Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-01

piuh, % many vacancies bad occurred ahovs
him. Then b bad bssn kept shut up in
Tuyen- Kuan with b commAndant Domino
They bad had terrible negs Of Eve wesn IN
the breach rspeiling the furious assaults Of
the Chinese surging ike q sea Of human b.
ings against the ruined walls Of the fort
He bad been wounded the last day in
final sorae. but from Q distance, above the
clamor Of the yellow hordes, be bad heard
the French clarions ring out dehverance
Oh, for that hour Of sxultation He had
seen the enemy flying, the tri-eolor spread to
the breeze, and he had fallen without regret.
sure only Of one thing-shey were victors
Later bis condition had seemed 80 grave he
bad been ordered home to France with the
cross Of honor During the journey be had
grown steadily better, and on bis arrival bad
been recommended as chief of battalion The
two women were silent. the mother, in her
worldly wisdom. considering that be bad
IN his regiment
The daughter, studying the young man,
found him changed almost beyond recog-
milton, with his thin, pale face and bis air
OF command and distinction
Was it possible that she had dissiained this
brave soldier, who had paid with his blood
for every step he had gained in rank, and
who had come home with his future assureds
He meanwhile regarded her. Was II She
this girl, thoughtful and sad-whom he had
known frivolous and e1actingt Another
woman was discovered TO him thousand
times more charming IN her sad and troubled
grace She had eIraptured him before, she
satisfied his soul today He had dreamed Of
her thus Ills was his very vision
Pretty as ever and hundred times sweeter
and more gentle Their eyes met and in
those OF the officer she read such alteration
that she turned her head away in some em-
barrassment. Twilight had fallen. the two
women rose and without power to leave them
he saw them 10 their door
The next day he found them again u; the
band concert, and for many days He
seated himself near the young girl and while
the widow read her papers they chatted I'M
ceasingly, and yet they talked Of nothing.
Autumn had almost gone. the leaves, color
of rust, heaped themselves up in the walks,
and it was too cold TO sit on the benches
They walked up and down the paths in the
deserted park, the officer and the young girl
side by side, with slow and lingering steps
December had passed thus in an intimacy
every moment growing sweefer, Yet the
captain at times seemed troubled and nervous
One day in an excess Of passion he pressed
his arm against her breast, his eyes shone,
she thought him about to say, II love you"
but he WAS silent and she saw q shade of sad
ness in his eyes The agitation that he felt
increased at the approach Of the new year.
He went often to Paris and saw less Of the
widow and her daughter. secret dread
harassed him. Had they been deceivedf
What mystery was preparing for themi
On the 3lst Of December, at . o'clock, he
had not come. Yet on New Years eve the
merest acquaintance comes to wish one hap
piness for the year that is to be, and how
much more n lovert Toe widow was reading
the paper which contained the latest promo
tons in the army Suddenly she grew red
and uttered cry. Els name is herel He
has his promotionl AT this moment quick
steps are heard, and he, 30 impdtiently ex-
pected, enters He is pale; he stops before
the two women. The old widow holds out
her arms to him.
"Oh, my dear boy-how you frightened
usl"
He turns TO the young girl with boldness
born of love. "Mademoiselle, have now an
assured position to offer YOU l love you.
viii you he by wifef"
She pales at the remembrance of that first
refusal and thinking of all her brave soldier
has suffered to win his happiness, she
stretches out her hands to him, and her head
upon his shoulder, her lips against the rough
shoulder straps. weeps for JOY. Translated
from the French Of George Olmet by Bertha
Bohun Devneux.