The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-01

to beat him to place of safety"
"Help to bear a monarchist?" cried
the men in answer. "You ask too
much"
Let me put him where he'll need no
help" said q rough-looking fellow,
springing forward with n bayonet In
his hand. "Vive la Republique So
ciale"
But before he could strike the blow
his murderous heart dictated, the girl
had covered the body of the young
officer with her own.
Coward" she cried; ito seek to
kill a fallen manp
There was the sudden sound of a
horses hoofs, and an officer, on whose
breast glittered the star of the Legion
of Honor, drew rein before the pros
trate woman.
What does this mean ?" he cried.
"Put up your bayonet, man. Would
you strike woman?'
The girl sprang TO her feet. Help
me, General" she cried, passionately.
"God will forever bless you, if you give
me aid now. There lies one whose
/ life is dearer far to me than my own.
! Protect him; let me remove him to
hospital where L can nurse and care for
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" he said.
81 will act as your body-guard, my
brave girl.
Half an hour 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-eyed girl who had dared so
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 as she bent
over him.
Where am II" the pallid lips asked,
family.
With me, Hugo" answered the
nurse, bending over him, a world OF
gladness in her lustrous eyes.
He smiled as if we'll content. Toe
weak to make further inquiry, he was
satisfied with the knowledge that Vic
torine was near him.
1t twas from the doctor that he learned
how his life had been saved, and how
unfaltering had been the courage and
care of the girl he had thought never
to see again when he left her in the
desolate cabin in the forest.
"Victorine," he said one day, when
he was feeling almost well again, and
was sitting by the window with his
gentle nurse beside him, Il haven't
spoken to you yet of what 1 owe you. /
wanted to wait until L 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 me L had
vision" she answered. Il saw you ly-
ing in the street, wounded and helpless.
About you were soldiers, removing the
dead and dying Suddenly you raised
your head and uttered the single word,
Come. Then all was blank about me.
saw no more. But l lost no time. /
knew that heaven had sent message,
and that | must obey it. set out on
foot for Paris, and reached here five
hours before L found you. / knew from
the first that my search would not be
in vain"
"Victorine, 1 have confession to
make From the first hour L met you
loved you, think. But between us
was gulf 1 feared to cross. am not
plain Hugo Lascelles; am Marquis,
the son of the Duke de Villars, and my
blood is among the oldest in the land.
/ feared my fathers displeasure should
l mate with one so lowly as the daughter
of a poor peasant. 1 determined to
leave you before my heart mastered my
reason. But the longing to know if my
love was returned proved too great for
resistance, and 1 sought, on the even
ing of my departure. to learn your
heart. / 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 my friends
in this conflict. 1t was from your
father that knew of the fresh rebellion
which was to shake all Paris. He was
bitter insurgent."
"He is dead" said Victorine. my
poor fatherl He had suffered many
wrongs at the hands of the monarchy.
Victor, 1, too, have confession to
make. l knew from the first who you
were, for you told your secret in your
delrium.
And you did not reveal it?" cried
Hugo. "Victorine that was noble; for
you know your fathers hatred of all
connected with the thronep
my father was not poor peasant,
Hugo, but noble, exiled fifteen years
ago because of his political opinions.
He found life unbearable out of France,
and returned, disguised as a peasant,
and secluded himself in that forest.
"Victorine! All, then, my father will
not refuse to give you a 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 ?"
"No; dared not permit you to know
my feelings. knew that as long as
you believed me the daughter of
peasant your filial duty would not per-