The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-11-06
A SOLDIERS RANSOM.

nef lover IaEo VIII q most DeW1bcn1Df
little none.
1t is very easy to call it cross, Marie,
was his reioinder; "but you and / both
know that what you please to term my
crossness is very different matter. II
isn't that doubt your love, either, dear.
est; but I could hardly get word or look
from you last night. It's the glitter oi
the buttons, think, that's blinded you. y
In an instant the girls coquetry had
vanished. He had spoken the last SEN
tence with some strange, new bitterness,
and it brought both sadness and contri.
ton to the lovely, laughing face.
mo, JEAN" she answered. "It was
nothing but my silly, idle vanity. One
would suppose / was the only pretty
girl in Lorraine, to hear these idle fell
lows talk; and, in listening, begin to
believe so myself. But it's not the but
tons they wear, Jean. Oh, do I not know
how cruelty it hurts you not to don them
in your country's defense, and the rea-
son which prevents you? 1 won't make
You jealous again, dear. It's only that
I'm fool enough to like to hear the
foolish things they tell me-"
Poor little Marie! She knew that she
should find it very hard work to keep
her promise; but she loved Jean 80
dearly that she would turn her back
henceforth ON all these brave young
French soldiers, who found her presence
such charming relief to the tedium of
barrack life.
She felt quite rewarded, too, when
Jean stopped to kiss the red, upturned
lips.
81 don't mean to be tyrant, Marie, "
he said Its early to begin assuming
that role; but you know it's never been
an easy thing for me to stand by like a
coward when my country needs me, and
last night felt that even you had gone
over to the enemy. Sometimes 1 don't
know which way my honor lies-whether
to go or stay. You may see me with
buttons yet, Marie he added with a
sickly smile.
The girl'scalor fed.
'You wouldn't, Jean, do such wicked
thing-for it would be wicked! You
know what the doctor says-that, though
you may live to ripe old age, your heart
is so affected that the excitement OF
action would produce instant death.
Your mother has given three sons. You,
the youngest are left at home to be her
support. Your going would kill her as
well as yourself"
cit is for her, rather than myself, that
I stay. Why should not my life be of
fered up for France as well as another
though it may be in different way
wish the conflict might be ended for me-
I wish that I might be conscripted
Three times mother has raised the money
by bond and mortgage, to buy me off
There's nothing left now. She would
have to let me go.
"And I-do you not think of me
Jean?' sobbed the girl.
YOU'D only love me better" he an
swered. "I'd wear the buttons then, il
whose reflection you could catch sight o.
your own pretty face"
Hush, Jean-hush!'
And the man was fain to soothe ant
promise what she would, ere the smile,
came back to the dimpleI mouth.
Marie had spoken truly when she hat
said that she had not meant to wount
her lover. She had loved him long ani
truly all these years. She could hardly re
member that time when she had not lovet
him-certainly not when she had no
tormented him with jealous doubts. Blu
she would do SO no longer, not ever
when handsome Ricard, the sergeant o
the guard, who danced so divinely
should come pleading for one waltz.
This was the early days of the war, ant
Lorraine could not look already to tn
fate in store for her, when she mus
dance to German music, and correct he
musical patois into the difficult German
tongue. But day by day, Frances nee'
was growing sorer, and the conscriptiol
more pressing. No longer content wit
her willing, she must have the unwilling
sons as well.
Marie's heart trembled every time sh
heard of fresh list. One evening, at
little dance, Pierre Ricard approache
her.
elve not had waltz for full month,
he whispered. What is it, mademoiselle
Are you angry with me?"
What could she say? His handsom
face was close to hers, his pleading eye
more eloquent than his voice, the musi
giving forth its most tempting strains.
"Just one round" she thought to hel
self. "Jean cannot be SO foolish as
object to that.
But once under the spell, 1t was nc
SO easy to break it off, and when the mt
sic died away her partner said in low
imploring tone:
Wont you come out with me unde
the stars for little while? Ihave some
thing to say to you"
She let him lead her where he would
but she was still unprepared for the no
passionate words, which rang out on til
night air, and shrank away as she Ii,
| tened.
81 am betrothed," she said. "Surel
you know-to jean"
"No, I did not know" he mutterei
between his set teeth. You have playe
with me, mademoiselleyou shall n
| gret itl''
With these words he took her bac
into the ballroom, bowed and left her.
One week later Jean Rogers nam
headed the CONSUMPTION list. Marie
heart swelled with pain as she saw til
announcement of the news.
1t was more welcome then, when, j
the evenings dusk Pierre Ricard al
preached her, with outstretched hand
II was ungenerous week ago, he sait
"I want to ask your forgiveness and
express the hope that you will still i
me be your friend"
i Frankly she accepted the profere
truce.
The mans eyes were yelled by Il
down-cast lashes, and she could not que
the wave of triumph rising in his hear
you are looking sad, mademoisell
he continued. 81 have no right to a,
j you why, and yet--if you would gil
me this little proof of your con
dence-n
81 think, she answered, THAT "
have won it. Look you may -
here.
1 She held up before him the pap
on which that days consumption List v
printed
/ Again his eTes glittered, but his 1oi
was very low and carefully nodu1ate
Il ses, he said. Surely, madem'
selie, you da mot rsr~ats Sukely y
would not b -
i ut is moi 1, with
passic- er toI