Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-01-18

proud of hIm In his uniform. He WAS
true as steel, and they renewed their
vows of constancy in each others arms
After that news reached US often OF
Pierre. He had won his epaniettes-
he was now An officer. How proud we
all werei One day came the terrible
news. He had been Killed. The
good pastor pause1 to wipe a tear out
OF his eye she bad died with his face
to the foe, 1 had learned from a soldier
who had returned. Died with the iron
cross on his breast. AS time passed /
could not help but notice that the pa
thetic grief on Marguerite'3 face, in.
stead of iniuring her beauty, only
made it the more striking. And so
thought one Jules Dermot-a rich
farmer, and good friend OF mine, but
"A man twice Marguerite's age.
"a year went slowly by, and then
one day Marguerite came to me for
advice. Her father was old and poor.
and growing each day more feeble,
and now he asked of her a sacrifice.
That she should insure the comfort of
his declining years, and her own wei
fare when he should be gone, 10y ac-
cepting and marrying the wealthy, re-
spected farmer, Jules Deimot.
thought long and earnestly, then
said:
My child. how do you yourself
feel about itp''
"a resolute light filed her pretty
eyes
"'I have thought she said sadly,
that it might be wrong for me to re-
fuse to obey my fathers wishes.
have been taught by you that child IS
| first duty is to her parents, and my
father has not long to live. z girls
| passionate love / can never give TO Jules
| Dermot, and so 1 have told him; but
as his wife L can serve and obey him
faithfully and truly, and he says he
will be more than content to have me
even thus
what could L say but what l did
to follow the impulses of her own
pure heart; they could not lead her
wrong. So they were married; and
the old father left his humble cottage,
and lived the following year (Which
proved his last) in his daughters new
home. Then came little Marguerite
to Jules Derm IT and his wife; a tiny
copy OF her mother. Like a pure
white daisy she lay. just beginning her
young life, while alasi the mother
the beloved of all-was dying. The
truth could not be long disguised.
There was no hope.
ga tremulous sigh-a long upward
look-and then a beautiful, inanimate
form was all that was left to us. Jules
DeImot sorrowed faithfully and keen
| ly; then after time an Irresistible
craving for change came to him. He
had money, aud he would travel So
! he brought the little Marguerite 10
t..ff har
Zone Summer evening my pet and
| were in the garden, when | saw a
mans figure coming up the road with
slow and weary steps. He paused at
the gate and looked IN at US.
"'Come in, sir, and rest YOURSELF l
said; and lifting the latch he came to-
ward me.
"As my gaze fell on the tail, atten-
uated form ani the wan face, which
looked blanchei and worn under the
moons clear beams. | stIrte I, and d
thrill passed through me.
"'Haye yol forgotten Pierre?' he
said.
"rhen 1 knew him-that it was in
deed Pierre Layellel With trembling
hands drew him into the house.
'Oh!' he exclaimed, sinking into a
chair, how good it is to be at homel
doubted il my strength would keep
ne till | saw its blessed scenes again.
But God is kind-I am here at last.
l came first to you, dear oid friend, to
wear off this intense fatigue; but IN a
little while L must go to my mother
and my betrothed. How are they-are
they well?'
II evaCed an answer as / pressed
him to partake of bread and wine.
suddenly the little one, whose very
existence l had for the time forgotten,
came into the room and to Pierre'S
side, looking up at him with her
mothers tender blue eyes. lie drew
her 10 him-Pierre WAS ever foni of
children.
"'What is your name?' he asked.
Marguerite she answered.; and
then won to confidence By his friendly
manner, she added: Il live here, but my
papa Is away, and my mamma is dead. ,
"Pierre's gaze fell upon my face,
which was working CoayulSlyeiy IL.
| spite of all my efforts at control, aud a
vague fear seemed TO spring into. his
mind. Rising hurriediy, he put her
from him.
"'I must GO now-I feel stronger. ;
he said-though his looks belied his
the side of my loved ones
"'Oh, Pierre, stay-do not gon l
cried.
"His eyes dilated with an expression
of terror.
Tell me truly he exclaimed, how
is it with my Margueriter'
81 could not answer. He read the
truth in my face. With a Cry he sank
back and covered his eyes with his
hand. Then quickly as l could told
him everything that had happened
withholding nothing-for it was best.
LAS | spoke the little one, awei by
the strange scene, had again drawn
near. With convulsive motion he
caught her to him and bowed his face
upon her shining hair. And this is
her child, Marguerite's child!'
sit was pIteous sight and l will
not dilate upon it longer. Pierre
! stayed at the parsonage, and after a
| while-I let him take his own time
he told me how he had been left ior
dead upon the field aud had recovered
consciousness to find himself pris-
oner in the enemy's hands; how he had
been confined ever since, until at last
escaping, he had iourneyed on foot
over mountains and through forests,
buoyed up by the hope of reaching his
native village, and there, amid the
ministraiions OF his dear ones, regain
ing his strength and passing in happi-
ness the rest of his life.
Gas you may have surmised, the
poor fellow did not live long to bear his
great disappointment. In the village
cemetery-not far from the resting
place of her he loved--ls q grave con-
spicuous from any other by the stately
granite pillar which his townspeople
have erected to the memory of Pierre