The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-11-21
A MANS SACRIFICE.

DldSlcTcu NdllS "tlC ildll SolStalSo W
the vines trained over them.
She wore the picturesque holiday cos
tune of the upper class of French peas
antry-a short skirt of bright colors, and
a black velvet bodice laced with scarlet
cord, while the braids of her dark hair
were fastened with golden pins.
On her neck was suspended a large
cross Of jet and gold, below which she
had coqucttishly fastened in her bosom a
bunch of half-blown roses.
No one. to behold her thus standing
and gazing eagerly up the poplar-bor.
dered road to where a wicket opened
from a large vineyard, but would have
known that she was watching for her
lover.
She had not long to wait. In a few
minutes the wicket opened and Il tall and
handsome young man advanced with a
free and graceful step. and 4 certain air
of dash and gallantry which m aristocrat
might have cnvicd-though he. too, was
clad in peasants costume.
BON soir, Mile. Marie" he said,
gayly, dofing his cap. "Truly. YOU look
this evening as fresh and fair as your
own lovely roses
"And truly, NJ. Louis. you are as
skilltul as ever in the art of t1attcry, re-
piled the girl. in the same tone. but
YOU deserve a rose for that pretty COM
pliment, and l will put it on with my
own hands"
Louis bent his head and kissed the
pretty fingers perhaps purposcly so near
his lips. He seemed inclined to bcstow
the same salute upon the cherry mouth;
but Marie, glancing up and meeting his
lover-likc gaze, drew back with a blush
and a smile.
"What made you so late this evening.
Louis? And what music is that which |
have all day heard in the village!'
"Did YOU not know? 1t is a recruit
ing corps, and they have enlisted six of
our best lads. You know there are
rumors of speedy war with the Germans.
"Ah, yes. What a great misfortune.
Louis shrugged his shoulders.
$50 the women all say; but for the
men, my little one, there is glory and JOY
in war;"
Marie looked up ~anxiously into her
lovers face.
"Louis, you do not think Of going to
the wars?'
"Not until I nm needed, and then it
will be my duty. But rest in quiet, my
dearest" he added, taking in his W the
hands that rested on the gate, and look
ing down tenderly into her eyes. $50
long as l have my Marie, nothing can
draw me away from this"
He passed within the gate, and the
two walked slowly up one of the straight
garden alleys, bordered and shut in by
trellis work. At the end, or a bench
near a plot of wild thyme and a row of
beehivcs, the lovers sat down, Louis
having, in passing, exchanged a pleasant
greeting with a tall old man, who was
pruning a young fruit tree.
This was Marie's father, and the magis-
tratc of the neighborhood.
"Do you know, Marie" the young
man commenced; and suddenly stopped
short at sight of the gold and
let cross which had hitherto been
concealed by the roses on her
breast. He glanced at it, and then
looked into her eyes. "Marie," he said,
sternly, "you have not accepted this
present from-Jean Didierl"
The girl looked down at the cross and
answered demurely:
"Jean Didier broke my ebony cross.
You heard him offer to replace it by a
handsomer one"
81 saw him, when you dropped it,
step upon it with his great clumsy feet,
and heard him awkwardly apologize.
And you have actually" he added, while
a heavy shadow lowered upon his brow
-"you have actually accepted this
thing from him, and are wearing it on
your breast"
Marie laughed at his excitement, and
looked up saucily.
"Jean is good and true" she said.
"He has been my friend all my life
much longer than you have. Monsieur
Louis Lcbas. And he is rich, you know,
and can afford to give handsome pres
ents. Why should I not accept this
from him."
"Why?" cried Louis, in a burst of
jealous rage; "why, for only this reason,
mademoiselle, because no wife of mine
snail ever wear jewelry given her by the
hand of another man."
In Marie's eyes had hitherto lurked a
half -laughing, mischicvous light. Had
her lover been less angry he might have
seen that she was enjoying his jealousy.
But his last words aroused in her another
spirit.
"Your wife, monsieur! Upon my
word you begin early to play the role of
husband. You forget that you have as
yet no right to dictate and ~tyrannize
over me-"
GAS your betrothcd husband I have
the right to object to your bringing your
self into contempt and me into ridiculc.
"Stop, Monsieur Louis" said the girl,
drawing herself up with great dignity.
"You have said enough. Imust remind
YOU that | am still free to break an i'm
prudent engagement, and to marry whom
/ please"
Louis's eyes blazed with jealous fury.
He started to his feet.
$50 them" he said, "and marry your
rich lover. am but a fool ever to have
trusted to a fair face and false tongue.
Adicu, and Joy be with you and the hand
some lover you have chosen
He strobe up the garden walk, dashed
open the little wicket and disappeared.
Marie sat for an instant perfectly still,
almost frightened at the violence she had
witnessed.
1t was moi t,e first time that she had
seen Louis jealous and angry, for in her
thoughtlcss coquctry she had often teascd
her passionate lover. confident IN her
power of "making up" afterward.
But this time she felt that she had
zone too far, and she leaned her head
and arms on the back Of the garden
bench and cried bitterly. Why had she
not told him that she had refused jeans
offer of replacing the broken cross, and
that this one of ,iet-and-gold had been
given her by her father?
mo matter. He will come back to-
morrow" she thought, as at last she
raised her head and wiped away her
tears. "Hc will come back and ask
forgiveness; and then, when l have
punished him II little for his rude speech
and unreasonable behavior, we'll make
up. AS if l would exchange my own
Louis for the richest man on earth ~
Tomorrow came, but Louis did not
make his appearance.
Instead, just as Marie, disappointed
and heartsick, was turning from the
gate, where for more than an hour she
had furtively watched, an old neighbor
came in to tell the news.
The recruiting corps had enlisted
twelve of the best youth of the village,
and among them was Louis Lebas. The
gay music which they now heard melting
family in the distance was that of the
corps marching away with the new re-
cruits.
y X
Jean Didier sat alone at his supper,