Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-07-13

pursue her. Perhaps by hiding her tremor
and walking boldly on, they might make
room for her to pass. Herr Won Trencks
hated advice rang in her ears. She should
hate him trebly. if it proved unnecessary.
But now all the soldiers eyes were turned
upon her, as they stood, an impossible
plIalany, barring her way.
- Pay US toll, my pretty little Fran.
eaise, said one, fastening his coarse gaze
upon her.
Yes; pay Us toll, the others echoed.
9" kiss apiecel
ConcealIng the awful sinking at her heart,
she strove to pass them by stepping down
from the curb but the outside man and
first speaker threw out his arm to prevent
her escape.
No, mo-" he said, in freezing tones.
"You are our prisoner, and We let you Of
easy. Pay Us willingly, and We will prove
good as our word Drive US 10 force, and
well help ourselves"
To scream would be but to gather round
her fresh tormentors, so she struggled to
appear calm.
Let me pass" she said, in low, indig
nant tones, when, without degning further
parley, the first speaker threw his arm about
her waist
She felt his tainted breath upon her
cheek. Oh, God. must her lips be polluted
by his touch?
With sudden strength she wrenched her.
self from lis grasp, the brutal laugh Of the
Others jeerins on her ears
\ scream, loud and long, burst from her
lips, followed by another and another, as her
persecutor again approached, when, as if by
magic, some one dar;ed in between them
and ielled the rufliau to the earth.
The Others, bold with drink, murInured
angrily, but cleaning pistol soon silenced
them, even as they recognized their young
colonel, and respectfully moved away.
Calling guard, he put the man he held
under his heel in arrest, then turned aud
offered his arm to the trembling girl.
She saw, then, for the frst time, that it
was Hugh Won Trenck who had saved her.
Haughtily refusing his arm, hating herself,
hating him more, she walked on in silence
by his side. At her door, she forced her
self to speak;
Sir, owe you my thanks, she said
Mademoiselle, the day viii come when
you will pay me your debt in full" he re-
Piled, and left her.
What did he mean? His words, the man
| himself. haunted her How brave aud full
of courage he had been How nobly he
had come to her relief, How generously
| he had uttered no word of reproach, or of
the truth that she had brought it all on her.
| self II he had not been Prussian, she
might almost have liked him. AS it was
but she got no further than this. She broke
| down in storm of tears.
A week later the troops, all but q small
reserve, were ordered out for sortie.
Paris had long been in siege, and must soon
capitulate.
With all her heart Marie prayed night and
day for success to the flag already doomed.
That her cause could be lost seemed TO her
impossible.
Now and then the winds bore to her the
boom of cannon. They were fighting not
far of, and among them was the man she
Could it be that she thought of him at
such time?
The third day the fighting ceased-the
Prussians were again victorious; but all
night long they were bringing back the dead
and wounded to the little town.
1t was Just daybreak when squad Of
soldiers halted at her door. She had not
dreamed of undressing during the long
night. A nameless dread had tortured her.
She knew in this moment what it was. As
herself she went down and threw open the
door to receive the pale, senseless form they
bore.
"This way! " said she, with quiet dig
nifty, and led the way to her own room and
her own bed.
He had told her she should repay her
debt. Could he have foreseen this day
Would he ever know what she had done for
him?
For weeks his life hung In the balance |;
but one night he opened his gray eyes to
consciousness, and they rested on the soli-
tary figure at his side. Her aunt weary,
had gone TO rest A smile broke over the
white, thin face.
"You here, mademoiselle ?" he said.
"Yes," she answered, II am here"
He held out his wasted hand and she
silently placed hers within 1t. Then, still
with that smile about his lips, he fell asleep;
but from that moment the tide had turned,
and life had gained the victory.
He was almost well again, when one day
came the tidings Of the fan of Paris, and on
the same day, by the fatality Of fate, came
to him the news Of bis promotion to gen.
| erals rank. h .Eca zsa si.Hfi-
"Ah, mademoiselle," he said, "I cannot
rejoice while you weep. once said you
| should pay your debt I little imagined
how you would pay it meant thsu thak