The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-11-01
PEER AND PEASANT.

Ana you must leave uS! Inere
was ring of despair in the voice of the
woman who uttered these words, and
she raised her large, mournful, dark
eyes appealingly to the face of the
handsome young man who stood beside,
leaning against giant forest tree.
1T is necessary, Victorine; and
surely you would not have me stay for
ever in this little cabin, shut away from
the world like q monk in cloister?"
you are not well yet" said the girl,
In low, hesitating voice.
Il am well enough to leave here,
where l am only burden, was tire re-
joinder.
The dark eyes filled with sudden
tears.
you are unkind to say that, Hugo.
What we have done for you has been
done cheerfully."
"But your father is poor man, Vic
torine. He cannot but feel the support
of a stranger very burdensome. And he
refuses to accept any return"
"My father is proud" said Victorine,
"and does not wish payment for the
favors he bestows. And the pleasure
of your society has been worth much
to him. He has often said that but for
you he would have been very lonely"
what did he do for company before
1 came?" asked the young man. He
has lived ten years in this hut, he
says"
"Ten very unhappy years, Hugo.
The loneliness has seemed to him some
times greater than he could bear"
"Well, certainly he has had no chance
to be lonely lately" said Hugo, in
tone Of significance.
Victorines face paled suddenly.
"Tell me-" she said, laying her hand
on her companions arm, "why do these
strange men come here night after
night? My father will answer no ques-
tions. He says women should not con-
Germ themselves with such things, and
he sends me to bed that may not hear
what they say. But you know all, HUI
go. He coniides in you, and you will
tell me, am sure"
Hugo shook his head.
Il would willingly do So" he said,
"but L promised your father that
would tell you nothing, and / cannot
break my word"
"These are dangerous days." said
Victorine, and there is constant
dread at my heart that my father will
join the insurgents. Ledlu Rollin, who
leads the Red Republicans, is always
wanting more men, and the fact that
these strangers come here so frequently
fills me with alarm.
"Then your sympathies are with our
with the throne" said Hugo, eagerly.
nd
cause the people have to complain
They need help; bat can help come to
them only through blood and. riot? Is
there not some other way in which their
condition could be improved?"
"They have taken matters into their
own hands, said Hugo. at is too late
to help them now" and he sighed heav-
lily.
A silence fell between them, broken
only by the call of the night birds
through the forest All was strangely
still. A few yards away stood the little
cabin which had been Nictorine's home
for ten long years. Henri Raj was
absent, and therefore no light cleaned
from the windows of his home. 1t stood
dark and desolate beneath the tall for
est trees which surrounded it.
Moved by sudden impulse Hugo
put out his arm, and drew Nictorine
close to his side.
"The time has come for us to say
good-by," he murmured, brokenly.
"Oh, do not forget me when l am far
away, Victorine."
"You are not going now" she ex-
claimed. "Oh, Hugo, it cannot be pos
sible that you are to leave me SO
soon ?"
81 dreaded telling you of my depart
ure until could delay no longer, Vic
torine. My heart aches at the thought
of leaving you, but / must be in Paris
tomorrow. Business of importance
calls me there. Give me your good
wishes before / go. / shall think of
you as journey forward tonight, and
picture you sleeping here, undisturbed
by battle and carnage.
She did not speak. With both hands
clasped over her heart she stood like q
beautiful statue before him, her eyes
staring straight before her, and her
breath coming in short, quick gasps.
Must leave you in silence then,
Victorine? Will you not speak a single
word of farewell?" asked Hugo, as he
took III a warm, close clasp one of her
cold nerveless hands.
Still she did not speak.
you are angry, perhaps, and per-
haps you have cause for anger quick
sigh escaping his lips.
"Good-by," she said, hoarsely, her
face averted from his earnest gaze.
"Only single word, Victorine
Can you part with me so coldly after
all these weeks we have been together
All, / see that you really care little wheth-
er go or stay. And II shall never fog
get you, Victorine, or the tenderness
with which you nursed me back to
health again. remember what WIS.,
ion of loneliness you seemed to me when
1 opened my eyes and saw you bending
over me. blessed my good fortune
In having been found, after my fall by
your father. Surely no other father
and daughter could have been so kind.