The Portland daily press., 1875-05-15

The Brigadier Frederic.
The Story of a Fferchman Hunted by the
Germans.
(coNcLUDED.)
CHAPTER XIV.


dear country, of our old parents and friends,
L had one consolation, my daughter remained
to me. my good courageos child who smiled in
spite OF her anxietiee, grief, and suffering
when she saw me disturbed. 1t overcomes
me when think of it. 1 Ieproach myself
that allowed my desolation to appear; of
not having been able to conquer my hatred
toward those who had reduced us to this
state. Alb! it is easy to be cheerful when
nothing troubles you, but in need in for
eign land it is another thing. We lived in
the greatest economy. Marie Rose took care
of our little household, and l often sat for
hours near the window dreaming of what had
passed in these last months, and the abomi-
nable order which had banshed me from my
country. Indign alton suddenly seized me
and raised my two arms, uttering savage
cry.
Marie Rose was more calm; our humilia-
ton, our misery, and the misfortunes of the
country touched her as deeply and perhaps
more, even than me, but she concealed it
from me. But she could not hide the bad
cough, which made me anxious. Far from
improving as hoped, it grew worse, day by
day. At night especially, when I heard in
the midst of the deep silence, this dry cough,
sharp and deep, it seemed to me as if ii would
tear her to pieces. l sat up in my bed, and
listened in terror.
Sometimes, nevertheless, this horrible
cough, seemed to grow better. Marie Rose
LIANT yall Than took aOaip and
thinking of the innumerable miseries which
overspread France, the great famine in Paris,
the battle fields covered with dead, ambulan-
ces encountered with the wounded, fires,
acquisitions. plumber, l said to myself that
we must not complain, that we had little
fires 10 warm us ,sand little bread to nourish
Us. And then so many incredible things
happened in this war! Had we not formerly
conquered all Europe? But it had not him
dered us from being overpowered in our turn !!
These Germans would they not meet with
the same fate? All gamblers are ruined at
last These thoughts and many other like
them passed through my mind, and Marie
Rose said to me one day, can is not lost, all
is MOI lost!" had a dream last night. saw
JeanI in uniform of brigadier forester; we
shall soon have some good news.
Alas! Good newsl Poor child! Yes! Yes !!
You could dream beautiful dreams, you could
see Jean with the lace OF brigadier, smiling
on you, leading you by the arm, you with
crown on your head, to the little chapel at
Graufthal where you waited forIthe old cure
to marry you! 1t ought to have been SO, but
there must be fewer scoundrels in the world
in order to avert the righteous judgments Of
the Eternal.
Every time this remberance comes back to
me, George, think 1 feel hand there, tear
ing my very heart. Iwould like to leave off
but then promised yon-I will tell you all.
One day when the fire in the little stove
cracked, while Marie Rose pale and sad, was
sewing, and when the memories of the old
forest house, with their verdant Spring times,
their Autumns, calm and melancholy, their
songs of thrushes and blackbirds, their MUIR
muir of the little brooks among the reeds,
the voices Of grandmother and poor CALAIS,
the joyous lark OF Ragot, and the distant low
ing of our Two beautiful COWS under the
shade of the old beeches-came to make us
little visit, while l forgot my sorrows, as
the monotonous noise Of the spinning wheel
and the tic-tac of the old clock filled our little
room. Suddenly cries and songs resoanded
in the distance. Marie Rose listened anxious
ly. I, suddenly arrested in my dreams,
t.embed like one rudely awakened. The
Germans we're rejoicing! A new misfortune
had arriyed-that was the thought which
came first and I was not deceived Soon
bands of soldiers crossed the streets arm in
arm, crying like blind men ''Paris has surren-
dered! Long live GermanyW
looked at Marie Rose. She was deathly
pale, and looking at me with her great bril-
liant eyes. We turned our faces away from
each other that we might not show the terri
bic emotion which we felt. She went into
the kitchen and heard her crying.
1t was the last blow, George; the branch
which had supported us till now, was broken.
Until night fell new bands sang and brawled.
1, with Lowed head, heard from time to
time the cough of my child behind the parti-
ton of the kitchen, and abandoned myself to
despair. Near seven o'clock Marie Rose
came in with lamp. She was going to lay
tle table.
SIT is useless" said to her, edo no. put
on any plate for mel am not hungry"
'sNor either" she answered.
"Oh well, let US go to bed. Let us try to
forget our misfortunes. Let us try to sleep;
rose up aud we kissed each other with tears
ia our eyes.
That night, George, was horrible. I spite
of all her efforts 10 stlfle her cough, 1 heard
Marie Rose necessarily until morning 1t
was impossible to sleep. I resolved to go for
physician; but did not wish to frghten
my daughter, and thinking of the best way to
speak to her about it. 1 fell asleep just at
day break. 1t was nearly eight o'clock when
woke, and dressing myself, called marie
Rose" She did not answer. Then I went
into her room, and l saw spots of blood upon
her pillow, and her handkerchief which she
had left on the table was covered with blood.
1t made me shudder. I turned away and sat
down in my corner, thinking of what 1 had
seen.
1t was market day, Marie Rose had gone to
make our little purchases; she came back
about nine o'clock, so out of breath that she
had hardly strength to carry her basket. In
seeing her enter recalled the pale faces of
young girls of whom the poor people of our
valley used to say "God called them, they
would sleep quietly before the first suow."
This idea struck me, was afraid but after
little while said quietly:
'Listen, Marie Rose. All last night
heard you coughing II distresses me-"
ooh that is nothing my father" she said,
blushing little, ''that is nothing. Spring
will soon be here, and the cough will pass
away"
mo MATTER" answered, shall not be
content until 1 have consulted physician. 1
shall certainly call in physician"
She watched me, her hands crossed on the
basket on the edge of the table, and thinking
perhaps IN my trouble / had di scovered the
spots of blood, murmured:
''Well if you will-for your own satisfac-
tion.o