The Worthington advance., 1877-11-01
A WOMAN'S LOVE.

once carefully examined the fatal wound,
had fastened bandage upon it, and had
then passed on to the next bed Of anguish,
where another moaning and groaning
patient awaited him. I followed the
doctor, and was about to 60 farther with
him, when the glance of wounded Off
Ger arrested me. The man had not
drop Of blood left in his face, and his
pale forehead was already beaded with
the cold perspiration of death. The
wide-open, glowing dark eyes we're i'm
movably fixed upon me, imploring the
fulfllment of his player. 1 approached
and sat down beside him. He followed
my every movement with painfulhttention.
"Nearer, please" he said in low VOICE.
cannot speak loud"
drew close to him.
"You speak French2"
answered atfirmativcly.
my name is Jacques Fromcntin," he
continued. my fancee is called Jeanne
dc Villers."
He gave me her address.
"Please write this name for me-"
l drew out a pocket-book, and made a
note of his directions.
Let me see.'
held the book before his eyes and he
read attentively what had written.
"That is right" said he.
Then he was silent, as if he were trying
to collect his thoughts. He averted his
glance from me, and turned it toward the
window; his glowing eyes became moist,
he closed them for several seconds, then
looked once more toward me, and spoke
with feverish haste, as though he feared
that he would not have time to finish
what he still wanted to say:
Hearken to the prayer of dying
man. Go see my .Jfancee as soon as cir
cumstances permit; tell her have died
in the performance of my duty; tell her
that my last thought was for her, and only
for her; bless the hour when saw her; ;
l bless the hour when she promised me
her love; bless the hour III which first
loved her, and loving her die. Take her
this ring, and this key of casket which
she knows we'll. It contains in a sealed
package, directed to her, her letters to
me; then bring her to the place where
shall be buried. And now, thanks; you
promise that you will grant my prayer?"
l promised solemniy, and withdrew
with a heavy heart. At the door turn
ed once more, and met the last glance of
the dying man. I nodded assent, and the
large eyes closed in eternal rest.
The next day the body of Jacques
Fromentin was laid in the venerable shad-
owy park of the Constable Anne de Mont
morency, in Ecouen. On the spot where
he was buried l had a wooden cross erec.
ted, inscribed with his name.
+ X X
Paris would not surrender, and the
work Of the bombardment and storming
of the city slowly progressed. Days
weeks, months flew by, I went frequently
to Ecouen, and visited regularly JACQUES
Fromentin's grave. Ihad had it surround
ed with low, simple paling, and some
soul, probably one of the compassionate
sisters who had undertaken the care of
the sick in Ecouen, had wreathed the cross
with flowers.
thought often of the dead soldier, and
thought of him as of some one had been
near to me. saw him before me, his
beautiful pale face TRANSPORTED by death
and love, and I pictured to myself the
grief Of the bride he had left behind.
She must have long since received the
news OF his death, and consequently was
spared the most difficult partof nv mis-.
sion. saw her in my mind s eve in deer
affliction. She must be very beautiful to
have inspired such love as JACQUES
Fromentin experienced for he. He had
said nothing to me about her family, but
Jeanne de Villcrs was a distinguished
name, and her residence was in an aristo-
cratic quarter of Paris. MY fancy work.
ed diligently, and even surprised nv,
self once in the thought that l might fall
in love with Jeanne myself,
The capitulation of Paris was at last
decreed, but peace was still to be signed,
and the city remained closed to strangers
l was obliged to 90 to Germany. When
l returned to France, Paris was in the
hands of the commune and was invested
and besiegcd by the Versailles govern
ment. On the heights of Montmorencv
from which had an opportunity of OBJ.
serving the destruction of the capital Of
civilization by the advocates of liberty
equality, and fraternity, and by their oD.
ponents, the advocates of Justice. order
and law, I could overlook that part of the
town in which Jeanne de Villers lived. j
was glad to see that it remained unhur1
by the 6re.balls, the petroleum bombs
the incendiarism, and similar material
manifestations of the genius of the Grondl
Nation. And now the conflict was. over
Justice and order-thanks to the Chas
sepot and the mitrailleuse- re-
deemed from the reign of terror and
equality the city burned to ashes b,
liberty and fta.ernity.s - --~ai
Liberty and fraternity had made ter
rlble atonement., Justice and order had
done msrriless work: L The d most beantifn1
monuments Of the Mecca of civilization
were burned down by the men Of pror
rcss. For this the advocates of the ls1
had summarily shot down everything thai
stood in their path, everything that nigh,
stand in their path, or that could in an,