The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-07-13
CHAPTER ".
20 u -AND A FEIENI

| CHAPTER ",
FOES-AND A FRIENn.
Knowing now that escape was impossi-
bic, Blanche stepped out from her hiding
place aud stood, pale as death, but reso-
Lutte, looking at the two officers, for such
they were. The elder man apparently lit
tie moved by her sex and helplessness,
surveyed her from head to foot with an
angry scowl; but the other, with light
laugh, leaped from his saddle and leading
his horse by the reign, walked close up to
her. She met his eyes without flinching
though II seemed to her as if her last hour
had come. To her surprise, however, he
addressed her in her native tongue, which
he spoke quite fuently and with the
slightest possible accent
Pardon me, fraulein, but it IS a late
hour for one so young to be abroad. My
friend here is impetuous, aud you have
had narrow escape with fe
His manner gave her courage; and, still
keeping her eyes upon his face, she drew
herself up proudly as she replied:
My name is Blanche de Gavrolles, and
L dwell at the Cha eau of Grandpre."
The other Uhlan greeted her speech with
a coarse laugh, and cried in French,
which he spoke with a thick Teutonic ac-
cent:
The devil! She has courage, the little
she-fox Lift the baggage up on my sad
die, Hartmann, and | VIII carry her back
TO camp"
LA tmann, as his companion called him.
answered with an angry look, and again
addressing Blanche, said quietly:
DO not alarm yourself, fraulein Nv
friend is an ugly fellow, but does not mean
what he says.
He is a coward" answered Blanche,
firmly, "or he would not have killed my
poor Gaston!"
DO you mean that dog? Then it was
yours?"
YES" was the reply; and as she gave it,
blanche gazed at the dead body through
binding tears.
The man on horseback laughed again.
Thank your stars, girl, that it was not
you | killed, but the curt" he cried.
Silence, Vogel!" exclaimed the other
Do you not see the young lady is ter
rifed?"
4 am not terrified" said Blanche. Il
am French. and | do not fear the enemies
of my country"
Hartmann looked at her with quiet
smile. 1t was curious, but his ewes were
quite gentle and his manner more and
more kind.
i am sorry this has happened, fraulein
We Germans, L assure you, do not make
war on women or children or dumb ami
mails. Have you parents, little one?"
i have father, answered Blanche.
lie must be careless father. | am
afraid, to suffer you to be wandering in the
woods alone at SO perilous a time. .
lie is with the army of the North, "
cried Blanche, fighting for the Father
land"
Come, hartman, CRED the mounted
Uhian, impatiently moving away.
Hartmann prepared to remount; then,
hesltating, he again looked at Blanche.
Take my advice and hasten home. More
OF our people are about and there may be
fresh danger. l should be sorry if any
eyli came to you. Over there in Germany
| have a dear sister of my own"
lie leaped into the saddle and, with a
nod and smile, rode away after his com
panicn.
For some minutes Blanche remained
stupehed All had occurred SO suddenly
that as yet she could scarcely realize the
situation but as the truth dawned upon
her, and she fn-ai herself safe and I'M
harmed, the tension of her strung up nerves
gave way, and she began to sob hysteri-
cal'y. BE ling over the dead body of the
dog, she tired to discover any signs of life;
but there were none; it had been killed
inst ANONYMOUSLY. Her heart swelled with
hate aud indignation against his de-
stroyer,
1t was growing dark, Tor black clouds
were drifting rapidly mp from the sea- She
remembered the strange officers warning
and, after one last look at the dead dog,
she prep1re to hurry back to the chateau
when the sound OF a voice arrested her.
All! 1t Is you mademoiselle Thank
sod l have fond you, it said Il have
been searching for you through the vii :
lage, for, look you, there is terrible news
The accused ULlans are upon us in
swarms!"
The Uhlansl" said Blanche. Eyes
Houzel, | know, for they shot poor Gas
ton
She turned as she spoke and pointed to
the dead hound which lay at the new
comer's feet
The man looked at the animal Then
he turned to his mistress with sinister
smile.
Il saw them, he said Il was crouchino
IN the bushes yonder and saw them pass. It
Is we'll for them, Mile. Blanche, that Won
were here, otherwise one of them would be
lying where CASTOR lies now. | had my
gun ready, pointing at the monsters heart
aud | did not fire because thought of Won
But shall remember them. and Won shall
be avenged"
The girl shuddered
Thank God | was here. she said. eft
would have been too terrible!'
What Is terrible, mademoiselle-to slav
the enemies of my country? The Cheva-
lIer, my master, has gone to do it; why
should not |?
All. but that is different. Houzel. Nv
father Is fighting in fair and open battle.
he would not STAY an enemy from behind
a tree"
The man bIushed sheepishly and looka3
down. lie could not say what was in his
mind, or he would have said. Il care for
my country, but l care more for Won
These men have made you shed tears. thew
have filled Your heart with sorrow; and
Tor that | would shoot them like dogs.
Although he was still young man. he
was the girl senior by several years, and
all his life had been spent in the forests
OF 6randpre. His father and grandfather
before HIM had been keepers of the forest
ana IN the service of the De Gayrolles.
t or the rest, he was a handsome fellow
and endowed with all the manliness which
comes to the occupation of forester. He
could have had his pick of the VILLAGE
beauties, but his heart was entirely de-
voted to his mistress
II he had been a wise man. and had
taken thought for the future. he would
assurediy have nipped in the bud this nm
wise passion, which could certainly BRING
nm naUght but pain; but he was not 2
wise pan at heart so far as Blanche was