Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05

life was now an affair Of hours. It was
evening;while the Pickering of the many
votive tapers played upon the sad,
beautiful face Of the Mater Dolorosa in
the great picture above her altar, cast
ing strange new expressions across the
painted features, the kneeling crowd
were in shadow. Marie could family
distinguish the outlines of the Pieta in
the corner Of the chapel-the 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 deathbed, when she saw a face gaz-
ing IN upon her through an aperture in
the screen that divided the chapel from
the cathedral nave. A mans face,
soft, tender. the eyes fixed upon her
with such pity, such deep, yearning
love-, that instinctively she moved q
step forward. Then She remembered,
recoiled, and the face vanished. Was
it a comforting vision? Some strange
influence had passed into her soul; a
promise of consolation. Gained, won
derlng, she went through the darkness
and out into the moonlight, unaware
OF a quick step that followed till the
door shut behind her, voice said plead
ingly: ''Mademoise1le."
She started-turned. Heavens, she
was face to face with a tall officer; the
moonlight cleaned on the silver facings
of his light-blue uniform.
"Nonsieur,' she cried, with passion
ate anger. Then, drawing herself up,
she flashed one glance of hatred upon
him and fled.
That night Alphonse opened his eyes;
he was conscious, he smiled upon them.
Bending over him, she had heard him
say these two words: ''Karl Eichmann."
Then he sighed, and his spirit went.
All these things came back to her as
she stood irresolute, looking at the card
Inscribed with that name. At last she
nerved herself and rang the bell.
"Herr Karl Eichmann." Quick
footsteps crossed the floor, spurs
clanked, a tall figure wax there. She
stood, her eyes fixed on the floor.
"Mademoiselle!"
cab" A SILVER, a shuddering sigh;
all color left Marie's cheek; her lips
trembled. This was the man in the
pale-blue uniform, and his face was the
face she saw that night in the cathedral.
Bewildered, she shrank back and stam-
mered,
"Sir, there is some mistake. I ex-
pected Herr Lieutenant Karl Eich-
MANN"
He smiled. His large blue ewes
looked benignant, though his huge
mustache lent f%ierceness to his face. .
II am he," he said.
"You-but you-you spoke to me-
and my BROTHER"
"Did your brother tell you about
me?' he eagerly asked.
Monsieur, my brother is dead; but
he once spoke that name to me-"
''Then you do not know that it was 1
that saw it-and let me tell you,
Mademoiselle," he cried, for Marie had
turned away; the sight of that hated
uniform, the recollection of that night
sickened her. "Hear me. It was [
that, fighting near your brother, saw
the fragments of a shell strike his horse
saw it rear and throw him. These
arms lifted him and carried him from
the field. Yes, Mademoiselle, his head
rested Che struck his shoulder); "and
if it had not been for me you would
never have seen him again alive. l was
powerless to save his life, but at least [
can lay claim to having prolonged it.
Now, will you still turn away as if you
could not bear to look at me ?"
'You were my brothers. enemy
perhaps-even-ah! l can not bear the
thought" She spoke in a hard, checked
voice.
"Mademoiselle, 1 was his friend"
"How could you-a Prussian-be my
brothers friend?" She turned upon
him in anger; more with herself-for in
spite of the fact that this man was a foe,
hated with a cherished hatred, the same
curious influence affected her as in the
cathedral. When she looked at that fine
face with the frank, large eyes and the
bronzed, aquiline features, she was at
tracted, pleased, soothed.
"Why did you not tell me this, then,
before?"
eli you remember, Mademoiselle, I
tried to speak to you, but you would not
hear me-"
"That was not the way, that was not
the way"
"There I take leave to differ from
you. 1 was determined hat no one
should hear the story of Alphonse's
death-blow, except you, from my lips"
"Why?"
because, Mademoiselle, 1 loved
you" He spoke with passionate earn
estness. She blushed violently.
elbow could you do that, Monsieur,
when you had never seen me?"
eff 1 tell you all will you listen?
Mademoiselle, Alphonse and 1 were
friends in Paris just before the war be-
gan. He was there, as you know, with
his regiment-I to enjoy myself during
my leave. How little we knew, when
we used to talk Of you, of the yawning
gulf-the battle-field-that would short
~ divide u.s."
"He spoke to you of me?" The tears
welled into her eyes.
He drew a little velvet case from his
breast, reverently kissed it and held it
toward her. perhaps you recognize
this?"
"My portrait! The one 1 gave AL
phonse." She was agitated. "Did he
give it you? But no; how could he?"
"When 1 carried him into the tent
after the fato! moment he Onened his