The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-11-21
business, scarcely noticed what he ate

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sweeping steadily westward. In Il few
days the encmy's advance might be upon
the quiet village in which dwelt Marie
and her father.
Would they not be safer with him,
Jean thought, and on the instant cam,
the resolve to 60 to them next day ano
offer whatever protection he could afford
But his meeting with Marie was ncare1
than he thought-for while he still sat Al
supper the door opened, and a woman
| stood before him. He had to look twice
before he could recognize in the pale
| sad, woc-worn c%ountcnancc the features
of the late gay and joyous Marie:
SIS it possiblc2' he faltcrcd in hi
surprise. "Can it indeed he you
Maric?:"
"Oh, Jean, have you not heard? DE-
you not know"
And then she proceeded i'll a few
broken words, and with choking sobs, t.
tell her sad story.
"Thc PrussianS anne to the village
last evening. My fathrr-oh. Jenn-h'
went with the few who were left to dc
fend their homcs-hc never returned.
am an orphan and homeless. The,
burned every house. Oh, my father-m.
poor father. Were he but living,
should not care"
Jean placed her gently in a chair.
Il am going away she said, whcl
she was more composed; ~ am going t.
helm nurse the sick soldiers. 1t is al
| that l can now do"
but, Marie, you must not-you shal
not go. Oh, my child, this is not a time
to speak of love, but You know no"
long and truly | have loved you. CONT
to me. Marie; be my wife and find you,
home and protector here"
She shook her head as she sadly turned
from the extended band.
mo. Jean. it cannot be. You do no
know how | love Louis. P~erhaps-oh
perhaps l shall vet find him. Will yol
be my friend. Jean, and help me:
have no one in the world to turn to hui
YOU"
What passed in Jean Didicr's hear
none but himself could know. For !;
moment he stood looking down into th'
pale, lovely, appealing face, while hi'
own became almost rs pale. Then ne
said, slowly and solemnly:
Marie, l will help You as though
were our brother. l will make YOU
happiness my chief care hcn.ccforth'
Rely upon me and be at rest"
BY day dawn the two were on thcll
a to Paris-Paris. around which were
closing the invinciblc ranks Of the foe.
In the doomed city Louis Lcbas had
endured the long siege. Careless of life,
reckless of danger, he had fought from!
the beginning, and though through 1t all
he received no wound, the pain at his
heart for the girl whom he thought false
to him had been harder to bear than any
physical suffering. This bitter memory
had goaded him to a fierce daring and
rccklcssness which had drawn many eyes
upon him.
When Paris fell he was one of those
who most DANGEROUSLY shouted "'Trca-
SON." and thus joined in forming the
Commune, whose mad excuses made
hideous the fatal 18th of March.
And then the Vcrsaillist army was at
the gates of Paris, and the lowest of the
Communists, hopeless, but struggling
and defiant to the last, resolved to burn
the city they could no longer hold.
Louis Lcbas was chosen as one OF those
who wa to apply the torch, and on ms
peremptory refusal was struck down by
the sword of the brute who proposed II
and left for dead. Thus for some time
he lay, until at last two men passed, and
seeing that he was still alivc-in fact.
only stunned-liftcd him and applied
restorativcS.
One of these, who wore the Red Cross
of Geneva, suddenly exclaimed, as he
bent more closely over him:
Found! Quick, Michael, help me to
carry him home! Thank heaven! he
added, in a lower tone. "Now will our
poor Marie be happy!!'
Louis looked up and recognized him.
$50" he muttcrcd, through his set
teeth-"so Jean Didier, you have come
to triumph over me, have you? But
have some strength still left"
He tried to draw his sword, but Jeans
strong arm held him back.
Listen to me, Louis" nc said. "We
have been looking for you-Maric andl.'
Marie! Then she is your wife? The
false"
"Silence, Louis Lebas, nor speak of
Marie until you can do 1t more rcverently.
1t is YOU who have sinncd, and not she.
She is true to you to this hour"
And then he told him all. Louis, as
he listened, bowed his head upon his
hands and wcpt like a child.
"My poor. poor Marie! am, indeed,
unworthy Of her. But take me to her,
Jean, and forgive me-, he added, stretch
ing out his hands-''forgivc me, and
henccforth let us be true and faithful
friends"
"Come, we will 60 to Marie. She is
nursing the wounded at the Rue Royalc,
and"
Louis started to his feet with almost a
scream.
"Mon Dicu. that is the place they
ordered me to burn. Oh, Marie, my
darling, l shall lose YOU at last! Jean,
Jean, help me to save her! They are
now setting the Rue Royale on fire"
He hurried through the streets like a
mailman, followed by Jean. Flames
were bursting out here and there, and
people rushing wildly in every direction.
As they fled onward straight toward
the flames, a woman ran past. Her cry
at once arrested them.
Louis. Louis"
In an instant he and Marie were claspcd
in each others arms.
Louis drew her aside into the shadow
of a deep gateway.
In their unspcakablc joy they had both
forgotten Jean. He saw it and stood
still, with his arms crossed in the folds
of his gown.
Marie had ceased to need him now,
and what would life be to him in tho
future?
4 man hurried past, looking wild and
pale. On seeing Louis he paused, hest
tatcd, and then turning back SUNK like
Il rctrcating wolf down the street. Al
the same moment the cry arose:
THE Vcrsaillists-thc NcrSaillists arc
upon us"
On they come, the mad, victorious sol
diers. Two of them, squirting thciI
horses forward, cried, while their drawn
swords flashed above their heads:
"Whcrc is this traitor, Louis Lcbas
He who fired the Rue Royale3 Point
him outI'
Marie, white as death, sank upon hcl
knees.
"Save him, Jean, oh. save him, and
will love you and pray for you as long
as | live.
He tore off his red cross.
Put this upon him. Quick. or i,
will be too late"
Then he stepped out into the middle OF
the street.
"If it is Louis Lcbas that you want
he cried, dcfiantly, ~ am here!
The mob pressed around him. Ascort