The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-02-24

a
sound of that terrible cannonading,
waited all night in frightened suspense
| for news from the scene of battle-foI
/ tidings from Armand de Rocheceur. In
the morning no word has come, and the
suspense grows more and more intoler-
able every moment. Dark circles have
appeared under the brown eyes, and
their brilliancy is all faded, gone out in
that long night of watching. Restless
/ ly NinOn PAGES the long salon. Final
ly sudden impulse seizes her. "l
will 90 and find him."
1t is a 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 any one 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, see 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 blanching cheeks. alt is too
much for madame to Witness" suggests
a young surgeon. 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 APP
prOaches his bedside she trembles. She
looks at the white bandages that lie
upon his eyes, and shudders. Then she
speaks to him, and the glad smile that
fits across her lips treasures her. His
single hand goes out to meet hers, and
he tries to speak. A warning gesture
from the nurse attracts Ninon's atten-
ton, axd she whispers, ado not talk,
Armand. You must get well first"
From an old soldier who watches over
him Ninon learns the history of the sor-
tie. 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 desertion
of his men, he rushed forward alone
upon the Prussian line, Ninon's heart
swells with a new and sweet emotion.
The lovely mouth wears its happiest
smile. There is look of newly found
happiness in the brown eyes. Sudden
ly they fill with tears, and the little lips
murmur softly, a have found him, the
prince"
Then the Sister of Charity comes and
whispers, gently and pityingly, "Ma-
dame, he will be blind"
All the horror cSntained in that dread
full 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 its 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,
4" He is not so much to be pitied, the
brave man."
Through long nights of fever and
days of weary rsstlessneSs 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 forbidden to speak now; and
one day as he hears Ninon's footstep by
his bedside, and the soft rustic of her
dress as she bends over him, he says,
" You are always with me, Ninon, are
you not, or do | dream it?"
81 am always with you, Armand"
"What brings You here?"
because | love you, dear"
Glove me?-but l am cripple and
blind"
eyes, Armand. Your right arm and
your eyes you have given to France.
VIII 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"