Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-26

door ana glauCou w "hu WV"
street filled with soldiers. The color in
her cheeks paled to Wilderness, and her
heart beat loud and fast.
She almost determined to turn back,
when some one, standing at her elbow,
said, in tones 70 earnest as to be nearly
harsh: "Did your aunt not receive my
warming" II was Hugh Won Trenck
who spoke.
care You in authority in this house,
sir, over al it's inmates :" she questioned
If we are prisoners, let us know it, Ym
can then enforce your wishes"
"You do me injustice, Mademoiselle,"
he said, in low thrilling tonees' 81 beg
you for your own sake not to venture
out this morning."
"Your prayers and commands are oil
one to me, sir" she retorted.
The next moment she had gained the
street, fear forgotten in her indignant
anger. With quick step she fastened
| in the necessary direction. Beyond q
| rude stare of admiration she was UNI
molested, and her few purchases were
effected.
She started to return, when coming
Immediately toward her, extended from
the curb to the wall, was line OF Prus-
sian soldiers, arm linked in arm, their
steps unsteady from liquor and their
voices raised in laughter and song.
What should she do9 She feared to
turn and flee least they should pursue
her. Perhaps by hiding her tremor and
walking boldly on they might make
room for her to pass
"Pay us toll, my pretty little Fran
caise,D said one, fastening his coarse
gaze upon her.
eyes pay us toll" the Others echoed,
"a 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 ont
his arm to prevent her escape.
"No, mop he said, in freezing tones
"You are our prisoner, and we will let
you off easy. Pay us willingly and we
will prove good as our word. Drive MS
to force and well help ourselves"
TO scream would be but to gather
round her fresh tormentors, so she strug-
gled to appear calm.
"Let me pass" she said, in low, indig-
pant tones, when, without deigning fur
ther parey, the first speaker threw his
arm about her waist.
She felt his tainted breath upon her
cheek. Oh, God must her lips be pol
luted 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, as her per
secutor again approached, when, as if by
magic, some one darted in between them
and felled the ruffan to the earth.
The others, bold with drink, murmur-
ed 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 his heel in arrest, then turn
cd and offered his arm to tho 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,ishe walk,
ed on in silence by his side. At her door
she forced herself to speak: "Sir, owe
you my thanks" she said.
"Mademoiselle. the day will come
when you will repay 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 Prussian, she might almost have
liked him. As it was--but she could &c
no further than this. She broke dowr
in storm of tears.
) A week later the troops, all but O
small reserve, were ordered out for {
sortie. ParE had long been in siege
and must soon capitulate.
With all her heart Marie prayed night
and day for success to the flag alread,
doomed. That her cause could be los
T seemed to her impossible.
; The third day the fighting ceased