The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-07-27

law dutl prison, Dui scNcIc tIll0shiuS
from the forester and keeper, of whom,
indeed they were thoroughly afraid.
/ The night after the meeting between
/ Blanche and the German, Houzel watched
/ the chateau till he found that every one
had retired to rest and then, with face
! as black as thunder, strobe down to the
cottage. Entering, he threw aside his
gun and sat down by the fire, where the
old man, his assistant, was already sit
ting, cleaning rusty fowling piece.
| Well, muster, what news?" asked the
| old man, after long silence. You look
as if you had seen a ghost.
Il have seen the German, returned
| Houzel, with an imprecation He is still
there at the chateau; and, look you,
| NIademoiselle Blanche treats him as ii he
were one of ourselves Frenchman!"
All! TIL is BAL very badl"
"Bad-it is infamousl l have mind,
some of these days, to serve him as he
served mademoiselle's hound-to put n
bullet through his hearth What think you
he said in my hearing, Andrcas! That
mine was q dog s vocation. Well, he shall
find that the dog can bite
/ These Germ ms a:e the devil, master,
said Andreas, servilely. They are eat
ing us up alive-locusts. And rs soon rs
one is slain there comes thousand; and
every day 1t Is growing worse.
/ Instead of replying Hauzel rose and be-
gan pacing to and fro the glowing cham
Der.
( No word from the Cheyaler?" asked
Andreas presently.
( Houzel shook his head gloomily, while
the other added:
! If he has fallen, master, Mile. Blanche
viii be an orphan. That will be lad, very
bad
I Yes, you are right. She has only her
father.
/ Let me see, muttered Andreas, glanc-
ing slyly at the other rs he spoke. How
old is my young LADY,"
| she is eighteen in January. The fifth
is her fete day. Yes, nearly eighteen
| years old.
"Old enough to marry, master" sug-
! gested Andreas.
You are fool" said the young man in
a tone so savage that the old man almost
started from his seat. Who talks of mar
rying? Mile. Blanche is a child. Per-
haps she will never marry.
Yet, as you say, should anything hap
pen to the old Chevalier she will be q one
Bad, very bad!' murmured Andreas,
in his pet phrase. She will have no one
to protect her."
She will have mel" returned Houzel,
in the former savage way. No harm will
come to her while | am near.
Perfectly; but that is different"
You mean that | am not her equal?"
demanded the young man; adding, while
the other coughed apologeticallS, Well,
you are right, | am her fathers servant
and hers. For the rest, she has no equal
in the world.
The conversation ended, and sullen
| Gil foil y,h I,,1l
| till the old man rose babe Houzel good
night" and shuffied eff to bed Houzel
remained seated by the fire, staring gloom
/ lily into the burning wood. The fame fell
/ upon him, sutfusing his sunburnt face and
neck with deeper red.
The German was right" he NUT
tered. 1T is dogs service, after all What
am | better than her hound, that would
run after her, obey her bid ling, and lick
| her hand? Well, that alone would con-
| tent me; | ask no more. Yet when she
| speaks to him, our enemy, she is changed
| her face is different, and | think some
| tines Pshawl | am fool for my
| pains. | at lelst ain Frenchman; he,
! one of the accursed yermin who are desc
! lating France.
When day broke Houzel was at his post
! watching the chateau. Before the sun
!
/ forth and found him leaning against a
| tree, his eyes uTon the terrace She
| smiled gently as he saluted her. and said
Here again, Houzel You are like
my shadow, and wherever | turn [ find
| YOU
Your pardon. mademoiselle, he re-
| phi d. i am wat hing the German plis-
oner."
Surely that does not concern yeu. Be
sides, lie has given his parole
| | doHot trust him, was the gruf reply.
| You arc true Frenchmon, she said,
| laughing. You hate the poor gentleman
simply because he is a stranger and a Ger
| man"
He finds his prison pleasant, mademoi-
selle," returned the keeper, significantly
do not think he would care to lie I'VE it
even if his couutrymen came to take him
away"
Something in the tone, more than IL the
words, made Blanche flu h angrily. She
was about to reply whom she S ny the sub
iect Of theft conversation approaching from
the house He saluted her respectfully,
and then glanced curiously at HouzeL
Our friend is still on guard, he said.
/ Must L ask his permission to wander a
few STEPS further from my c'ge?"
The eyes Of the two mea met for a mo-
ment then, while HouZei turned his head
away and locked sullenly 1T vacancy, the
| German az in addressed Bl,nche.
You ale my jaler. frau'ein, he srid,
smiling. May ask you how far my lib
erty extendS2"
Ion hive given your word of honor,
monsieur, she answered, and surely that
is enough. have told Holzel that you
will not try to escape"
I u
| lightly. ! am well contented to remain
in so fair prison"
He walked slowly toward the avenue.
| HouZel seized his qua and made a move
ment rs If to follow him and turn him
back, but at a look from his mistress he
RETAINED. Then, after a moments hest
tation, Blanche followed the German,
who turned quickly on hearing her foot
step behind him.
DO not 80 far, monseur," she said
The woods are dangerous, and, per
haps-"
Perhaps 1 have reason to dread a stray
shot from some over-zealous Frenchman?
! Well, | will take care. But it is very good
of you to take such interest in one who
! Is, by the fate of war, your enemy; and l
thank you with all my heart"
He paused, looking into her face with
lll-con cealed admiration. Never had the
lady of Grandpre looked brighter and
prettier. \ soft rosy flush lay upon her
cheek, and her eyes were full of gentle
| light.
May ! ask, monsieur
Ask auyth ng. fTaulein, he broke in.
CALAMITY, as she hesitated, and be sure
that will answer You.
1t Is Your name that / would ask, mon
sieur."
| Heinrich Won Hartmann am a cap
| tain in the Uhlan cavalry. l see you have
| heard of us Uhlans-we have a bad name
| here in France; and some of US. | grant
| You, are ugly fellows. For example, he
! who shot your poor hound.
They walked slowly on. side by side
/ CHANGING back over his shoulder. Hart
mann saw the keeper slowly following, gun
| IL hand.
The watchdog follows, he said, laugh
ing.
How bright and manly he seemed with
his clear frank eyes aud finely cut feat
ures. How different, Blanche thought.
from the ferocious Teutons she had pic
| tured in her dreams
/ have been writing letter this morn