The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-12
NinOn's Prince.

1t was the siege of Paris. Eugcnie hat
fed from the Tuileries, the provisional gov
ernmcnt been organized under 'rrochl. All
Paris was in state of wild alarm, and the
Prussan armies were steadily making thei,
way toward the city, investing one point
after another, and rapidly cutting off all
communications between the bcsicged city
and the surrounding country. Winter was
coming on; food and fuel were becoming
scarce, business was entirely suspended ;
the bo,lleVartls were filled with idle, aimless
loungers, gazing with sad and hungry ewes
upon the long detile Of troops that marched
before them. The heavy rumble of the
artillery wagons echoed through the streets,
and the ambulances formed sad process
sion, with their terrible suggestions of the
dead and wounded for whose conveyance
they were prepared The air was heavy
with sadness; Paris shud,lercd at the
thought of the suffering that il must en-
counter, and II bitter wall rose from the lips
of the poor.
Into the quiet and aristocratic precincts
OF the Faubourg st. lIonorc the grim ghost
of famine and bloodshcd had not made their
way, and the luxurious entrcsol of the fash
ionablc hotel where Ninon, the gay little
Baronnc dc Valcour, 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-
Toned fauteuil, with the toes of her slippers
extended toward the fire and her head thrown
back wearily, looking the very pcrsoniiica-
tion Of cnnui
''Would madame cat her breakfast" en-
qnires Fifinc,, with solicit"tl", ol,o
ranges the inevitable rolls and coffee on u
small table by her mistress side. Ninon
opens her eyes and shuts them again, and
the coffee grows cold. Fifinc knows her
fate. If this coffee is spoiled, in half an
hour she will be called upon to prepare a
fresh one, so Fitinc ventures another sug-
gesLion.
'Madame has no appetitc2"
'sFitine you bother me. Go away"
Fitinc departs, but returns again in the
space of two minutes
Madame, voici monsieur"
Madame turns her pretty little head and
takes 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.
"The Pr,lssans have not eaten us up
yet2" enquiries Ninon, with yawn that
she does not take the smallest pains to con-
ceal.
"Not yet. Would it be a great source of
relief to madame If such an event were to
take place?"
"Rather."
"Don't you care for me at all, Ninon?"
'tDon't be silly, my child. Tell me what
his Excellency General Trochu is about,
and when you propose to stain that elegant
uniform with Prussian gorc.''
tTooor Do,;,tO m, .,o,.... n, 49,.
and shook his head.
and no one is giving any parties. That an
noys mo-"
"Ninon are you really as heartlcss as yo,
seem2" -
'Just about. What do you want me tc
do?"
''rcI me you love me, Ninon, just lit.
tle."
'sBut don't"
The boyish lips trcmblcd, and q great
wave of sorrow spread itself over the fair,
fresh countenancc. Then he knclt dowl
by her side, and single tear fell on the lit
tie hand that he stopped to kiss
"Ninon, Ninon, won't You love me 2"
"You are q great stupid boy, and yol
must go away, or shall never eat m,
breakfast. You arc very nice boy, Ar
mand, but you look rs if you were going tt
cry"
'tNino. 70 The word sounded like or,
of pain.
Then he kissed her hands gain ant
turned away to leave her.
81 shall not come again, Ninon."
Madame la Baronne disfgurcd her prctt,
mouth with on incredulous little anouc
and the door closed upon her boyish lover
Paris in state of siegc-a city of tw'
million inhabitants surrounded by the force
Of 9. terrible enemy, and all supplies cut off
Daily the distress and destitution increased
Famine and disease reaped a rich harves
>amOng the poorer inhabitants. The shor
winter days were grim and cold, and tin
scanty supply of fuel and food grew les
and less every hour. The streets were file,
with gaunt and hungry crowd of desper
ate men and despairing women. Emcute
broke out In al parts of the city, and th
useless bayonets of the National Guard wcr
turned to destroy their own fellow -citiZons
Tie sounds Of distress and suffering be
gan to make themselves heard even in tn
luxurious quarters OF the Faub0Nrgh st
llonore, where Ninon dc Valcour wore on
4 her days wailing over tho dullncss and drear
incss Of tho gay capital. Tho high price
demanded for all tile neccssaries of life be
gan to exhaust oven the princsy De Val
d cour revenues The establishment must b
reduced and Baroness Ninon awoke out Q
her long dream Of luxury and laziness /
face life for the trst tilnc seriously. tTh
z days wore on; q dreary Christmas was AZ,
proacling, and the bitter cold steadily In
creasing. The wild eyes of the swarmin
populace grew hungrier and hungrer; th
weak died, and the strong lived to suffer