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

| LOU 90 not understand. he woult
have gone long ago, but that it doom
him to certain death; and he is the las
OF four sons whom his mother has giver
to France. His heart is affected. Thre,
times that suffering mother has bough
his release. She can no longer do SO
her little all has gone. All, this vii
cost two liyes-hers and his! II an
young; I must live and suffer p
She stopped, choked by tears. Ricard'l
hand closed over hers.
Il will save your lover, Marie" he
! whispered. s'Will you trust it to me
Say nothing-he would not accept it, il
| he knew; but meet me tomorrow, at this
hour, on the outskirts of the wood, and
| it will bring you the amount of his re-
lease. will tell you then how You NAV
pay the debt, SO that itneed not trouble
you
Then, ere she could raise objections
she felt her hand carried to his lips, and
he was gone.
How she had misjudged himl How
good, and noble, and true he was
She could hardly refrain, the next day
when Jean came, from sounding his
praises in his ears, but that Jean himself
was so strange in manner and watched
her so furtively.
1t was because he thought that he was
SO soon to leave her, she reasoned; vet
of that he might have spoken. Now his
lips were compressed, and an unwonted
pallor was on his cheek.
She grew nervous, too, as the hour ap-
preached for her appointment with
Ricard What should she do if Jean
n II ,otl -
paid by early morning of the next day,
it would be too late! The thought gave
her courage.
"Good-by, Jeanr' she called, gaily,
STOPPING over to kiss him. II have an
engagement for a little while Wait my
return here"
He sprang to his feet, and seized her
hands in grip of iron.
Where are you going, Marie?" he
said, in harsh, cultural tones. Tell me
as You value your future peace"
I've not yet promised to obey" she
answered, in forced lightness, striving to
hide her fear at his manner.
Then he dropped her hands, and she
hurried out. Already she found Ricard
awaiting her. pacing impatiently to and
fro.
II thought you would never come, .
he said. "Here, Marie, is what promised
youi" and he held out little bag filled
with gold.
A sob of gratitude rose in the girls
throat.
''But the payment of my debit" she
said.
II have loved you, Marie" he replied,
tenderly. Il ask but one payment, and
that, that once you will let me kiss your
lips. Ny darling, live soldiers life.
may die a soldiers DEATH You will not
then begrude the one little boon I crave,
as token that you have forgiven the
harshness once showed, and accept my
peace offerings"
An instant Marie hesitated-an instant
only Such kiss could do Jean no
wrong-some day she would tell him
and with this she appraised to the man
bending above her the young red lips.
His kiss Just brushed them, when q
Jean sprang from the wood between
them.
Something glittered in his hand, but
Ricard caught and held his arm.
1T is wellP' said Jean, slowly and in
gasps. Neither of you are worthy the
stain of murder on my soulr'
Jean, pleaded Marie, 81 will tell you
ALL Listen!'
But, shaking off her hold like viper's
he strobe off into the blackness.
The next morning, at daybreak, he was
marching to the front.
Poor Marie! They were sad days to
her that followed. Ricard pressed his
suit in vain. His presence was hateful
to her. He it was who had driven Jean
from her side.
Then Ricard, too was ordered to the
front. A few hours before he marched
| he came again to plead with her.
"Your lover never will come bach
| alive" he said. Besides, he would nc
longer be your lover. Why, then, viii
you not consent to become my wife?"
| His persistency stung her.
Because" she said, 81 would rather
have Jeans frown than your smile, hi.
scorn than your love. / cannot help it
l love him. can never love your
| so be it" he answered, growing yer,
pale. ''You have lost me, but you vii
never win him. All, my lady, 1 hay.
not forgotten. He will never com,
home. He will die on the field, believ
ing you false. You never accepted th,
debt, but had my payment. Hal hal /
was planned well!'
A CLEAN Of the truth broke in upol
| Marie's mind.
''You planned it then that Jean shoult
seep she said. "You brought him there
You made him think me false. Oh, COW
ard! 1t was worthy of your
The next month the war was ended
but, spite of the doctors prophesy, Jeal
Roger had come bravely through the tes
of battle, with record for which he ha,
no reason to feel shame.
His heart had given him no trouble
1t had been turned into stone, he said t
himself. Life was no longer sweet t
him, therefore it was spared. He wishe
almost that he might have change
places with one poor fellow over whor
he stopped, whose moments were grow
ing very short; but he started back as
in the pallid, blood-stained face,
recognized Pierre Ricard.
| Just then the dying man opened hi
eyes.
"It is fate!' he whispered. 'aThe not
you got-I wrote it. She was true.
was debt she paid. Tell her-I-sent-
you, and gave-it-back-from-your
ipsr''
Slowly he articulated each word; bu
though Jean only half grasped thei
meaning, it was oil made clear, q fe'
days later, when Marie with her littl
hand tight clasped in his, told him th
story of his wouid-be ransom.
| But when he drew her to him, at il
close doubt, shame faced, had foreye
fed, and in its stead was purest revel
encs for the noble woman who was s
soon to merge the claim of Sweetheart
into the holier claim of wife.
| sBangedv Heads and the Hereafter.
| read few days ago that the Bisho
Of Ginninrati had farhiddnn Uhanpadn q