The Portland daily press., 1875-05-15

him that never, neltner on my OWL siue, vi
that of my wife had we known such disease,
he said to me:
81 believe you; Your daughter is very well
formed. She is strong beautiful girl; but
then there must have been some accident, a
fall or something of the kind, to have
thrown her into this state. She is hiding it
from you perhaps. 1t is absolutely necessary
that we should know it,"
Then 1 called Marie Rose, and the Doctor
asked her if some weeks previous she did not
recoect falling or hurting herself seriously in
some way, telling her he should write his
prescription in accordance with her reply
and that her life depended on it.
Then Marie Rose acknowledged that the
day when the Germans came TO take away
our COWS she had endeavored to hold them by
their rope-and that one of the Prusslans had
struck her with the butt end of the musket
between her shoulders, knocking her down,
and that suddenly her mouth was filled with
blood; but that the fear of my wrath on
hearing of this insult, and the fear also of
injury to me had hindered her from saying
anything about it.
All became clear. could not help crying,
looking at my poor child, the victim of such
a great misfortune. She went out.
The Doctor wrote his prescription; as we
went down stairs he said:
"This is very serious. You have only this
child?"
"She is my only chili," answered.
He was sad. "We will do everything we
cam" he said, ''youth has great resources
But shun all excitement" Walking in the
street with him, he repeated the advice of
DR.. Simperlin for grandmother. Icould not
answer, it seemed to ma that the earth OPP.
pened before my steps and cried to me. 'The
dead the dead want the dead! would
have wished to 60 first, to close my eyes and
reply, "Well, here am, take me and leave
the youth; let them live while longer.
They do not know, what a terrible mistor-
tune life is; but they will soon leave 1t, and
60 away with less regret You will have
them all the samep' And continuing to
dream thus entered the shop of the apothe-
cary near the great bridge, who put up my
prescription. Then returned to the house.
Marie Rose took two spoonfuls of the mix
turemorning and evening according to the or
der. She seemed better. In few days her voice
became clearer, her hands were not so bnrn-
ing hot, she smiled as if to say, "you see
my father, it was OILY cold. Do not be
anxious any longer" An infinite softness
shone in her eyes. She was happy to be re-
stored to health again, and the hope of soon
seeing Jean added to her happiness. Natur-
ally I encouraged these pleasant fancies. l
said:
'We shall receive news one Of these days.
Our neighbor is waiting for news from his
son also. 1t will not be long. The mails
were delayed during the siege, letters remain
ing piled up in the offices. The Germans
wished 10 discourage us. Now that the arm
istice is agreed upon, the letters will come"
The satisfaction of having these good words
made her fair face radiant. I did not allow
her to go down into the city. I took the bask-
ket myself, in order to make our little pur-
chases. The good women recognized me.
"That is the old brigadier, they said, whose
pretty daughter is sick. They are alone. He
comes now" No one of them ever sold me
vegetables too dear. thought no longer of
the affairs of the country, only wished to
save my child; the reports of elections, of the
national assembly at Budeare had no interest
for me, my only thought was, provided that
Marie Rose lives.''
Thus passed the last days of January; then
came the treaty of peace. Wewere abandoned!
And from day to day the neighbors received
news from their sons. brothers, friends, some
prisoners in Germany, others quartered in
the interior; but we, not one world
went every morning to the post Office to
see if anything had arrived. One day the post
master said to me-,
cab, that is you. The postman has just
gone, he has letter for you"
Then full of hope, hurried back to the
house. As reached the door-steps, the post
man was going out of the alley, and called to
me laughing.
"Hurry Father Frederic, this time there is
for you, you have letter which
comes from the LoireW
1 went up four steps at time with beat
ing heart" "What were we going to hearP
Since so manv weeks what had occurred?
Would he come the next day-in two, three,
or four days?" Agi.ated by these thoughts
up stairs 1 searched for the latch without
finding it, at last pushed the door open.
My little room was vacant.
1 called, -"Marie Rose! Marie Rose v-No
opened the other room, my child,
my poor child was stretched there near her
bed upon the floor white as wax, her large
eyes half open, the letter clasped in her hand,
a little blood on her lips. thought she was
dead, and lifting her up, with terrible groan
1 laid her on her bed. Then my head became
calling, crying, took the letter, land
read it at single glance.
There, there it is, read 1t George, read 1t
aloud, know it by heart, but that is nothing.
[ love to feel the knife turn-when it bleeds
I am relieved a little.
"My good Marie Rose,
Adieu! l shall never see you again-the
explosion of shell has fractured my right
eg-the surgeons have amputated it. shall
not live. Remained too long on the ground,
had lost too much blood. 1t is done. must
die! Obi Marie Rose my dear Marie Rose
if could only see you for an instant, for
a moment should be so happyi During all
The time that was lying in the snow with
my wound, 1 thought only of you. Do not
forget me-think sometimes of Jean Merlin.
Poor mother Margredel,poor Father Frederic,
poor uncle Daniel, you will tell them. All!
we should have been so happy but for this
war;
The letter stopped there, below as you see
another hand had written
Jean Merlin Alsacien,
Detachment 2lst. corps.
Sily-le- Guillaume, 26 Jan. 1870"
1 saw it all at one look, and then 1 COM
to cry, again to call, and fell on
chair without strength, saying to myself that
all was lost, my daughter, my son-in.law,
my country-all! and it would be better to
die also.
They heard nv cries and came I'D stairs.