Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-11
: am lOStW

Roger. # you do not saue me am lost"
"What has happened~
She told him that which we know, and
when she had finished he said:
$50 you are in debt 100000 francs. Very
well. will give them to you, only the sum is
SO large for me to spare that it will take me
fifteen days at the least to get together.
Will your creditors wait until then!"
II think so, when tell them they can have
it then. But at least tell me, will it injure
the prosperity of your business to spare this
slim! will not accept it if it does"
"Be tranquil on that score"
"Besdes, Roger, only accept it as a loan
to repay. will be wiser hereafter. Since I
have Your love what else do I wantl Is that
not enough to fill my lfel"
She left the store first for fear of observa-
tion in so crowded place. Yet, with all her
precaution, man followed her home, and
when she had gone up stairs to her apart
ments he asked the porter who-t was, and he
answered readily and unsuspiciously, "Mme.
de Noirville, the lawyers wife,"
Fifteen days later Roger gave her the
money and she was saved.
Grave events took place in France at this
time. War with Prussia was declared, and
one day Roger Laroque and Lucien, to their
great surprise, found themselves engaged in
the same regiment, the Sixth cavalry. When
Roger met Lucien his first movement was to
draw back, but Lucien held out his hand Joy
fully, as ii glad to see him there.
The life in common, the dangers and diff
culties surmounted together, the thousand
painful incidents Of the campaign, valiantly
borne, brought them together in spite of
Roger, who felt his conscience prick him at
every kind word and every grasp of the hand
Lucien gave him.
Roger felt every day growing deeper in his
heart a singular sense of need Of repairing by
some heroic action the wrong he had done
Lucien, as far as it lay in human power, even
with his own blood. But Fate was infexible
and favored Lucien alone, for one day IN
reconnaissance Roger received q spent ball on
the head, which rendered him insensible.
Balls whistled around them, and as he fell
those who saw him thought him dead. The
dragons were approaching and the French
had to fly, but Lucien, who was strong,
seized Roger and laid him across his horse,
and squirting the poor creature followed bis
comrades with his burden.
An hour later Roger regained conscious
ness and mounted his own horse, which had
followed the rest in their flight. Roger was
somber and shamed and his brows drawn as
he said
II owe you my life. God is my witness
that stand ready to do for you as much and
more"
Lucien smiled and reached out bis hand:
"I know you are, Roger. Let US say no more
about it. This is common to warfare"
Roger spoke no more, but grew more and
more somber and melancholy, but his friend
ship for Lucien grew deeper and greater.
The 1st of September came. The battle Of
Sedan commenced with dawn Roger and
Lucien were in the heat of it, when an obus
burst, crushing both Laciens legs Witness
to this dreadful wound Roger with his troops
were obliged to leave the battlefield with the
other refugees almost wild with grief and
horror, and having before his eyes the specter
of his dead friend.
Roger hid under the ramparts Of Sedan,
and fell asleep from fatigue and slept until
evening fell, when he awoke and thought Of
Lucien. "Poor friend!' said he. "He died
doing his duty; must do mine. will find
him and bury him there, where he fell"
He went out Of the city, though broken with
hunger and weariness, and with stick for
support took his way back to the battlefield.
After long search he found him lying upon
the ground with both legs crushed. But
Lucien's heart still beat family in spite of his
horrible wounds. Then Roger had a hope.
If it were only possible to save him He
heard voices and called loudly, and in
French he received his answer, and soon some
Of the "Red Gross" society with q stretcher
came. When lie showed them Lucien they
said:
"He is dying. 1t is useless to move him" )"
"But he is not dead"
ave cannot save him. No one could;
and there are hundreds Of others who are
wounded needing us now"
But Roger supplicated them, and at last
they placed Lucien on the stretcher and took
him to the surgeons, who looked at him and
said:
"It is useless to spend our time with him,
while we might save others. He has but a
few minutes to live"
Iesnerate, Roger took his way to surgeon
who lived in the city, and by dint of prayers
gained permission to bring Lucien to his
house, and though he also considered the case
utterly hopeless, promised to do all he could
in the forlorn hope Of saving the wounded
man. Roger gave the doctor his own and
Luciens address and what money he had,
and left. The next morning he was q prisoner
and was taken to Coblentz, where he was
kept for two months, when he escaped.
He wrote to the doctor, but got no answer,
and he tried to get into Paris to see his wife
and child, but useessly, so he joined the army
which was fighting ut Loire. Again lie was
taken prisoner, and again escaped. After
the commune he returned to Paris, and found
his wife and child well, though mourning him
for dead At once he telegraphed to Sedan
to DR.. ChampcauX, who answered: ''Noir-
Vile out of danger; amputated both legs;
shall accompany him to Paris in few days
Soon after this he received u letter from
Lucien Dear friend," it ran, II never
hopei to sec you again. 1 am at Rue ID
Rome, but too weak yet to venture out. Gomez
want to see you more than can say. Your
more than brother, LUCIEN"
TO 60 to Lucien was to see Julia again, to
place himself between her and that poor man,
that man to whom he was bound by the ties
of common danger and comradeship, whom
he loved with love passing that of women,
and who was now chained down forever to
his chair What should he dos How escape?
After long struggle with himself he de-
cided to 60. II will see julia" said he, sand
have an explanation. She will understand
that there must be nothing more between US,