Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-22

been openly insultea than to have Herr
Hugh Won Trenck's magnauimous in
reference. Have no fear, auntie. l
am a ite able to take care of myself. >
And in spite of the elder lady's en-
treaties, and with good-by kiss, and a
reassuring smile, she was gone.
But the smile faced as she stood a
moment on the threshold Of the out
side door and glanced up and down the
street, filled with soldiers. The color
in her cheek paled to whiteness. and
her heart beat loud and fast.
She almost determined to turn back,
when some one standtng at her elbow,
said, in tones so earnest as to be nearly
harsh: did your aunt not receive my
warning ?" 1t was Hugh Won Trenck
who spoke.
"Afe you in authority in this house,
sir, over all its inmates?" she ques-
toned. elf we are prisoners, let us
know it. You can then enforce your
wishes"
"You do me injustice, Mademoi
selle," he replied, in low, thrilling
tones. I" beg you for your own sake,
not for mine, not to venture out this
morning."
Your prayers and commands are all
one to me, sir, she retorted.
The next moment she had gained the
street, fear forgotten in her indignant
anger. With quick step she hastened
in the necessary direction. Beyond a
rude stare of admiration she was unmo-
Tested, and her few purchases were eff.
fected.
She started to return, when coming
Immediately toward her, extending
from the curb to the wall, was line
of Prussian soldiers, arm linked in
arm, their steps unsteady from liquor,
and their voices raised in laughter and
song. What should she do? She
feared to turn and flee, lest they should
pursue her. Perhaps by hiding her
tremor and walking boldly on they
might make room for her to pass.
Herr Won Trenck's 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 phalanx,
barring her way.
PAY US toll, my pretty little Fran
caise." said one, fastening his coarse
gaze upon her.
eyes; pay us toll, the others echoed.
GA kiss apiece!"
Concealing the awful sinking at her
heart, she strove to pass them by step
ping down from the curb; but the out
side man and first speaker threw out
his arm to prevent her escape.
No, mol" he said, in freezing tones.
You aye our prisoner, and we let you
of easy. Pay us willingly, and We
will prove good as our word. Drive US
to force, and we'll help ourselves"
To scream would be but to gather
around her fresh tormentors, 50 she
struggled to appear calm.
"Let me pass" she said, in low, in
dignant tones, when, without deigning
s5s.sglss 'SSsssocs-ssS IS swS
his arm about her waist.
She felt his tainted breath upon her
cheek. Oh, God! must her lips DO pol
luted by his touch!
With sudden strength she wrenched
herself from his grasp. tie brutal laugh
of the others jeerine on her ears.
A scream, loud and long, burst from
her lips, followed by another and an.
other, as her prosecutor again ap.
preached, when, as if by magic, some
one darted in between them and felled
the rufian to the earth.
The others, bold with drink, MUIR
INJURED angrily, but a cleaning pistol
soon sileuced them, even as they recog-
nized their young colonel, and respect
fully moved away.
Calling guard. he put the man he
held under his heel in arrest, then
turned and offered his arm to the
trembling girl.
She saw then, for the first time, that
it was Hugh Won Trenck who had saved
her. Haughtily refusing his arm. hat
ing herself, hating him more. she
walked on in silence by his side. At
her door, she forced herself to speak:
"Sir. owe You my thanks, {" she said.
!" Made moiselle, the day will come
when you will pay me your debt in
full, he replied, and left her.
What did he mean? His words, the
man himself haunted her. How brave
and 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 herself. If he had
not been q 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 a
sortie. Paris had long been in siege,
and must soon capitulate.
With ell 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 fieht-
ing not far of, and among them was the
man she had treated with such disdain-
full contempt.
Gould it be that she thought of him
at such time?
The third day the Sighting ceased
the Prussians we're again victorious:
but all night long they were brineias
back the dead and the wounded to the
little town.
It was just daybreak when squad of
soldiers halted at her door. She had
not droo oI IF