Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-04-24
Peer and Peasant.

"And you must leave us?" There was
ring of despair in the voice of the wo
man who uttered these words, and she
raised her large, mournful, dark eyes ap
pealingly to the face of the handsome
young man who stood beside her, leaning
against a giant forest tree.
"It is necessary, Victorine," and surely
you would not have me stay forever in
this little cabin, shut away from the
world like monk in a clOister?"
you are not well yet, said the girl, in
low, hesitating voice.
81 am well enough to leave here where
1 am only burden" was the rejoinder.
The dark eyes filed with sudden tears.
"You are unkind to say that, Hugo.
What have we done for you has been
done cheerfully."
"But your father is poor man, Vic
torine He cannot but feel the support
of stranger very burdensOme. And he
refuses to accept any return"
"My father is proud" said Victorine,
"and does not wish payment for the IA
vors be 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 sometimes
greater than he could bear"
"WeI, certainly he has had no chance
to be lonely lately" said Hugo, in tone
of significance.
Victorine's 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 questions. lie
says women should not concern them
selves with such things, and he sends me
to bed that | may not hear what they
say. But you know all, Hugo. He con
fides 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 l cannot break my
word"
These are dangerous days." said Vic
torine, "and there is constant dread at
my heart that my father will join the in
surgents. Ledru Rollin, who leads tre
Red Republicans, is always wanting more
hn faa thncn
come here so frequently fills me with
alarm"
"Then your sympathieS are with our
with the throne?' said Hugo, eagerly.
"Yes; and yet l know how much cause
the people have to complain. They need
help, but can help come to them only
through blood and riot? Is there not
some other way in which their condition
could be improved?' y
"They have taken matters into their
own hands," said Hugo; "it is too late to
help them now" and he sighed heavily.
A silence fell between them, broken
only by the call of the night birds thro'
the forest All was strangely still a
few yards away stood the little cabin
which had been VictOrine's home for ten
long years. Henri RaZi was absent, and
therefore no light CLEANED from the
windows of his home. 1t stood dark and
desolate beneath the tall forest trees
which surrounded it.
Moved by sudden impulse, Hugo put
out his arm, and drew Victorine close to
his side.
1.-The time has come for us to say good
by," he murmured, brOkenly. "Oh, do
not forget me when | am far away, Vic
torine"
She started from him with faint cry.
You are not going noww she exclaim-
ed. "Oh, it cannot be possible that you
are to leave me so soong"
Il dreaded telling you of my departure
until l could delay no longer, Victorine.
NV 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. l
shall think of you as journey forward
to night. and picture you sleeping here,
undisturbed by battle and carnage"
She did not speak. With both hands
clasped over her heart she stood like a
beautiful statue before him, her eyes
staring straight before her, aud her breath
coming in short, quick gasps.
Must | leave you in silence then, Vic
torine? Will you not speak word of
farewell ?" asked Hugo, rs he took in a
warm, close clasp of her cold, nerveless
hands.