The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-11-02

Adieu, 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 not the first time that she had
seen Louis jealous and angry, for in her
thoughtless coquetry she had often leased
her passionate lover. confident in her
power of making up" afterward.
But this time she felt that she had
gone 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 leland gold had been
given her by her fathcr9
Z" No matter. He will come back to-
morrow" she thought as at last she
raised her head and wiped away her
tears. He will come back and ask
forgiveness; and then, when l have
punished him little for his rude speech
and unreasonable behavior, we'll make
up. As if | would exchange my own
Tomorrow came, but Louis did not
make his appearance.
Instead, Just as Marie, disappointed
and hcartsick, 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.
II
Jean Didier sat alone at his supper,
waited upon by one of his farm servants.
He was the richest young farmer of the
little valley of Bots, lying some league or
so distant from the village in which
Marie and her father resided.
He had loved Marie ever since, as
children, they had first met; and she,
knowing his worth and touched by his
DEVOTION might have been won, had not
Louis Lebas, with his manly beauty and
winning address, come into the little
village to cut out his less attractive rival.
Louis bore a good character, ana was
brave. generous and warm-hearted, but,
as we have seen, of d hasty and jealous
disposition.
This hatl caused many quarrel, not
only with Marie, but with Jean himself:
in consequence, much ill-will existed be
tween the two men.
Jean, though hungry after his days
L, hot hn atn
His mind was full of other things.
The Prussians had crossed the Rhine
and met the French, and as the latter
were forced back, the tide of war was
sweeping steadily westward. In few
days the encmy's advance might be upon
the quiet village in which dwelt Marie
and her father.
Would they not be safer with him,
Jean thought, and on the instant came
the resolve to 90 to them next day and
offer whatever protection he could afford.
But his meeting with Marie was nearer
than he thought-for while he still sat at
supper the door opened, and a woman
stood before him. He had to look twice
before he could recognize in the pale,
sad woe-worn countenancc the features
of the late gay and joyous Marie.
els it possible?n he faltered in his
surprise. Can it indeed be you,
Maric!"
"Oh, Jean, have you not heard? Do
you not know
And then she proceeded in a few
broken words, and with choking sobs, to
tell her sad story.
1.-The Prussians came to the village
last evening. My father-oh, jeanne
went with the few who were left to de
fend their homcs-hc never returned. l
am an orphan and homeless. They
burned every house. Oh, my father-my
poor father. Were he but living, l
should not care.
Jean placed her gently in a chair
81 am going away" she said when
she was more composed; Il am going to
help nurse the sick soldiers. 1t is all
that can now do"
but, Marie you must not-you shall
not 60 Oh, my child, this is not time
to speak of love, but you know how
long and truly have loved you. Come
to me, Marie; be my wife and find your
home and protector here"
She shook her head as she sadly turned
from the extended hand.
"No, Jean. it cannot be. You do not
know how love Louis. Perhaps-oh,
perhaps l shall yet find him. Will you
be my friend, Jean, and help me ? l
have no one in the world to turn to but
you
What passed in Jean Didier's heart
none but himself could know. For a
moment he stood looking down into the
pale, lovely, appealing face, while his
own became almost as pale. Then he
said, slowly and solemnly:
Marie, l will help you as though
were your brother | will make your
happiness my chief care henceforth.
Rely upon me and he at rest"
BY day dawn the two were on their
way to Paris-Paris, around which were
closing the invincible ranks of the foe.
In the doomed city Louis Lebas had
endured the long siege. Careless of life,
reckless of danger, he had fought from
the beginning, and though through it all
he received no wound, the pain at his
heart for the girl whom he thought false
I. 1. L., Al.