The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-01
Peer AND PEASANT.

"And you must leave us?" There
was a ring Of despair in the voice Of the
woman who uttered these words, and
she raised her large, mournful, dark
eyes appealingly to the face of the
handsome young man who stood beside,
leaning against giant forest tree.
1T is necessary, Victorine; and
surely yon would not have me stay for
ever in this little cabin, shut away from
the world like monk in cloister?'
"You are not we'll yet" said the girl,
IN low, hesitating voice.
Il am we'll enough to leave here,
where am only burden" was the re-
joinder.
The dark eyes filled with sudden
tears.
"You are unkind to say that, Hugo.
What we have done for you has been
done cheerfully."
But your father is poor man, Vic
torine, He cannot but feel the support
Of stranger very burdensome. And he
refuses to accept any return.
"My father is proud said Vietorine,
and does not wish payment for the
favors he bestows. And the pleasure
Of your society has been worth much
to him. He has often said that but for
you he would have been very lonely"
what did he do for company before
| came?" asked the young man. He
has lived ten years in this hut, he
says"
"Ten very unhappy years, Hugo.
The loneliness has seemed to him some
times greater than he could bear"
"Well, certainly he has had no chance
to be lonely lately said Hugo, in a
tone Of significance.
Victorine's face paled suddenly.
"Tell me, she said, laying her hand
on her companions arm, why do these
strange men come here night after
night? My father will answer no qucs-
tlons. He SAYS women should not con-
cern themselves with such things, and
he sends me to bed that may not hear
what they say. But you know all, HUI
go. He confides in You, anil you wilt
tell me, ! am sure"
Hugo shook his head.
Il would willingly do So" he said,
"but | promised your father that ]
would tell you nothing, and / cannot
break my word"
"These are dangerous days." said
Victorine, "and there is constant
dread Mt my heart that my father will
join the insurgents. Ledlu Rollin, who
leads the Red Republicans, is always
wanting more men, and the fact that
these strangers come here SO frequently
ills me with alarm"
"Then your sympathies are with our
with the throne" said Hugo, eagerly.
"Yes; and yet I know how much
cause the people have to complain.
They need help; but can help come to
them only through blood and riot? Is
there not some other way in which their
condition could he inlproved?a
"They have taken matters into their
own hands, said Hugo. 1T is too late
to help them now" and he sighed heav-
lily.
A silence fell between them, broken
only by the call Of the night birds
through the forest. All was strangely
still. A few yards away stood the little
cabin which had been Nictorine's home
for ten long years. Henri Razi was
absent, and therefore no light cleaned
from the windows of his home. 1t stood
dark and desolate beneath the tall for
est trees which surrounded it.
Moved by sudden impulse, Hugo
put out his arm, and drew Nictorine
close to his side.
"The time has come for us to say
good-by," he murmured, brokenly.
"Oh. do not forget me when l am far
away, Victorine.
"Yon are not going now" she ex-
claimed. "Oh, Hugo, it cannot be pos
sible that you are to leave me Sc
soon?"
II dreaded telling you of my depart.
ure until / could delay no longer, Vic.
torine. Ny heart aches at the thought
Of leaving you, but l must be in Paris
tomorrow. Business of importanc,
calls me there. Give me your good
wishes before l 60. / shall think OF
You as l journey forward tonight, and
picture yon sleeping here, undisturbed
by battle and carnage.
She did not speak. With both hands
claspea over her heart she stood Ike a
beautiful statue before him, her eyes
staring straight before her, and hel
breath coming in short, quick gasps.
Must / leave you in silence then,
Nictorine? Will you not speak single
word of farewell?" asked Hugo, Us he
took i'll warm, close clasp one Of hen
cold ncrseless hands.
Still she dld not speak.
you are angry, perhaps, and per-
haps You have cause for anger, quick
sigh escaping his lips.
"Goodby," she said, loarsely hei
face averted from his earnest gaze.
"Only n single word, Nictorine
Can you part with me SO coldly after
all these weeks WE have been together
Ah, see that you really care little wheth
er go or stay. And II shall never for
get You. Nictorinc, or the Tenderness.
with which you nursed me back to
health again. l remember what Wis
ion of loseliness You seemed tn me whel
l opened my eyes and saw You bending
over me. blessed my good forum,
in having been found, after my fall b,
your father. Surely no other fathe,
and daughter could have been so kind
Nowhere else could have been nurse,
so tenderly. And after ten weeks o
intimate eempanionship you bid III,
sooa-hy as you would stranger o
yesterday"
Still she did not move or speak, and
tho hand he held remained unrespon
sivc to his clasp.
"lou may never see ple again, Victor
inc, he continued. Our paths lie IA
apart. Let me hear You say that yo,
do not regret having known me-
why should regret 2" she asked
turning suddenly and facing him. "io'