Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-09
her grave, who was dear to both of us!"

her grave, who was dear to both of us!''
1T is unnecessary" he eartly rejoined but his
tone disclosed naught Of bitterness. IL would
give ten years of my life it my sister had never
he added, gloomily.
"How am to understand you? Please to ex-
plain!'
Il shall be compelled to; it was Pauline's last
wish After your departure my sister grew so
reticent and enshrined within herself as to cause
us to fear the worst When the Germans had
encirced Paris and we ali had service upon its
walls, my sister hired an apartment near us and
provided our meals. We could scarcely restrain
her from bearing arms. Many time took her
severely to task for her want of prudence i'm
needeSsly exposing herself to the missiles of the
hostile army. One day-when the firing was
unusually severe-we missed her at the Wonted
hour suffered the tOrments of the damned be-
fore my release from duty gave me opportunity
to search for her. and finally discovered her
PROSTATE upon the ground her breast shattered
by shell fragment carried her into neigh
boring house and sent for surgeon.
''lt is useless she whispered sEtienne,
pardon me! l have deceived you; l am no
patriot; my heart belongs to him: have never
ceased to love him unto death, above all else
You must tell him SO when he comes, for come
he will. God be with you ALL with dear mother
and with France Such were her last words
did not believe that you would return, but
since you are here thus fulfill nv commission
God knows how hard it has been for me- for we
hate the Germans, as you well know"
After a cold but polite SalutatiOn he went
away: called after him once more: "And
AntOine?"
"He fell at St. Quentin"
sensation of jealousy overcame me- They
| are dead. both of them pierced by German mis-
siles. and are reunited Now, however. away
from Paris! Its atmosphere becomes sitting.
behold gravestones looming before me on every
side; the gddy throngs of the streets and of the
ards IA <,n Il
below, and | am fain to metanorphose each
woman and man whom encounter into Antoine
and Pauline.
On the afternoon of the same day hired a
hacre and drove out across the seine to Asnieres,
past the Isle des Ravageurs. where under the
shade of beauteOus trees, we had courted away
many blissful hour; where had never wearied
of listening to her chilalike. oft foolish yet be-
wltching prattle. She often was wont to pout in
order to enjoy the sweet bliss of forgiveness at
tanned. in order to have her tears kissed away;
to feel herself loved in my embraces. drove on
farther to st. Cloud and assembled the hillock
Nothing on the plateau had undergone the
slightest change. The prospect was still the
same. enhanced. indeed, 10y the glorious build
ingS of the Exposition. The old telescOpe still
stood upon its trident and the cake and lem
onade stalls attracted throngs as whlOm.
Groups of young people of both sexes tumbled
sportively upon the green sward just there
where had seen Pauline for the first time;
where ller neat, DANNY 1eet mad touched the
ground in the mazes Of the dance. My eyes
involuntarily closed Once more l dreamed
that lovely dream Of by-gone days and when
awoke evening had supervened. l could
scarcely realize whether it had all been reality
or phantasy. Nevertheless. the somber ruins
of the deserted and bombarded Palace of St
Cloud still stood there. faithful witnesses OF the
horrors of war, whilst high al0ft in the upper
most branches of the trees, over which the
roaring German cannon shots had resOunded,
fancied to hear in gentle whispers: tempt pas
sati, tempt passati!