Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-27


color in her cheek paled to whiteness,
and her heart beat loud and fast.
She almost determined to turn back,
when some one standing at her elbow
said in tones so earnest as to be nearly
harsh: did your aunt receive my
warning? o. 1t was Hugh Won Trenck
who spoke.
"Are you in authority in this house,
sir, over all its inmates p she ques-
toned. eff we are your prisoners,
let us know it, You can then enforce
your wishes
on do me injustice. madamoislle !"
he replied in allow, thrilling tone. 81
beg you for your own sake, not for
mine, not to venture out this morn
ing"
"Your prayers and commands are
all one to me, SIR" she retorted.
The next minute she had gained the
street, fear forgotten, in her indignant
anger. With quick step she fastened
in the necessary direction. Beyond a
rude stare of admiration, she was
unmolested, and her few purchases
were effected.
She started to re turn, when coming
Immediately toward her, extending
from the curb to the wall, was a 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 persue her. Perhaps by hid
ing 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 necessary. But
now all the soldiers eyes were turned
upon her, as they stood, an impossible
phalanx barring herr way.
"Pay us toll, my pretty little Fran
caise," said one, fastening his coarse
gaze upon her.
Yes, pay us TOLL the others
echoed. " 4 kiss apiece
COncealing the awful sinking Of 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 arms to prevent her escape.
mo, nO!' he said, i'll freezing
tones. ''You are our prisoner. and we
cannot let you off SO easy.
To scream would but gather round
her fresh tormenters, SO she struggled
tie appear calm.
LET me pass, she said, in a low,
indignant tones, when, without delgn-
ing further parley, the first speaker
threw his arms 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
herself from his grasp, the brutal
laugh of the others jeering on her
ears.
A scream loud and long burst from
her lips, followed by another and an
other, as her persecutOrA again ap-
preached, when, as if by magic, some
one darted in between them, and felled
the ruffian to the earth.
The others, bold with drink, muir
INJURED angrily, but a 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 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, hating herself and hating him
more, she walked on in silence by his
side. At her door she forced herself
to speak Sir, l owe you my thanks. :"
she said.
Madamoiselle, the day will come
when you will pay me your debts 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
words 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 a
small reserve were ordered out for the
sortie. Paris had long been in siege
and must soon capitulate.
With all her heart, Maria 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 wind bore to her
the boom of cannon. They were fight
ing not far Off, and among them was
the man she had treated with such
disdainful contempt.
Could it be that she thought Of him
at such a 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 day break 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 mo-
ment what it was, as herself she went
down and threw open the doors to
receive the pale, seuSeless form they
bore.
This way!" she said, with quiet
dignity, and led the way to her own
bed.
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