Middletown transcript., 1883-11-09
From the French.
NINON'S PRINCE.

and the Prussian armies were
steadily making their way toward the
city, investing one point after another,
and rapidly cutting off all communica-
tion between the besieged city and the
surrounding country. Winter was COM
ing on, food and fuel becoming scarce !;
business was entirely suspended boule-
wards were filled with idle, aimless
loungers, gazing with sad and hungry
eyes upon the long files of troops that
marched before them. Into the quiet
and aristocratic precincts of the Fau-
bourg St. Honore the grim ghosts Of
famine and bloodshed had not made
their way, and the luxurious entresol
of the fashionable hotel where Ninon,
the gay little Baronne de Valcour, took
her abode during the gay Partisan win
ter, was all alight with sunshine
Ninon was leaning back in her cush-
ioned fauteuille with the toes of her
slippers extended toward the fire, and
her head thrown back wearily, looking
the very personifcation Of ennui.
" Fifine, you bother me- Go away"
Fifne departs, but returns again in
the space of two minutes.
Madame, voici monsieur
Madame turns her pretty little head
and takes acompreh 3nsive glance at the
tall young officer in the uniform Of the
national guard.
6 The Prussians have not eaten you
up yet ?" inquiries Ninon, with yawn
that she does not take the smallest pains
to conceal.
" Not yet. Would it be a great source
of relief to madame if such an event
were to take place ?"
" Rather.'
"Don't you care for me at all, Nj
non ?''
"Don't be silly, my child. Tell
me what His Excellency General Tro-
chu is about, and when you propose
to stain that elegant uniform with
Prussian gore"
Poor Paris ~
The young officer sighed and shook
his head.
Paris is very mccall but the Prus-
slams and no one is giving any parties.
That annoys me.
Ninon, are you really as heartless
as you seem ?"
"Just about. What do you want me
to do .,
"Tell me you love me, Ninon, just a
little"
But don't.''
The boyish lips trembled, and great
wave of sorrow spread itself over the
fair, fresh hcountenance Then he knelt
down by her side, and single tear fell
on the little hand that he stopped to
kiss. Ninon, Ninon, won't you love
me ?"
"You are stupid boy, and you
must go or 1 shall never eat my
breakfast. You are a nice boy, Armand
but you look as if you were going to
cry"
"Ninon!''
The word sounded like cry Of pain.
Then he kissed her hand again and
turned to leave her.
/" I shall not come again, Ninon.''
Madame lie Baronne disfgured her
pretty lips with an incredulous little
move, and the door closed upon her
boyish lover
Paris in a stage of siege-a city of
100000 inhabitant surrounded by the
the forces of a powerful enemy, and all
supplies cut off The streets were
filed with gaunt and hungry crowd of
desperate men and desparing women.
The sounds of distress and suffering
began to make themselves heard even in
the luxurious quarters of the Faubourg
st. Honore, where Ninon de Valcour
wore out her days in wailing over the
dullness and dreariness of the gay capi-
tai. The high prices demanded for
all the necessaries of life began to ex-
haust even the princely De Valcour
revenues. The establishment must be
reduced, and Baroness NinOn awoke |
out of her long dream of luxury and
| lazineSS to face life for the first time
seriously.
One among Ninon's friends was
missing. The boyish form of the
young officer, with his untarnished
uniform and unused sword appeared no
more among her guests. At first she
smiled at his absence, then insensibly
she began to watch for his coming, and
as the days passed one after another,
Ninon grew anxious.
1t was the evening of the oath of No
vember Ninon was sitting alone, when
quick buried tread sounded behind
the chair, and the clanking of sword
startled her.
Armand ~ she exclaimed, as she
turned and encountered the excited
glance of the young officer
Eyes, Ninon At last Paris is
aroused. Tomorrow will be a grand
sortie. With 100000 men we shall
leave Paris, march upon Champigny-
on to Villiers Ducrot has sworn to re-
enter Paris only victorious or dead.
have come to say goodbye. Before to-
morrow night Prussian ball OF bayonet
may have quieted forever the heart that
loves you so passionately. Kiss me,
Ninon, and God bless YOU"
Ninon lifted the brown hair from the
fair young forehead /; a moment her
lips rested there, and she murmured,
"God bless you, my Armand !" And
then he pressed her passionately against
his heart and left her.
In the morning the troops were in