The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-06-05

~ beyond tue gaze OF the bright
eyes that looked down upon him.
Quietly Ninon watching him go
steadily she looked aftor his retreat
ing form. A soft mist clouded the
flashing eyes, and as the distance hid
from her view she mtrlnured, gent
ly, "Armand. God watch over thee I
All day long, that terrible both Of
November tho inocssan! roar Of csr-
non echoed back into tho stiffness of
tho city's streets. Paris held her
breath in anguish Her best, her
bravest aud her mobiles woro fighting
for 6er delivereucc, in deadly poril.
Inst outside tho walls Outside the
walls tho sickoning drama Of battle,
with all its horrid Accomplishments
of tumult, and noise and bloodshod :
inside, tho no less horrible torture OF
suspence, rs those loft behind wait.
ed with blanchod faces and batel
breath for news from tho scene of
conflict.
Among the foremett in tho strife
on that terrible morning rode the
boyish officer, Armand DC Rochecoe-
tir. The pure bloc of his Nor nan
ancestry courses wildly through his
veins to-day. France was his life
and he would give his life for France.
His hatred OF tho ploboian Bona
parties, of tho odious republic, we're
all forgotten, wher for the first time
he found himself face TO faoo with
the foreign foe who dared to attact
the very capital and strike at the
heart of his sacred laud OF Franco.
Erly in the afternoon Champigny
yielded to the passionate attact OF
tue fresh French troops. Amazed
at their defeat, tho Germans fell
back 70 recover from their bowildor.
mcnt produced by this-alm 1st their
first -revorse. Then, rallying from
their surprise re-enforccl with fresh
troops aud protected by their batter,
les, they fell upon tho French with
Il sudden fury, Dismayed by the
unexpected attack, weary with the
long days fighting, tho half disci
plined French sollicry foil back.
With q wild feeling hall fury, hall
dispair, Armand saw the lipe give
wry. "Cowarls = he muttelei bo-
low Lis breath. Then turning sud
denly to bis men, he cried "C1ur-
ago 4! Will your 93 back to your
women and tell them You nod before
Prussiln guns On on Con
quer or die like Frenthmen !. Then
he rode forward bat the terrified.
panic stricken men we're deaf TO his
call, and suffer him to 60 alone.
With his right arm upliftel he rush-
ed toward the Prussian line With
the cry still on his lips, q fragment
of a shell strhck the powerful righ.
arm, shattered il as ifit were the
rotten branch Of tree, nnl tore its
way across the fair boyish forehead
Just above the eyes. Prone or tto
earth lay the powerful form Of the
brave young oili,er. A cry o! alml.
ration rose from tho lips of tho nou
behind h;m. Then they tHrhoi aud
fled, and left him to his fate.
The evening shl.)ws fell over the
battle plain, quieting the noise and
strife the fighting ceased. The
Prussan gnns wers silent, aul the
French troops retired sullenly back
toward Paris On the battlefield
dusky forms camo ftting about.
With sable uniforms, relieved ouly
by tho red cross Of Geneva, they
went silently about on their merci-
ful errands. Two of these minis
tering spirits bend over tho form Of
Armand do Rochec9ur. Dead :
poor fellow y asks one. "N) he
breathes." Then they lift him gently
upon tho ambulance and the brave
young officer who rodo out from tho
gates of paris that morning full OF
life, health andcourage. is borne
back again blind, maimed, the light
gone out from his eyes forever, and
the powerful form with it's strength
and beauty forever crippled. They
lay him on a narrow bed in q crowd
cd hospital. The gentle hands of
a Sister Of Charity dress tho ter
rible wounds, aud as she looks at
him she murmurs, pityingly Poor
fellow, he is blind !"
Niuon has listened all day TO the
sound OF that terrible cannonading,
waited all night IN frightened SUR
prise for news from the sceno of
battle-for tidings from Armand do
Rochecnur. In the morning no
word has come, and the suspense
grows moro and more intolera6le
every moment. Dark circles have
under the brown eyes, aud
their brilliancy is oil faded. gone
ont in that long night OF watching.
Restlessly Ninon PAGES tho long
salon. III will go and find him."
1t is long aud weary search.
They direct her from ono place to
The streets arc filed with
a hurrying, eager crowd, each in
tont upon his own affairs, and it is
long before she eau fud any ono
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, secs the suffering
faces OF the men that fill them. lis
tens to the groans OF tho suffering