The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-06-05
"Niuon, Nihon, won't you love

II you were going to cry"
"Ninon |" The word sounded
like cry Of pain.
Then he kissed her hands again
and turned away to leave her.
II shall not como aglin, Ninon."
Madame 10 Barrone disfgured her
pretty mouth with an incredulous
little moue, and tho door closed up
on her boyish lover.
Paris ia q state of siogo-a city OF
two million Of inhabitants surround.
cd by the forces OF n terrible enemy,
aud all supplies cut off Daily the
distress aud destitution increased
Famine aud disease reaped q rich
harvest among the poorer inhabi-
tsnts. The short winter days were
grim aud cold, and the scapty sup.
ply of fuel, of food, grew less and
less every hour. The streets were
filed with q guant and hungry crowd
of desperate men and despairing
women. Emeutes broke out in all
parts OF tho city, and tho useless
bayonets Of the National guard were
turned to destroy their own fellow
citizone.
The sounds OF distross and suffer-
ing began to mako themselves heard
even in the luxurious quarters of the
Foubourg st. Honore, whero Ninon
do Valcour wore out her days wall
ing over tue dnllness and dreariness
of the gay capital. The high prices
demanded for all tho necessary OF
life began to exhaust even tho prin-
cely De Valcour revenues. The os-
tablishment must be reduced and
Baroness Ninon awoke ont of her
long dream of luxury and lnziuess to
face life for the first time seriously.
The days wore on dreary Christ.
mas was approaching, aud the bitter
COLI steadily increasing. The wild
eyes of the swarning populace grew
hingrier and huryrier tho weak
died, aud the Strong lived only to
suffer. Terrible reports Of distress
and misery about her malo their
way to Ninon. Her friends gather
around, but their discourse was only
o; the horrors of the siege.
One amoug Niuons friends was
missing g--the quick eager tread of
Ayr.aud de Rochecoeur sounded no
more in Ninons salon. Tho boyish
form of the young officer, with his
untaruished uniform anl unused
sword, appeared ro more among her
guests. Aud when she found that
he did rot come, Niuon began to
miss him. A. first she smiled at
his absence, then inscnsibly she be
gun % watch for his coming, and as
the days passed one after another.
Ninon grow anxious. Sometimes
she would sit alono in the twilight
tho lonely little baroness, rich in ev-
orything but love-and tho sweet
lips wot,d murinur, at least he low
cd me, le bebe! Then q deep far
off look would como into the bril-,
liant eyes. "Where is the princes !!
1t was tho evening of the 10Th Of
November. Ninon was sitting alone,
watching tho slow motions of the
hands Of the clock as they pointed
to eleven, when quick, hurried
tread sounded behind tho chair, and
the clanking Of q sword startled her.
"Armaud she exclaimed, as she
turned and encountered the excited
glance of the young soldier.
"Yes, Ninon. At last Paris is
reused. Tomorrow there will be q
grand sortie' The order has been
given. With hundred thousand
men we shalt leave Paris, march upon
Bhampigny-on to yilliers. Ducrot
has sworn to re enter Paris 'only
victorious or dead. have come to
say good.by. Before tomorrow
night Frnssiar ball or bayonet may
have quieted forever the heart that
loves you passionately. Kiss me,
Niuon say God bless you
Then he sank down at hor feet,
and laid his head upon the little
hands that rested on her knoe.
Ninon lifted the brown hair from
tho fair young forehead moment
her lips rested there, aud she muir.
INJURED, "God bless you, my Armand!
Then he pressed her for moment
passionately against his heart, and
left her,
Tn tho morning the troops were in
motion. Paris thronged the streets
and crowded the windows on each
eide to watch the sad procession as
it passed. Cheer after cheer rent
the air 'Vive Ia France" a la Vic.
toire / sounded from tho throats of
the lockers on as tho long deile
wound its way to tho gates. Tho
we'll drilled men marched silently
along, their countenances grave and
severe. They were about to make a
last effort for Paris for France.
With stern aud set determination
they moved forward, looking neither
to right nor left lest, the sorrowful
faces OF the women they loved should
unnerve their hearts and unsteady
their hands. After them followed
tho artillery, the wagon is loaded with
provisions, and-oh, sickenig sight
the ambulances that would convey
so many Of the brave men, now leav-
ing the city with buoyant tread, back
again within its walls, wounded,
helpless. and diving,