The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
hospital where I can nurse and care for

HoSpltul WHERE cul hurst ulu cure IOf
him."
She looked SO beautiful, SO brave, as
she stood there, her dark eyes wore a
look Of such passionate appeal, that the
Generals heart softened.
1T shall be as you DESIRE lc said.
II will net MS yonr body-guard, my
brave girl.
Half an honr later the young officer
SO miraculously saved lay in comfort
able bed in the house of kind Ameri-
can, tenderly guarded and cared for by
the dark-cycd girl who had dared 50
much for his sake.
But it was many days before he knew
anything of what was passing around
him; days in which he lay in the valley
of the shadow of death, deaf to the
tender words whispered in his ear
blind to the anguish in the face Of his
sweet nurse, unconscious Of the tears
which fell fast on his face rs she bent
over him.
"Where am II" the pallid lips asked,
family.
with me, Hugo" answered the
nurse, bending over him, q world OF
gladness in her lustrous eyes.
He smiled as If we'll content. Too
weak to make further inquiry, he was
satisfied with the knowledge that Vic
torine was near him.
Itwas from the doctor that lie learned
how his life had been saved, and how
unfaltcring had been the courage and
care of the girl he had thought never
T.. L. 1.,el - H.
desolate cabin in the forest.
"Victorine.' he said, one day, when
he was feeling almost well again, and
was sitting by tho window with his
gentle nurse beside him, Il haven't
spoken to you yet of what l owe you. ]
wanted to wait until [ was strong
enough to talk with You about it. Tell
me, why did you come to Paris?'
victorine shuddered, and her cheek
paled.
"The night you left mo had a
vision, she answered. i saw You ly-
ing in the street, wounded and helpless.
About vou were soldiers, removing the
dead and dying. Suddenly you raised
your head and uttered the single word,
Come Then all was blank about me.
l saw no more. But lost no time. ]
knew that heaven had sent message,
and that l must obey it. / set out on
foot for Paris, and reached hero five
hours before l found you. l knew from
the first that my search would not be
in vain.
"Victorine, / have confession to
make. From the first hour met you
/ loved YOU, think. But between us
was gulf feared to cross. / am not
plain Hugo Lascellcs; l am a Marquis,
the son Of the Duke do Nillars, and my
blood is among the Oldest in the land.
/ feared my fathers displeasure should
/ mate with one SO lowly as the daughter
of poor peasant / determined to
leave you before my heart mastered my
reason. But the longing to know il my
love was returned proved too great for
resistance. and l sought, on the even.
ing of my departure. t. learn your
heart. l became convinced that you
did not care for me. You were SO cold
and even unkind. SO l left You and
came to Paris, eager to help M, friends
in this conflict. 1t was from your
father that / knew of the fresh rebellion
which was to shake all par,s. He was
bitter insurgcnt."
He is DEAL" said Nictorine. MY
poor father! He had suffered many
wrongs at the hands of the monarchy.
Victor, I, too, have confession to
make. l knew from the first who you
We're, for You told your secret in yoai
delirium
And you did not reveal it?' cried
Hugo. "Victorine! that was noble; fol
You know your fathers hatred Of all
connected with the throne
My father was not poor peasant,
Hugo. but a noble, exiled fifteen years
ago because of his political opinions
He sound life unbearable out Of France,
and returned. disguised as peasant
and secluded himself in that forest.
"Victorine! All, then, my father will
not refuse to give you daughters
place in his heart. BE my wife, dear.
est-my sweet, devoted wife! All, can
not you love me? Victorine, your cold
ness was not genuine when we parted p
no; l dared not permit you to know
my feelings. knew that rs long a.
You believed me the daughter Of Z
peasant your filial duty would not per
nit you to marry me. But my fathers
death has unsealed my lips, and
Hugo, / am yours for tine and eter
nity.'
He drew her to his arms, and, with &
heart too full for words, pressed on hel
lips the seal of observation-disclosures Les
lies Monthly.