The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-06-14
R" RISING SUM- CECIL COUNTY. MD. FRIDAY, Jul
sought and undeaired by me-"

sought and undeaired by me-"
"Your desire is very singular"
at may be-"
"Are you content TO wait for the Issue OF
the war? Have you friends who would ram
som your"
II have no friends"
"a wife, mother. sister, perhapsP" A sud.
den shivcr ran through the strong, well-knit
frame.
81 had mother-she Is dead"
"And you feel no desire to know who is
interested in your welfare here?"
"That she is 50 interested, and could speak
OF 1t to you is In itself an insult" he flashed
out with sudden fury. The colonel smiled,
well pleased that at least he had aroused
some warmth OF feeling beneath that pas
sionless reposo.
How has she offended you ?" he asked
Tho man was silen
"Ah, we'll, 1t matters not" Won Brand
stein said, with covert insolence. "What
you do not choose to tell she will. Now go.''
Without word or glance, Pierre raised
his hand, gave the salute, and departed.
For u few moments the colonel paced
restlessly up and down the guard room, then
summoned to his presence tho officer to
whom the immediate superintendent and
charge Of the French prisoners had been
gwen. Niedmann," he said carelessly,
"there is follow among that crow there
Pierre Leroux by name-who is both insolent
and foolhardy. Keep strict watch on him,
and give him double work and half rations
He is dangerous-just tho man to plot and
scheme, and bring the others into trouble
"You shall be obeyed, Herr Colonel"
And thus it WAS that Leopold Won Brand
stoin kept his promise to the woman he
loved.
Meanwhile Pierre Leroux left the room
and Joined the soldier who was waiting for
him. Ho moved along mechanically. A
numbing pain had settled in his heart, dead
ening him to all exterior sutferings or meow
veniences that awaited him now. Something
in the weary, suffering face, the patient OK
like eyes. touched the man beside him with
compassion.
"Are you ill 2" he asked.
"I all nothing" was the answer, given in
slow, nonotonous accents, Us II his thoughts
were far away.
The Germans knowledge of French was
scanty, so conversation dropped. Still he
looked pityinsly at tho tall upright figure
that bore itself so courageously, that allo we'd
OF no weakness. and was ut once SO soldierly
in its grace, so proud in its endurance. "A
fine fellow" he said to himself. "What pity
he is Frenchman But the man beside
him thought only of those words that had
proclaimed her false with moro than woman 3
falseness-shamed with more than woman's
shame.
"Here and his friend" he muttered, as hi
brow burned with hot flush OF shame ut tn.
thought of his outraged honor, his ruine
manhood. "Her guilt is greater oven than
thought. 1t were better had slain her with
my own hand that night when she lay at my
1eeti"
He moved like man In a dream, he per
formed those offices and services demanded
Of him with strict punctiliousness and un-
deviating exactitude. but all the same. it was
as the work OF a machine, perfect but soul.
less, correct but unconscious.
In the activity Of campaigning. and the ex.
element Of warfare, he had been able to get
some respite from the thoughts OF his own
wrongs-from the memory Of her perfldy-
out now he had only the dull routine of bar
rack-lfe, the servile employment. the scanty
coarse fare, tho inert and brain -sickening ex-
istence OF q despised prisoner of war. AS days
passed on, he saw more and more clearly
that something beyond the common insults
and drudgery Of his fellow soldiers foil to his
share. His work was the first to begin, the
last to cease, his food the scantiest his treat.
ment the most insolent Of all. Morning after
ignoble tasks, to the same recurring petty
irritations. to physical privation, to ceaseless
tyranny, to all that could make his life most
wretched and try his powers OF endurance
most Severely. And be bore all with never a
murmur-with never a con- plant.
Can I caro- that my enemies have no
mercy on my body" he would ask himself
bitterly, "when she whom loved and wor-
shipped have none upon my SOUL"
Still weak from long illness, he often felt
his strength scarce able to the demands upon
it, but yet he taxed its 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 him saw him sway
suddenly forward, then fall heavily to the
ground. His eyes were closed-his face gray
ON his beard was foam he lay like II log
where no had fallen. and the men who
gathered about the PROSTATE form whispered
but one word under their breath-"Dead."
"Is he drunk?" asked the ierocious task.
master. who had been paid to do his work,
and who was ruthless and 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. ''It is lt
think"
Even rs he spoke the mans eyes Enclosed.
faces around.
Come, get up; no shamming," shouted
his tormentor savagely. "We can't put up
with this sort ofthing here. You needn't pre-
tend you are going to die just yet"
Bohmer held a draught of water to his lips
and raised him gently to a recumbent po-
sitlon.
Pierre looked gratefully up at him with his
patient eyes, and staggered to his feet with
one vigorous effort.
II cannot die" ,"he said, with an agony in
his voice that thrilled to the heart OF the
sympathizing soldier beside him, who alone
heard tho words.
$50 you're all right again. It's my belief
you've been drinking" said his superior. 81
report you for disorderliness and neglect.