The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-02

IL
''Take off your cap if you pleaser'
How could one refuse a poor wounded
soldier! Barbe slowly lifted her strong.
shapely hands to her cap-strings, united
them, and uncovered her smooth, fair head
no longer frizzed or padded.
"Your hair is not the same," said Charles.
She stood bareheaded and smiling
sweetly.
II have altered it for my cap" she said.
Charles said no more, but lay gazing a
her. Just as this silent interview was be-
coming awkward, at least for Mile. Duval,
the surgeon came up with one of the Sisters.
Barbe hastily flung on her cap and darted
away down the corridor
Charles did not see her again for som
hours, and during that time he thought
about her great deal. At last, in the
evening, he was aware that she was near
him, but not alone; Sister Madeleine was
with her. He quietly submitted to have his
pillows shaken, and then, looking up int
the Sisters kind face, he said:
"Have | offended Mile. Duval again
Will she not speak to mes"
"You know best, sir,n said Sister Made.
leine, whether you deserve any civility
from Mile. Duval.n
she is a good Christian and will forgive me-
The Sister smiled and went away.
Barbe Duval came and sat down besidl
him.
You are happy now, mademoiselle," he
said. you have your wish; the wounde
men are come. am much nicer object
lying here, than walking about with whole
limbs. Do not you think so! You like OBJ
jects of charity.''
''You are much grander, that is true,'
said Barbe, looking away that he might no
see the tears caused by his bitter littl
speech.
SIT is beautiful state of things, truly
Charles went on. Everything in ruins
Have you heard that my pocs old old home
is dismantled, and all the furniture gone tt
Germany My brother is a prisoner, ano
so is my mother, shut up in Paris. Do no
you pity usl'
'No,' said Barbe; cit is all given to
France, ami she repays you in glory"
"Glory When it is nothing but defeat
Disgrace
mo, never disgrace"
swell, mademoiselle, will you do me 2
favor! Willyou write to my mother ant
| tell her how lam done for! Then let the
General have It, and he will send it the mex
opportunity
"Certain1y," said Barbe.
She went away for a minute, and came
back with some paper and ink. On the way
| Sister Madeleinestoppedh her and looked
into her face; its usual calrlness was little
ruffled,
81 am trusting thee, my child, said Sister
Madeleine.
II know" said Barbe, smiling family, 81
am going to write to his mother"
She came back to erplace, and was tried
by several minutes Of silence.
Charles was composing his letter, but he
was doing it with his eyes fixed upon heI
SO intently, with such strange expression in
their hollow depths, that she felt herself
turning red and white as she sat looking at
the blank page before her. AT last he be.
gan suddenly to dictate and she to write,
while her firm fingers trembled for once in
most troublesome way
''My very dear mother-I am wounded,
and in the Hotel Dieu at Saint Jean. AT
first thought was dying, but my life has
been saved by the presence of Mile. Duval."
Monsieur, | can not write this" said
Barbe, with quiet reproachful glance.
You are disobliging, mademoiselle. Pray
go on. Excuse me that | can not speak
faster. My mother, there is nothing like a
hopeless and miserable campaign to show a
man his faults and to bring him to his
senses. am not too proud now to confess
the baseness of my behavior in the affair
you know of. [ dare not hope that Mile.
Duvaps excellent parents will forgive my
sins; but the first thing shall do when
am able to walk again will be to throw my
self at that angels feet and ask her pardon.
| think she is noble enough to give it; and
then perhaps-you Understandable she is not
my wife do not care to live :"
VI course, none OF UnlS was WRITTEN DOWN
for the benefit of Nine. De Mesnil. Charles
amenuensis was shading her face with her
hand and had let her pen fall on the floor.
His bed, fortunately, stood by itself in a
corner, so that the words reached no ears
but hers, and the last sentences were spoken
so low that even she could hardly hear
them.
''Mademoiselle, my letter." said Charles
almost peevishly, after what seemed long
silence.
Barbe started and picked up her pen.
81 must begin again-Ihave blotted this"
she said; and then, with sweet gravity,
can write-not all that"
81 have nothing else to say, and my
mother could not have better news,n
Charles answered. 'But if you will not
make her happy-what am l to think?"
'Do not be excited" said Barbe, little
frightened by his manner. Il think you
have been saying what you can not mean
you won't mean it when you are we'll l
have not changed. You did not like me in
the SUMNER know it."
II was fool. | did not know my
own mind. | have been bitterly sorry
since, | can assure you. Yes, of course
am excited. | shall have fever directly,
if you keep me in this horrible suspense"
He had raised his voice, and Sister Made
leine catching the last words, came quickly
up to interfere.
''Barbe, what is this3 What are you
doing?n
''Listen, listen, madame; you are a wit
ness,'' said Charles thrusting out a long
thin hand. ''Give me your hand, angel
put it in mine.'
"Quelle betisei can not allow this sort of
thing, monsieur" said Sister Madeleine,
trying hard not to smile.
''It is all right madame,' said Charles,
with polite Impotence. Our parents ar
ranged it in the summer; this is only little
confirmation. Thank you, mademoiselle,"
as Barbe quietly laid her hand on his.
'Now | swear, by all the honor that is left
in me, to marry no one but you. And you
you can forgive me- and say the same %
Sister Madeleine turned away. She was
too much moved, as well as too discreet to
stand looking on while these two gave each
other their promise. And as to Charles
fever, she had an idea that real, right hap
piness never killed any one yet.
So Barbe was left to double Charles re-
morse by the confession that she had loved
him all along. A strange admission for a
French girl, but fine souls like Barbe are of
no special country.
There were still her father and mother to
be pacified That evening, after saying
goodnight, she stood between them hold
ing hand of each, and looking from one
smiling face to the other.
"Papa mamma" she said, 81 have had
no New Years gift for myself. Yes, l
know we gave the money to the hospital,
but want something for myself after all ="
"And my child shall have it, if it breaks
the bank" said M. Duval
The mother looked up anxiously. Per-
haps she had some idea of what was coming.
II want your forgiveness and your love
for Charles de Mesnil.n