The true northerner., 1883-03-16

shall leave Paris, march upon Cham
pigny-on to Villers. Ducrot has
sworn to re-enter Paris only victorious
or dead. have come to say good-by.
Before tomorrow night Prussian ball
or bayonet may have quieted forever
the heart that loves you so passionate
ly. Kiss me, Ninon, and God bless
you"
Ninon lifted the brown hair from the
fair young forehead; moment her lips
rested there, and she murmured, "God
bless you, my Armand" And then he
heart, and then he left her.
In the morning the troops were in
motion. With stern and set determin-
alton they moved forward looking
neither to the right nor left, lest the
sorrowful faces of the women they
loved should unnerve their hearts and
unsteady their hands.
At the head of his company rode Ar
mand de Rochecnur. He did not turn
hM head, but the hand that held the
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, stead
lily she looked after his retreating form.
A soft mist clouded his flashing eyes,
and as the distance hid him further
from her view she murmured gently,
armand, God watch over thee!"
All day long, that terrible 30th Of
November, the incessant roar of cannon
echoed back into the stiffness of the
city's streets. Paris held her breath in
anguish. Outside the walls the sicken-
ing drama of battle, with all it's 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-
flict.
Among the foremost in the strife on
that terrible morning rode the boyish
officer, Armand de Rocheceur. 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 de-
feat, the Germans fell back to recover
from their bewilderment produced by
this almost their first reverse. Then,
rallying from their surprise, reinforced
by fresh troops and protected hv their
batteries, they fell upon the French
with a sudden fury. With a wild
feeling, half fury, half despair, Armand
saw the line give way. "Cowards !" 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 fled from
Prussian guns? On! on! Conquer or
die like Frenchmen!" Then he rode
forward; but the terrified, 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 from Armand de RochecGur.
In the morning no word has come.
! Dark circles have appeared under the
brown eyes, and their brilliancy is all
faded, gone out III that long night of
watching. Restlessly Ninon PAGES the
long salon. Finally sudden impulse
seizes her. Il will go and find him."
She finds him Mt last. AS she ap-
proaches his bedside she trembles.
She looks upon the white bandages
that lie upon his eyes and shudders.
Then she speaks to him, and the glad
smile that fits across his lips treasures
her. His single hand goes out to meet
hers, and he tries to speak. A warn
/ ing gesture from the nurse attracts
NiEons attention, and she whispers:
"Do not talk, Armand; you must get
we'll 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
look of newly-found happiness in the
brown eyes. Suddenly they fill with
tears, and her lips murmur softly, Il
have found him, the Prince"
The Sister of Charity comes and
whispers, gently and pityingly, Mad
ame, he will be blind"
Armand, my love! God help you!"
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,
whispers, "He shall see with my eyes.
The sister looks into the depth 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
watched by her lovers side. Strength
returns to the crippled body. but the
sorrowful eyes always wear that help
less, vacant expression peculiar to the
blind, and the strong right arm is rep
resented only by an empty sleeve.
He is not forbidden to speak now
and one day, as he hears Ninon's foot
step by the 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 / dream it?"
81 am always with you, Armand"
"What brings you here?'
Because / love you. dear"
"Love me?-but am cripple and
blind"
"Yes, Armand. Your right arm and
vour ewes Won have piyen to France.