was
intensely cold outside; but our stove which
Jean had set up and polished drew like
blacksmith's forge, and grandmother sat be-
hind it in her old chair, listening to the hum
and watching the flame as it lighted up the
room. Marie Rose, her sleeves rolled up,
seemed glad to see my satisfaction, Jean Mers.
lin, his pipe in his mouth and his eyes half
shut; looked at me as Tito say. I'D -@- 80 r g..
siWeli, papa Frederic, what do you think Of
thatp Is your room cold now? Is not every
thing clean, bright and in order? 1t is Marie
Rose and who have arranged all thatp'
And seeing it all, said to them-"Al is
well. grandmother is warm. Now see that
we can stay here. You are brave childrenp
They laid the table. Marie Rose had made
good soup with cabbages and pork, for the
Germans took all the fresh meat for them
selves; one must be content with smoked
meats Fortunately potatoes, cabbages, tur-
nips were not wanting; they formed our prin.
cpal resource. --...:r.-.... .---5....
This evening we had our accustomed meal.
During the supper / repeated all the details
of what l had learned from M. Laroche re-
lative to The affairs OF the Republic. 1t was
the first positive news that we had had from
France for long time, SO you can imagine
how they listened to me. jeans eyes spark
led when spoke of the coming battles on
the bank of the Loire. " - % b, :. o.asal. #
"Ahr' said he. ''They call all French
men, old soldiers. Bless me, they defend
themselvesf'
And 1 answered enthusiastically, Eyes
they defend themselves M. the Inspector
said that if it continued few months the
others would have enough OF it,"
Then he bit his moustaehe and seemed to
wish to speak; but after looking at Marie
Rose who was listening to US intently as usu-
ut is all the same. You give me great
pleasure Father Frederic Yes, this is ia
nous news."aa3 s.hi" .9a ~ ,'
At last, near eight o'clock he went away,
saying he should return the next day or the
day after and we went quietly to bed. CD
Although the night before had been SO sad
and cold, this one was comfortable. We
slept soundly in spite of the frost without.
I had risen above my desolation and thought
that we could live at Graufthal until the end
of these events.
Once sheltered under the rocks of Graufthal
hoped that the Germans would leave US qui-
ct. What could they demand of US more2
We had abandoned every thing, we lived in
the poorest hamlet in the place, in the midst
OF the woods. 1t was seldom that their scouts
penetrated into this corner, SO poor that they
could scarcely find a bale of straw or fodder
for reuuisitien. All seemed to me for the best,
and we thought to have nothing more to do
with the bad race. 2 q z Aye ze'Hs .-lr-
Soon it was reported that Donadieu, the
tall Kern and the other guards had passed the
Vosges, that they were fighting against the
Germans at Belfort, and all at once the
thought came to me that Jean would go also.
hoped that Marie Rose would keep him;
but was not sure and the fear haunted me.
Every morning while my daughter did her
work and Grandmother counted her beads
went down to the room below to smoke my
pipe with Father Ykel Koffel, Starck and
others who came for their glass of brandy.
They talked of houses being searched. of the
refusal TO permit the ringing of bells, OF the
arrival of German school masters, to replace
ours, OF acquisitions of every kind which in
creased every day, Of the unfortunate peas
ants who were compelled to work for the
Prussians, and thousand other abomina-
tions. -e
One day Hulot brought his grandson,
contraband, who told us that the landswher
at Sarrebruck and Lanuda were furious, that
they talked in their houses against the Re-
public as the cause of the continuation of
the war since Sedan; that they bad heard of
battle near Coulmiers in the direction OF
Orleans in which the Germans were routed,
that the army of Frederic Charles went to
their assistance, that our young men were go
ing to join the national army, and that the
hauptmann had established a fine of so francs
day against the relatives of those who es-
capped from the country-but it did not him
der them from going Scarcely had he fin
lAhed speaking, than vent up the stairs
hur at time to tell the good news to Marie
Re. / found her upon the landing. She
was ssrg to the laundry and did not seem at
all surpris., s,a,-t. ,.,..' e---r ..-.s-. q
feS' yes s.sher, = thought it would end
thus, everybody -,,st take a part. All the
men must 60. Tn. Germans are thieves.
they will return defeate.,, Hor tranonill,v
astonished me, for the taught must also
have come to her that Jean, q bold-snritel
man, would not remain in the .-,ntrv at
such moment, and that be would 60 >\once
in spite of all his promises of marris,e
Thinking of that l went up the stairs as she
went down, and two minutes after the step
of Jean Merlin echoed on the stairs. He en-
tered quietly, his large felt cap pushed back,
saying ''Good morning Father Frederic. You
are alone?" E e.
Eyes Jean, Marie Rose has just gone down
into the laundry, and grandmother is still in
bed" titU4tf f-.l0t F-...
"Ah good gdcdr' he replied, placing his
stick behind the door. guessed something
by his manner He walked back and forth
and stopping suddenly in front of me, said
"You know what is passing near Orleans?
You know that the overthrow OF the Ger
mans is at hand, and that they call all men
willing to serve? What do you think of it"
I turned red and replied, not little en-
barrassed, Eyes, for those who are there, on
the other side of the Loire, it is well; but we
should have to fight our way there. The
Prussians would arrest us en- route: they
, guard all the roads and passes"
"BahP' he answered, "You believe the
scamps more shrewd than they really are.
bet that could pass the Vosges before
their face and eyes. The tall Kern and
Donadieu have passed with many othersv'
Isoon perceived that he wanted to 20,
that ii was almost decided in his own mind.
1t was blow, for once in the army, God