Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-04-05

i''Su ildu, WOuldn anu CDllU seemed 10
bear one link of her heavy chain
around their hearts like u crown of
thorns, while they silently scorned and
stunned their conguerers, and caressed
their lost nationality in secret. In
mourning garb they thronged the
churches, cleeping thither through
streets where they would be least of
tended by the sight of those "accursed
PruSsians. And, while the market
place was gay, the restaurants full of
bright uniforms, the military bands
cIashing out the latest German wataes
and quick marches, not one citizen of
Strasburg could be seen there. They
were abasing themselves before the
allars, and the little chapel of Our
Lady of Sorrows in the cathedral was
full of sad, knceling figures from early
morning till late at night. Here Marie
came, here she He'd in her anguish,
when the doctor told them Alphonse's
life was now matterof hours. 1t was
evening; while the ilickering of the
many votivo tapcrs played upon the
sad beautiful face OF the Mater Dolor-
osa in the great picture above her
altar, casting strange new express
sions across the panied features, the
knreling crowd were in shadow.
Marie could family distinguish the out
line of tho Pieta in the corner Of the
chapel-thc great image of Mary with
the dead Christ in her lap. She wept
and prayed; and was rising to return
to her watch beside the dcathbed,
when she saw Il face gazing in upon
her through an aperture in the screen
that divided the chapel from the cathe.
dral nave. A mans face, soft, tender;
the eyes fixed upon her with such pity.
such deep, ycarning love, that instinct
lively she moveda step forward. Then
she remembered, recOilpd and the tacc
vanished. Was it comforting vision9
Some strange influence has passed into
her soul: 4 promise OF consolation.
Gained, wondering, she went through
the darbnes; and out into the moon
light, unaware of quick step that fol-
lowed, till, the door shut behind her,
voice aidpleadingly, "Modcmoisellc!"
She started turned. Heavens! she
was face TO face with tall officer; the
moonlight cleaned on the silver facings
of his light blue uniform.
"AlonSieur' she cried, with passion
ate anger. Then, drawing herself up
She flashed one glance of hatred upon
HIM and He'd.
That night Alphonse opened his
eyes; he was conscious; he smiled upon
them. Bending over him. she heard
him sav those two words, "Karl Eich.
mann;' then he sighed, and his spirit
went.
All these things came back to her rs
she stood irrcsollhe, looking at the card
inscribed with that name. At last she
nervcd herself, and rang the bell.
"llerr Karl Eichmann." Quick
footsteps crossed the floor, spurs
clankeI, tall figure was there. She
stood, her eyes fixed on the floor.
"Malcmoisrllc!"
"Ah!" a shiycr, ashuddcring sigh:
all color left Marie's checks; her lips
trcmbled. This was the man in the
pale uniform, and his face was the face
she saw that night in the cathedral.
Bewildcred. She shrank back and
stsmmcrcd
"Sir, there is some mistake. | OK
pected Herr Lieutenant Karl Eich-
He smiled. His large blue eyes
looked henignant, though his huge
lent lierccness to his face.
clam he, he said.
"lou but you--you spoke TO me
and my brother
did your brother tell you about
meP' he eagerly asked
Monsieur, my brother is dead; but
he once spoke that name to me-"
Then you 40 not know that it was /
that saw it-ah! let me tell You,
he cried, for Marie
turned away; the sight of that hated
the recollection of that night,
'ickencd her. Hear me! 1t was |
that. lighting near to your brother, saw
the fragments Of n shell strike his horst
saw it rear and throw him. These
arms lifted and carried him from the
field. Yes, mademOiselle, his head
rested here" Che struck his shoulder,
''and if it had not been for me Won
would never have seen him again alive.
| was pOwerlcss to save his life, but at
least can lay claim TO, having pro-
longed it. Now, will you still turn
away as if you could not bear to look
Ut me?'
You were my brothers. enemy
Dcrhaps-even-ah! lcannot bear the |.
She spoke in ahard, choked |
voice.
"MademOiscllc, | was his friend.n
"HOw could you-a Prussian be my |
brothers. friend?" She turned upon |
lim in anger; more with herself, .or in |
'pto of the fact that this man was a |
'oe hated with Il cherished hatred, the
same curious influence affected her as
N the cathedral. When she looked ut |
hat large face with the frank large
,yes and the bronzed, acquiline feat
lres, she was attached, pleased,
;oothed.
"Why did you not tell me this, then,
lef0rePn
IF you remember, mademoisclle, |
ried to speak to you, but you would
not hear me-"
That was not the way, that was not
he time
There | take leave to differ from
you. was determined that no one
should hear the story of Alphonse's
lealh. blow, except you, from my lips"
"Why?"
because, mademoiselle, | loved
'ou." He spoke with passionate earn
,stness. She bushed violently.
"How could you do that, monsieur,
when you had never seen me?"
"lf | tell you all, will you listenp
dademoiselle, Alphonse and | we're
riends in Paris, just before the war
,egan. He was there, as you know,
With his regiment. | to enjoy myself
Turing my leave. How little we knew,
When we used to talk of you, of the
awning gulf-the battlefield that
would shortly divide us!''
"He spoke to you of meP" The
ears welled into her eyes.
He drew a little velvet case from his
'reast, reverent!y kissed it, and held it
oward her.
"Perhaps you recognize this?"
"My portrait! The one | gave AL
honse." She was agitated. "Did he
i've it to youP But no; how could hep"
"When | carried him into the tent