The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-03-31

"Ninon, are you really as heartless
as you seemp" ..ft..-..l., ..-..i 10y.
"Just about. What do you want me
to do?" 80 '2i'''
"Tell me you love me, Ninon, just a
little. !" - ~ 9 ifs - 4a.s
s'But DON'T" - el.f .a-aeIt 4hf Il
The boyish lips trembled, and a great
wave of sorrow spread itself over the
fair, fresh countenance. Then he knelt
down by her side, and single tear fell
on the little hand that he stopped to
kiss. '''iss= -'it8 >a'19
7" Ninon, Ninon, won't you love me 30
:" You are great stupid boy, and you
must go awav, or L shall never eat nv
breakfast. You are avery nice boy, Ar
mand, but You look as if you weregoing
to cry - t.......' .I....'
" Ninon!" The word sounded like a
cry of pain. '.t'',' "' 5H, @a 95i''f
Then he kissed her hands again and
turned away to leave her. - - .dol
81 shall not come egain, Ninon." H.
Madame la Baronne disfgured her
pretty mouth with an incredulous little
nsous, and the door closedupon her boy
ish lover. aas- - ~.
Paris in state Of siege-a city Of two
million inhabitants surrounded by the
forces of a powerful enemy, and all
supplies cut off! Daily the distress and
destitution increases. Famine and dis
ease reaped rich harvest among the
poorer inhabitants. The short winter
days were grim and cold, and the scanty
supply of fuel, Of food, grew less and
less every hour. The streets were filled
with a gaunt and hungry crowd of des-
perate men and despairing women.
Emeutes broke out in all parts of the
city, and the useless bayonets of the Ma
tional Guard were turned to destroy
their own fellow-citizens. ....f. -
The sounds of distress and suffering
began to make themselves heard even
in the luxurious quarters of the Fau-
bourg st. Honore, where Ninonde Val
cour wore out her days wailing over
the dullness and dreariness of the gay
capital. The high prices demanded for
all the necessaries of life began to ex-
haust even the princely De Valcour
revenues. The establishment must be
reduced, and Baroness Ninon awoke
out of her long dream of luxury and
laziness to face life for the first time
seriously. The day wore on; dreaay
Christmas was approaching, and the
bitter cold steadily increasing. The
wild eyes of the swarming populace
grew hungrier and hungrier; the weak
died, and the strong lived only to suffer
Terrible reports of the distress and
misery about her made their way to
Ninon. Her friends gathered around,
but their discourse was only of the hor-
ror of the siege. st..l. t.. ..e.se
One among Ninonis friends was miss.
ing-the quick, eager tread of Armand
| de Rochec9ur sounded no more in
Ninon's salon. The boyish form of the
young officer, with his untarnished uni
form and unused sword, appeared nc
more among her guests. And when she
found that he did not come, Ninon be-
gan to miss him. At first she smiled al
his absence, then insensibly she began
to watch for his coming, and as the DAYS
passed one after another, Ninon grew
anxious. Sometimes shewould sit alone
in the twilight-the lonely little baron.
ess, rich in every thing but love-and
the sweet lips would murmur, Sat least
he loved me, le bebe!" Then deer
far off look would come into the brilliant
eyes. "Where is the prince ?''
1t was the evening Of the Goth of No
vember. Ninon was sitting alone, watch
ing the slow motions of the hands of the
clock as they pointed to eleven, when &
quick, hurried tread sounded behind the
chair, and the clanking of sword star
tied her. .4 -,
's,Armand!" she exclaimed, as she
turned and encountered the excited
glace of the young soldier. u 'e
4" Yes, Ninon. At last Paris is reused
Tomorrow there will be grand sortie
The order has been given. With {
hundred thousand men we shall leave
Paris, march upon Champigny-on te
Villiers. Ducrot has sworn to re-entel
Paris only victorious or dead I hav.
come to say good-by. Before to-mor
row night Prussian ball or bayonet may
have quieted the heart tha
loves you so passionately. Kiss, me,
Ninon; say God bless you!'''
Then he sank down at her feet, anG
laid his head upon the little hands thai
rested ON her knee. & -zti lTnei nsHl 4
Ninon lifted the brown hair from thu
fair young forehead; a moment her lip
rested there, and she lmurmured, 5000
bless you, my Armand!'' Then ht
pressed her for. q moment passionately
against his heart, and left her. IT,
In the morning the troops were il
motion. Paris thronged the streets an(
crowded the windows on each side t.
watch the sad procession as it passed
Cheer after cheer rent the air; 9. Viv,
la France!' ga la Victoire!'i', sound
ed from the throats of the lookers-on a
Il Al.