Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-08-08

"What pity he Is Frenchma,.l"
But the man beside him thought only
OF those words that had proclaimed
her false with more than woman's
talseness - shamed with more than
woman shame.
"Bere ana his friend" he mu tered,
as his brow burned with hot blush
of shame at the thought OF his outrag-
ed honor, his ruined manhood. "Her
guilt is greater even than l thought.
1t were better had slain her with my
own hand that night when she lay at
my feet"
He moved like man in dream, he
performed those offices and services
demanded OF him with strict punctili-
BUSINESS and undertaking eXactitude,
but all the same it was as the work OF
machine, perfect but soulless, COR
rect but unconscious.
In the activity of campaigning, and
the excitement of warfare, he had
been able to get some respite from the
thoughts of his own wrongs-from the
memory of her per. dy-but now he
had only the dull routine OF barrack-
life, the servile employment, the scan
ty coarse fare, the inert and brain
sicl1ening exis ence of despised pris-
oner OF war. AS days passed on he
saw more and more clearly that
something beyond the common insults
and drudgery of his fellow soldiers
fell TO his share. His work was the
first to begin the last TO cease, his
food the scantiest, his treatment the
most insolent of all. Morning after
morning he rose to the SANG weary
round of iGnoble tasks, to the same
recurring petty Invitations, to physi-
cal privaiions, to ceaseless tyranny,
to all that could make his life most
wretched and try his powers OF endur-
ance most severely. And he bore all
with never L murmur-with never n
complaint.
"Can l care that my enemies have
no mercy on my body" he would ask
himself bitterly "when she whom |
loved and Torshipped has none upon
my soul?"
Still weak from long illness,
he ofen felt his strength scarce
able TO the demands upon it.
but yet he taxed his utmost powers
he spared himself no single task
he asked for no remittance of his
labors. One day. long fasting and
severe labor told upon him at last.
those watching saw him sway sudden
ly forward, then fall heavily to the
ground. His eyes were closed-his
| face gray-on his beard was foam; he
lay like log where he had fallen and
the men who gathered about the pros
trate form whispered but one
word under their breath-''Dead."
"Is he drunk?" asked the ferocious
task-master, who had been paid to do
his work, aud who was rutEicss ald
fierce enough to call it patriotism.
Drunk? no." muttered the soldier
BONNER who alone of all the garrison
pitied and felt for this unfortunate
prisoner. at is fit / think"
Even as he spoke the mans eyes
Enclosed, and looked upward TO the
cold and callous faces around.
"Come, get up; no shamming,"
shouted his tormentor savagely. ave
can't put up with this kind of thing
here. You needn't pretend you are
going TO die just yet"
Bohmer held Il draught OF water to
his lips and raised him gently 10 re-
cumbent position.
Pierre looked gratefully up at him
with his patient eyes, and staggered
to mis- feet wi h one vigorous effort.
IL cannot die" he said, with an
agony in his voice that thrilled to the
heart OF the sympathizing soldier be-
side him. who alone heard the words.
$50 you're all right again. It's my
belief you've been drinking" said his
superior. Il report you for dis
orderliness and neglect. There s
your work not half done. Haste and
see it's completed before the midday
ra:ions are served out, Or"
A meaning glance completed the
sentence as he turned on his heel and
Left the spot.
TO BE CONTINUED.