The Portland daily press., 1875-05-15

father! But it was only the light which
fickered across her face. She did not move.
From moment to moment I watched her
breathing growing feebler, watched her
cheeks, her forehead growing paler, at last
giving one sigh she raised her head little,
and her eyes of a pale blue slowly opened. A
kind woman who was watching near me took
little mirror from the table and held it near
her mouth, no mist appeared on the glass.
Marie Rose was dead!
said nothing, made no complaint, and fol-
lowed like a child those who would have led
me into the next room. sat down in the
dark, my hands on my knees; my courage
was broken.
And now George it is ended. 1 haze told
you all. Do need to tell of the tapers, the
coffin, the cemetery! and then of my return
to the little chamber where Marie Rose and I
had lived; of my despair, seeing myself there
alone, without relations without country,
without hope, and to say to myself, ''you
will remain thus always, always, until the
worms shall eat your No cannot. I have
said enough! You shall know only that l
was crazed, that l was possessed with
thoughts of vengeance! 1t was not l
George who nourished these ideas, it was
the poor being abandoned of heaven and
earth, out of whom they bad torn the heart
bit by bit, and who knew not where to lay
his head. I wandered in the streets, the
good people pitied me. Mother ORGY gave
me something to eat, knew it all later, but
then I thought of nothing, was haunted by
wicked thoughts. muttered to myself as Isat
behind the stone in the auberge, my grey head
between my hands, my elbows on my knees,
and my eyes on the ground. God knows
what thoughts of hate l harbored. Mother
Grey heard it all, and this excellent woman
who wished me well, sent for NJ. d'Arence.
One morning when I was alone in the
room he came in and talked very plainly to
me, saying that he had always had great con-
sideration for me, had always recommended
me as an honest man, good servant; zeal
GUS and honest, upon whom one could rely
entirely, and that he hoped should remain
so till the last, that he was sure I would, that
man just and brave, even in the midst of the
greatest misfortunes shows himseltthesane as
in prosperity that duty and honor went before
him that his greatest and liveliest consolation
is to be able to say, II am broken down it is
true, but my courage remains to me, my good
conscience sustains me, my enemies them
selves are forced to recognize that fate over
whelms me unjustly." He talked to me alb
ruptly in this same way for long time,
walking back and forth, and who have not
shed tear since the burial of my child. l
burst into tears.
Then he said that the moment had come
for me 10 60 away, that the sight of the Prus-
SLAMS, irritated me that he would give me
letter of recommendation TO one of his good
friends in Paris, that could obtain there a
little place, perhaps on the railroad or else
where, and that thus my pension being paid
could live in peace-not happy-but far
from all that which recalled to me unceas-
ingly my misfortunes.
Twas ready to do everything he could have
wished, George, but he wished nothing but my
happiness. went away, and here I am
since three years, guard at the Eastern sta
ton.
Arriving in the midst of the great confusion
after the siege, had yet the grief to see more
fearful scenes, the remembrance of which
adds to my sufferings. Frenchmen fighting
Frenchmen, the great city in flames, and the
Prussians watching this spectacle with the de-
light of savages.
''There is no longer a Paris" they said,
"no more Parisv' The horrible wishes
which filled these people were satisfied.
Yes, saw that! believed that our enc
had come. trembled and said to myself,
"God has Gecreed that France shall go
down into the abyssp' But that, thanks be
to God, Is all past. The remembrance alone
remains, let us hope that it will never perish.
But this was not all. In the train of these
great calamities I must see as I performed
the duties of my little place, passing day by
day before my eyes the great emigration of
our brothers of Alsace and Lorraine, men,
women and children and old people by thou
sands going to seek their bread far from their
native land, in Algeria, America everywhere.
Our poor compatriots all recognized my
face, they said, Gle is one of usp'
The sight of them soothod me, it was like
a breeze from home, fresh wind blowing.
They shook hands with me. I showed them
where they could find comfortable lodgings.
cheap. I rendered them all the little service
that we can give to those friends Of day,
who will cherish q long time pleasant re-
membrance of one who gave them helping
hand. And in the evening in my little room
under the caves dreaming Of these things
am happy, not to be entirely useless in this
world, it is my only consolation. Sometimes
it brings me sweet sleep.
Other days when the weather is bad, when
it rains, or is very cold, or when meet in the
street the coffin Of a young girl with the
white crownl then the sad thoughts over
power me. Iput on my old cloak, and walk
the street at hazard among people busy with
their own affairs, who pay no attention 10
any one. I go far away, sometimes towards
Arc de Triomphe, sometimes to the Jardin
ueS flduteS, duu COut udCh WOIu OuG Will
fatigue, sleep putting aside the thoughts
of the beautiful days of the past, for these re-
membranes even in my dreams make my
heart beat, and awake covered with pers-
peration crying-It is all over, you have no
child, you are alone in the worldp' 1 am
forced to rise lighting lamp, and open the
window to calm and quiet myself little.
Sometimes also dream that am at the for
est house with Jean and Marie Rose. I see
them, speak to them, we are happy, but
when awake!
Hold, let US leave that; that which is dead
can never live again! shall not be buried.
among my ancestors, or near my daughter;
we shall be dispersed. This thought troubles
me also.
l must acknowledge, George, that our
brothers have been well received in Paris;
they have given us assistance, aided us in
thousand ways; they have done all they could
for US.
But in such great disaster, having been
so sorely tried themselves, the suffering was