Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-07-02
Ninon's Prince.

NtilOIl , i lllCC.
1t was the siege of Paris. Eugene had
fled from the Tuileries, the provisional gov
ernment been organized under Trochu. All
Paris was in state of wild alarm, and the
Prussian armies were steadily making their
way toward the city, investing one point
after another, and rapidly cutting off all
communications between the besieged city
and the surrounding country. Winter was
coming on: food and fuel were becoming
scarce. business was entirely suspended;
the boulevards were filled with idle, aimless
loungers. gazing with sad and hungry eyes
upon the long defile of troops that marched
before them. The heavy rumble of the
artillery wagons echoed through the streets,
and the ambulances formed a sad proces-
sion. with their terrible suggestions of the
dead and wounded for whose conveyance
they were prepared. The air was heavy
with sadness: Paris shuddered at the
thought of the suffering that it must en-
counter, and a bitter wall rose from the lips
of the poor
Into the quiet and ariStOcratic precincts
of the Faubourg st. HOnore the grim ghost
of famine and blOodshed had not made their
way, and the luxurious entresol of the fash
iOnable hotel where Ninon, the gay little
BarOnne de Nalcour, took up her abode dur
ing the gay Partisan winters was all alight
with sunshine and flowers. Ninon herself
was the dulleSt thing amidst all the bril-
liant glitter of ormolu, gliding and looking
glass. She was leaning back in her cush-
ioned fauteuil. with the toes of her slippers
extendedtoward the fire and her head thrown
back wearily, looking the very personifica-
ton of ennui.
'.Would madame eat her breakfast. en-
quires Fifine. with soiicitude, as she ar
ranges the inevitable rolls and coffee on a
small table by her mistress side. NinOn
opens her eyes and shuts thsm again, and
the coffee grows cold. Fifine knows her
fate. If this coffee is spoiled. in half an
hour she will be called upon to prepare a
fresh one, so Fifine ventures another sug-
gestion.
Madame has no appetitei'
''Fifine YOU bother me. Go away"
Fifine departs, but returns again IN the
space Of two minutes.
Madame, voici monsieur.
Madame turns her pretty little head and
takes a comprehensive glance at the tall
young officer in the uniform of the National
Guard who enters the salon and makes his
way to her side.
1.-The Prussians have not eaten us up
vet r. enquiries Ninon, with a yawn that
she does not take the smallest pains to con-
ceal.
s.Not vet. Would it he great source of
relief to madame if such an event were TO
taEe place."
''Rather
Don't You care for me at all, Ninon,'
Don't be silly, my child. Tell me what
mis- Excellency General Trochu is about,
and when you propose to stain that elegant
uniform with Prussian gore.
Poor Paris" The young officer sighed
and shook his head.
''Paris is very mccall but the Prussians;
and no one is giving any parties. That an
noys me"
.'Ninon are you really as heartless asyou
seeml"
'Just about. What do you want me to
dol"
"TeIl me you love me, Ninon, just lit
tie
but i don l.
The boyish lips trembled, and a great
wave of sorrow spread itself over the fair,
fresh countenance. Then he knelt down
bv her side, and a single tear fell on the lit
tie hand that he stopped to kiss.
'Ninon, Ninon, won't you love me =
''You are a great stupid boy, and you
must go away, or | shall never eat my
breakfast. You are very nice boy, Ar
mand, but you look as if you were going to
cry"
'sNinon," The word sounded like cry
of pain.
Then he kissed her hands again and
turned away to leave her.
Il shall not come again, Ninon.
Madame la Baronne disfigured her pretty
mouth with an incredulous little mOue,
and the door closed upon her boyish lover.
Paris in state of siege-a city of two
million inhabitants surrounded by the forces
of a terrible enemy, and all supplies cut off!
Daily the distress and destitution increased.
Famine and disease reaped a rich harvest
among the poorer inhabitants. The short
winter davs were grim and cold, and the
scanty supply of fuel and food grew less
and less every hour. The streets were filled
with gaunt and hungry crowd OF desper-
ate men and despairing women. Emeutes
broke out in all parts of the city, and the
useless bayonets of the National Guard were
turned to destroy their own fellow-citlzens-
The sounds of distress and suffering be-
ran TO make themselves heard even in the
luxurious quarters Of the Faubourgh st.
Honore. where Ninon de Nalcour wore Out
her davs wailing over the dullness and drear-
mess Of the CAV capital. The high prices
demanded for all the necessaries OF lie pc
gan to exhaust even the princsly DE Val
cour revenues. The establishment must D'
reduced and Baroness Ninon awoke out ol
her long dream of luxury and laziness tC
face life for the first time seriously Inc
davs wore on: dreary Christmas was ap
preaching, and the bitter cold steadily IN
creasing. The wild eyes of the swarmln9
populace grew hungrier and hungrier; I'M
weak died, and the strong lived to suffer
Terrible reports of distress and misery aDou
her made their way to Ninon. Her frlend
gathered around, but their discourse wa
only of the horrors of the siege
One among Ninon's friends was MISSING
, the quick ester tread OF Armand d
Rocheceur sounded no more in Ninonl
salon. That boyish form of the young OH
Ger, with his untarnished uniform and un
used sword, appeared no more among he
guests. And when she found that he dl'
not come, Ninon began to miss him. A
first she smiled at his absence, then iisensl
bly, she began to watch for his coming, an