Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-09-05
LINK BY LINK.
A THRILLING STORY OF THE
FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
by MAURICE LEGRAND.
CHAPTER XIV.
"PAROLE D'HONNEUR.n

UOEROUX," said BONNER coming
~ close TO him in exercise yard.
Il have good news for YOU"
The listless patient face turned toward
him.
"For mep What news can you have
that would be good? Even my release
from this den of misery would not give
me happiness or content"
Nonsense. You take too gloomy
view of everything" said the kind
hearted German. "Well, / have
brought you n letter. 1t is from a
countryman of your own, so at least
my sweetheart told me. How she came
by it is mystery, but perhaps it has
good news or may treat of ransom.
Who knows? l only hope it may, for
this life would kill you soon; l am sure
of that"
"a letter, did you say?"
"Yes; and from compatriot. Take
heed no one secs you read it. 1t is as
much as my life is worth to carry it to
you, but then Gretchen pleaded so
prettily and asked so tearfully-what
could | do but take it? Here, take it
but don't read it for the love Of Heav-
en-, till you are safe and unobserved.
The tiny missive was passed rapidly
from hand 10 hand, none seeing the
transfer, and Leroux concealed it in
the bosom of his coat.
Ninette, safe and sheltered from the
ever-dreaded discovery OF her where
abouts, had formed plan, desperate
and hopeless enough, but woman-like
in its very self-sacriiice and devotion.
Knowing that Hans BONNER was the
lover of the kind-hearted girl whose
ready invention had completely con-
cealed her own identity, she persuaded
Gretchen to coax him into delivering
letter to her husband with plan
for his escape. Her object was
to induce BONNER to assist him.
At dead OF night, when the Ger
man had the sentry duty, this could
easily be managed. Once out of the gar
rison Gretchen was to meet him with
the peasant suit which had so well dis
guised his wife. The necessary
papers and forms would be obtained
as if for the departure OF cousin
Hans" Thus disguised he could make
his way out Of the city-take the train
for whatever place he deemed best,
and then, at the first opportunity pos
sible, make his way TO France. OF
the risk she herself ran by resuming
her woman's attire, Ninette thought
nothing. To save her husband from
the torture and oppres sion he daily
endured, this was her only thought.
She preserved her own part in the
plan strict secre., knowing we'll
that believing what he did of her, the
mere mention OF her name would have
deferred him from attempting to es-
cape. The letter containing these di-
rections purported to be from French
soldier, and was written in their own
language.
AS Pierre Leroux read il in solitude
that night by the light of the misty
moon-rays, his heart for q moment
bounded with hope. Free! To be
free once more-to quit this hateful
tyranny-to bid farewell to prosecu-
tion--cruelty-s The thought
was itself relief. A moment after his
face paled, his hand trembled-the
letter with its sweet insidious tempt
ing was crushed in his grasp.
MY world have given my word, "
he muttered.
And that was the only answer honor
permitted.
Though the gates of his prison
stood open, and none barred his pro-
lgress back ID liberty, he could not
I forget that he was on "parole''
that simple soldierly code
OF honor bound him in chains
firmer than any his foes could