Middletown transcript., 1883-11-09

bride rein shook as the heavy tread OF
his powerful horse bore him slowly on
beyond the gaze of the bright eyes that
looked down upon him.
Quietly Ninon watched him go.
Steadily she watched his retreating
form. A soft mist clouded her flashing
eyes, and as the distance hid him
further from view she murmured
gently, Armand, God watch over
thee"
All day long, that terrible Both of No
vember, the incessant roar Of cannon
echoed back into the stiffness of the
city's streets. Paris held her heart in
anguish. Outside the walls the sicken-
ing drama of battle with all its horrid
Accomplishments of tumult, noise and
bloodshed inside the no less horrible
torture of suspense, as those left behind
waited with blanched faces and bated
breath for news from the scene of con-
fict.
Among the foremost in the strife on
that terrible morning rode the boyish
officer, Armand de Rochecceur. The
pure blood of his Norman ancestry
courses wildly through his veins to-day.
France is his life, and he would give his
life for France.
Early in the afternoon Champigny
yielded to the passionate attack of the
French troops. Amazed at their defeat,
the Germans fell back to recover from
their bewilderment produced by this
almost their first reverse. Then, rally
ing from their surprise, reinforced by
fresh troops, and protected by their
batteries they fell upon the French
with sudden fury. With wild feel
ing, half fury, half dispair, Armand
saw the lines give way. towards J"
he muttered below his breath. Then
turning suddenly to his men, he cried ::
"Courage Will you go back to your
women and tell them you fed from
Pru8sian guns On! on Conquer OF
die like Frenchmen ~
Then he rode forward but the terri
fed, panic-stricken men were deaf to his
call, and suffered him to go alone. With
his right arm uplifted he rushed toward
the Prussian line.
Ninon has listened all day to the
sound of that terrible cannonading,
waited all night in frightened suspense
for news from the scene of battle-for
tidings Of Armand de Rochec9ur. In
the morning no word had come. Dark
circles have appeared under the brown
eyes, and their brilliancy is all faded,
gone out in that long night of watching.
Restiessfy Ninon PAGES PAGES the the legg long salon
Finally sudden impulse seizes her.
" 1 will go and find him. y
She finds him at last. As she ap-
proaches his bedside she trembles. She
looks upon the white bandages that lie
upon his eyes and shoulders. Then
speaks to him, and the glad smile that
fits across his lips treasures her. His
single hand goes out to meet her, and
he tries to speak. A warning gesture
from the nurse attracts Ninon's atten-
tion, and she whispers g Do not talk,
Armand, you must get well first.'
From an old soldier who watches
over him Ninon learns the history of |
the sortie. As she listens to the story |
of how bravely the young soldier bore
himself on that dreadful day, there is a
look of newly found happiness in the
brown eyes. Suddenly they fill with
tears, and her lips murmur softly, C l
have found him, the Prince"
The Sister of Charity comes and whis-
pers softly and pityingly, Madame, he
will be blind.
" Armand, my love God help you'll"
Then she lifts her tear-stained face,
lit up with its wonderful light of love
and pity, and looking at the sympa-
thetic countenance of the poor Sister,
whisperes "He shall see with my
eyes"
The Sister looks into the depths of
the lovely eyes raised to hers, and
thinks: He is not much to be pitied,
the brave man."
Through long nights of fever and
days of weary restlessness Ninon
watches by her lovers bedside. Strength
returns to the crippled body, but the
-sorrowful eyes always wear that help
less, vacant expression peculiar to the
blind, and the strong rightarm isrepre-
sented by an empty sleeve.
He is not forbidden to speak now
and one day as he hears Ninon's foot
step by his bedside, and the soft rustic
of her dress as she bends over him, he
says:
You are always with me Ninon, are
you not or do 1 dream it ?''
&C 1 am always with you, Armand y
"What brings you here ?'
Because love you, dear"
Glove me? But am cripple and
blind"
Yes, Armand. Your right arm
and your eyes you have given to
France. Will you give the rest to
me ?''
"Ninon!" and the left arm, the
only one he has, draws her quickly and
passionately to his side. Her soft
breath plays against his cheek, and as
his lips meet hers she whispers :
g Armand, my prince, love you."
THE chestnut burr is sweet boon to
the chest nut. # It is is III oriental imita=
tion of cactus cluster, and not a very
bad imitation, either. 1t lacks the
native penetration of the cactus, the
sort of i" oh whisper what thou feelest"
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