The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-06-25
French Village Romance.
Exchanee

nouES QissAnt Hefa fATls- fGIld Nav NaIIS. handsome girl of eighteen years. with large blue eyes and rosy mouth. which opens on two rows of pearls. looked =eharming in her white dress and under her wreath of orange blossoms. The promenade de la noce t. edding prome- nade' over the sunny plain was also charming. for there were the nchGs and the red skirts of the peasant girls. the hght-colored. white. sky-blue. 1T pink cos tumes of the several bridesmaids and of the other young girls in the party against the green background of the growing wheat. looking from a distance like pop pies and blue-bells and marguerites springlng up m the well-tilled fields. The long procession wound its way along inc rural path preceded by two musicians covered with ribbons. one playing or a violin the other cornet-a-piston. en route for the hamlets where the happy husband aas te introduce his wife h new friends ard relations. In the public square of each hamlet the young people had spread out tables. and offered the yin d'honneur 70 the bride. with an accompaniment of music and the firing of guns after which ,he procession. swollen by the addition oi the bows and girls If the place passed on toward the next hamlet. In ;he evening there was a grand feas; "a pantagruelesque feed in the barn. with open wine casks and barrels of beer. al which cvcr- one could ai will replensh his or her mug and this lasted all the next day and the day after that also.
 In the month of October. 1870. the Ravandes inhabited a little isolated house situated on the edge of a forest. Ore day while ihe father and mother were a, work in the fields iheiF lt,le girl Julia was ie.t n charge sf fhc house. She vas then onlx seven ye2rs ald. but had already manifested rars intelligence and an en- ery that's -eiASr3 to be met with in one 50 young. foTessso months or so she had been hearing stnT4es of the cxactions. of The erf5Fte6 sEFE7rTz -ssFvs -. committed b. ihe lrusslan invaders. who had become all the more cruel on account oi the invisible bands of irancs-tircurs Who killed a great many German soldiers from aInbu>cades. Iulia was standing at the door. when suddenly lad whom she knew very well. came running out ef a thicke, and dashed into ;hc house.
 ls Mons1c-fr kaVaHde- here he asked :"
 No. My father and mother are IT the iield a, work. .
 Nell l n,as, hide me l am pursued ny t~e i'russlan .endarnes. They have seen me and are close on my heels. If r am captured my fate Is certain one.
 The child had led him into the back room and pointed to the nven. When he had 20; into X. she ,ook fuel and laid i ready h De lish,ed She then returned h the door and presently the two rrussians salloped up. They sprang fron. ther horses fastened them. and the one who spoke French. began to question Julia.
 Where are your parents
 In the fields. sir. she answered. shrinking back as If with fear and hiding her face n her apron.
 There is a franc-tircur here and we mus, have him where Is he:
 The child had. a sudden inspiration. She went and took from i;> oorner her fathers old gun. and brought Ii io the rrussian \ man came III and set his gun down and then when he saw you coming he ran away along ihe road 10 Mont Saint Germain. This way. 1 will snow Np. ht >a'tSltG> 4tsihEI tt l4Si suspiclously. but she had such 4 childish and frightened ar. and ~as s., pretty ina, one who could speak French sad e her:
 Do no, be afraid. little one. We won't hurt you. ard while theN were hunting Ill over thc place she drew near them watched them wIih wide open. eurlous c,cs. and soon bcIAn 10 -ouch ,reir sabeEs and klck her sabots against their Tattlin- spurs one of the prussians turned round and pa,ted her on the head. and then pick ing hei up in his arms he said
 Nill you g:ye me kiss
 Is I: you. answered little Julia. :" that killed Father Chauvean: This was the name of m old game keeper who had been shot t,y ,h.. iF,y.ders- .-
 No. Iny litile girl. II vas mt |
 There were some wicked men whe killed him. resumed the child. = Are you wicked:''
 The soldier who was being more and more touched by her childish talk. sl; down. placed her on his knee. and began to talk ,o her. ,ransla,ins what she sad 10 his comyade. who renamed standing. and who was also deeply interested n ;he scene
 "l say asked lula. have you also got little girl:
 The Prussian turned pale and his face grew sad. "Nes.l have q dear. good lit- lie girl q, home he answered.
 An. then you may kiss me. He pressed her close to his heart. and the tears fell down on his thick fair beard :: and then they both mounted their horses and rode away When they were gone the lad came out of his hiding place and ran inso the forest. l, was ihss same young fellow. saved by the intelligence, the coolness. and the childish grace of lit,le lulia Ravandc who. when she was eighteen wears old. came and asked for her hand and ], was their wedding promenade which l have told you about.
 How ,c Play Poker.