Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-03-08
Paris On the battlefield dusky forms

Paris. On the battlefield dusky forms
came fitting about With sable uni
forms, relieved only by the red cross Of
Geneva, they went silently about on
their merciful errands. Two of these
ministering spirits bend over the form
of Armand de Rochecour. "Dead?
poor fellow" asks one. "No, he
breathes." Then they lift him gently
upon the ambulance; and the brave
young officer who rode out from the
gates of Paris that morning full of life
and health and courage, is borne back
again blind, manned, the light gone
out from his eyes forever, and the pow
erful form with it's strength and beauty
forever crippled They lay him on a
narrow bed in crowded hospital. The
gentle hand of Sister of Charity dress
the terrible wounds, and as she looks at
him she murmurs, pityingly, "Poor
fellow, he is blind p
Ninon has listened all day to the
sound of that terrible cannonading,
waited all night in frightened suspense
for news from the scene of battle-for
tidings from Armand de Rochecour.
In the morning no word has come, and
tolerable every moment. Dark circles
have appeared under the brown eyes,
and their brilliancy is all faded gone
out into that long night of watching.
Restlessly Ninon PAGES the long salon
Finally sudden impulse seizes her II
will go and find him"
1t is long and weary search They
direct her from one place to another.
The streets are filled with hurrying,
eager crowd, each intent upon his own
affairs, and it is long before she can
find anyone who can tell her where to
look for him. At last they direct her
to the hospital where he is lying. Ninon
passes between the long rows of beds,
sees the suffering faces of the men that
fill them, listens to the groans of the
suffering and dying, and the tears fill
her eyes and roll down upon her blanch-
ing cheeks. 1T is too much for mad
anne to Witness" suggests young sur
geon. "No, no; if they must suffer it,
why should not see it?" and the spoiled
child Of luxury braces up her nerves
and goes on to meet the sorrow that lies
before her
She finds him at last. AS she ap-
proaches his bedside she trembles. She
looks at the white bandages that lie up
on his eyes and shudders Then she
speaks to him, and the glad smile that
fits across his lips treasures her. His
single hand goes out to meet hers, and
he tries to speak. A warning gesture
from the nurse attracts Ninons atten-
ton, and she whispers, "Do not talk Ar
mand. You must get well first"
From an old soldier who watches
over him Ninon learns the history Of
the sortie. AS she listens to the story
Of how bravely the young soldier bore
himself on that dreadful day, and how
he fell when, goaded to fury by the de-
sertion of his men, he rushed forward
alone upon the Prussian line, Ninon's
heart swells with new and sweet emo
ton. The lovely mouth wears it's hap
piest smile. There is a look Of newly
found happiness in the brown eyes.
Suddenly they fill with tears, and the
little lips murmur softly: 81 have
found him, the prince"
Then the Sister of Charity comes and
whispers, gently and pityingly: "Mad
anne, he VIII be blind.
All the horror contained in that
dreadful sentence sinks into Ninon's
soul, and with voice whose utterance
is choked with sobs she cries out,
Armand, my love God help you! /"
Then she lifts her tear-stained face,
lit up with it's wonderful light of love
and pity, and looking at the sympathet-
ic countenance of the poor Sister,
whispers: "He shall see with my
eyes,"
The Sister looks into the depth of the
lovely eyes raised to hers and thinks:
"He is not so much to be pitied, the
brave man."
Through long nights of fever and
days of weary restlessness Ninon
watches by her lovers side. Strength
returns to the crippled body, but the
sorrowful eyes wear always that help
less, vacant expression peculiar to the
blind, and the strong right arm is rep
resented only by an empty sleeve.
He is not forbidden to speak now;
and one day as he hears Ninon's foot
step by his bedside, and the soft rustic
of her dress as she bends over him, he
says: "You are always with me,
NlnOn, are you not, Or DO dream lt?"
II am always with you, Armand"
What brings you here?"
Because | love you, dear"
Love me?.but / am cripple and
blind"
Yes, Armand. Your right arm and
your eyes you have given to France.
will you give the rest to me?"
"Ninon - and the left arm, the only
one he has, draws her quickly and pas
sionately to his side. Her soft breath
plays against his cheek, and as his lips
meet hers she whispers: Armand, my
prince, [ love YOU"
A Sentimental Goose.
From the Chattanooga CTenn.) Times
On a farm near this city is a goose
that lately lost its mate. It mourned
sincerely for several days, refusing very