The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-07-24

L pOOI, IulstTdDlt, Ouo uOIS6Q cONeTc0 car
to the door of the chapel, and, after the
most heartrending leave-takings, Lorcher
| was lifted in, weeping bitterly. The night
had grown pitch-black by this time; ths
lightning flashed and the thunder rolled in
the distance; but, under cover of the dark
| ness, the pair safely effected their escape
across the neighboring frontier, to where
the French had not yet gained footing
| Lorchen passing for sick peasant girl
| who was being taken to some famous won
der-working doctor. As Karl Dernau
drove off on his strange wedding journey
he looked so brave, and tender and self
reliant that we who were left behind felt a
| comfortable assurance THAT our little bird
would be safely hidden in her nest with
him for her protector. Two years passed
| and in the meantime 1had been married in
the regular, ordinary way. in broad day
light, with bridesmaids and wedding break
fast, and without any of the rather uncan-
ny romance which had attended Lorchen's
wedding. Still, who knows whether the
mere fact of our having taken part together
| in this romantic affair did not lead to our
own marriage Be this as it may, it is
quite certain that the next time Fritz Ber-
ger and found ourselves inside the little
chapel it was for our own wedding.
"After time things went better in the
town, and as the French were less favored
by those in authority, it was thought safe
for the fugitives to come back; and, as by
buC Qcdbu VI Ills ldUlcT, hdTl Qdu DecOmc
the owner of the house Lorchen's parents
had rented-the very house we are in to-
day-they came and settled here and her
mother with them and all lived happily to-
gether. How happy we were td@be together
again and the very first time we had a
quiet hour, Lorchen told me the story Of
her betrothal, which / had never properly
understood till then.
"'You see, Christel,' said she, you and 1
were very intimate, and you did know all
my secrets-almost; but you did not know
that had cared for Karl for a long time
past. l was ashamed to confess it either to
you or myself. But when he came to the
cellar window that dreadful day, just when
was in the greatest danger, and drove it
in-I was too dazed to dare to open it. my
self-and when he lifted me up, and before
l well knew where / was, took me into the
cellar of his own house, well, then | knew l
did care for him, and | began to cry. And
hold OF my hand, and when l was able to
speak thanked him and begged his pardon
for having made such fun of him before.
You can guess what followed Our be-
trothal was not very romantic, Christel, for
we sat upon an old sugar chest, and my
dress was torn and dusty, and the air of the
cellar was dank and musty. But what did
we care for thatl There were roses all
round u.s. and we were in Elysium; and as
for the romance, we had enough before the
day was out to last whole lifetime
This was Lorchen's confession, and we
both thanked Heaven for making us SO
happy and bringing us together again. We
were happy, indeed, and this helped us to
bear our daily cares, for we were still in O
great deal of trouble and anxiety, and the
clouds hung thick and black over the politi-
cal sky. There were no christening feasts
when our little ones were baptised, and, in
spite of our real happiness, good many
tears fell upon the little heads. But at last
there was a changed Suddenly it was as if
fresh wind had begun to blow. No one
knew whence it had come. but it was there,
and we all felt invigorated by it. Lore and
deal going on behind the scenes, which
gave us plenty of food for wonder and con-
lecture. Wagoners, who did not look at all
like wagoners, were constantly bringing
heavy loads of merchandise to Karl, and
my Fritz, who was a lawyer, and had moth
ing naturally to do with such matters, was
always present at the unloading, and
helped to carry the goods into the cellar as
soon as it was dusk. 1t was quite clear that
there was some secret which our husbands
were keeping from us, and after bearing it
patiently for little while we determined
to put an end to such an unnatural state of
"Well, we found it all out, and learned
that Karl and Fritz were members of a Sc
cret league which had branches everywhere
throughout Germany, and was formed to
deliver the Fatherland from her foreign
masters. The "wagoners" were members
too, and the goods they brought were arms,
which they stored in the cellar; and there, :
In wnat mad been Lorchen's prison, the con-
federates held their meetings. On these
occasions, now that we knew what was go
ing on, we used to do our part by lighting
up the chandeliers in the drawing-room,
ccliskSing gases togetner ana carrying wine
Gnu f uisles 70 ana lro, 70 overt at
ienuon rom Wnat was going on down be-
'oWI anu son 70 .nrow aus. IN peoples eyes;
As soon ms ever our GOOD King issued his
aRpeal 10 my people, we saw the result OF
III 1nese secret pIeparatlons. The enthusi-
asm was 1remenaous' ana every herman
reare s was All agio~. Oh, cnhd, IL was
; Ian, anu ZINE, anu Isnali never forget the day
y y ne e; .ne pds.or reaa oue tne klng sprocia-
hatlon IN tne market place-for there was
ioI room ior the crowd In the church-and
,a ile on al Inc men 70 come forward ana
,Tno Pais Ia noiy war 0eApel tne enemy.
tnele lever was sucn eAcitement, before or
lnce! rriends ana acqualntances embraced
,ne announcer, and the most bitter enemies
suOOk QdnuS. Inc 0rSJ 10 volunteer to tight