The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-08-03
TViiXtLife and Death
-OR-
UNDER MEDICAL ADVICE.
a Story Of the Franco
PruSSian War.
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER TX.

tLdt TINS might occur; ana he uau UeSSeu
of her not to be troubled by useless fears
ii at any time all communication between
them should cease. Nevertheless, try as
she would, she could not keep off the
Horrible fears which oppressed her, and
which deepened day by day.
At the chateau there was nothing now
to interest her, for even her patient had
passed out of her hands. Blessed with a
good constitution, he had rapidly gained
strength, and, according to the gossip of
the servants, it was more the bright eyes
of Blanche de Gayrolles than his manned
arm which kept him at the chateau.
But at last, as he stood at his window
watching the slim figure of the young girl
as she moved up and down the terrace,
the truth came to him with startling vivid
ness. II was a terrible discovery, and in
those first few moments brought him al
most as much pain as pleasure. Never
theless, the truth must be Acknowledged,
aud IN acknowledging it, h knew that
Blanche de Garyolles was likely to be-
come more to him than his country or his
life.
What was to be done? Should he repay
good with eyil-acknowledge her sweet
charity and gentle goodness by remaining,
trying to make h-r love hi,l, and so bring
upop her all the horror and misery which
Htitl y IoN6 must tausCs W usiSdS, IL
he left her now, he could do so, he be-
Ieved, without causing her one single
Yang.
And yet how could he 60? He was a
prisoner. True, he was not strictly guard
cd. for he had given his word Must he
break his parole, quietly effect his escape,
aud leave behind him a tainted name for
Blanche to think Of! No; he could not
do that. lie owed her much, but he
lacked the courage to make 80 great a
sac iuce.
If must not win her love- at least let
m Re worthy of her esteem, he said.
AS well have bullet through my heart
IS look Of reproach from her eyes; for,
strong man as / am, it would kill me.
Huniedly descending he made his way
to the terrace, but it wgs empty. He in
qure} or Blanche, and found that she
hid left the chateau, and had taken the
path which led to the top Of the cliffs.
Quiekh following the path, he glanced
Ga eve hand for Blanche; but she was
LowDele to be seen. After searching
around the woods in every direction ne
WIS about to return. thinking she might
even then be in one of the rooms ut the
chateau, when suddenly he glanced toward
the open door of the little Chapel of Our
Lady and saw Blanche quietly issuing
from the porch.
AS sh3 had not noticed him he drew
back; for she was closely followed by and
seemed in deep conversation with an elder
ly woman. They passed close by Hart
mann; but although he could not be seen
by them he heard every wor-! of their con-
vesation.
The hag-po other, indeed, than she
who was praying before the altar when.
only a few weeks before, Blanche entered
the chapel by her fathers side-was talk
ing rapidly, kissing her words into the
young girls ear
You do we'll to pray for your father, -
she said YOU, who even now are tending
one of his enemies. What would be say
If he knew that while he was fighting down
the aceursed Germans like wheat his
daughter was gently tending one that he
might 90 for again and join our foes?"
Uttering a cry, Blanche covered her
ears with her hands, as il to shut out the
sound of the old woman 5 voice; but the
bag. nothing daunted and, perhaps, even
pleased at the effect of her words, woul I
have continued, but at that moment the
I ian came forward.
Fixing his eyes tiercely upon the old
woman, he babe her depart; then he
turned courteouslyto Blanche.
"Fraulein, he said, may I have the
honor of conducting you back to the cha
teau; or, if YOU wish to linger abroad,
may | linger with you? 1t is not safe for
You 10 wander abroad alone; and though
| am your country's enemy l may be able
TO protect YOU"
Before replying, Blanche glanced timid-
~ around.
Hartmann, noticing her look, said;
Your tormentor has gone, You see.
have marked her face we'll, that l may
never accept even a drink of water Mt her
hands. All, fraUlein. your countrywomen
are not like You, more's the pity; were it
otherwise there would be no more war.
She has cause for bitterness, said
Blanche, gently, she has lost two sons "
And You fraulein, returned the sol
der, tenderly, might have lost father!"
The girl turned an agoni2ed face to his
Has my father then fallen, monsieur"
she SAID, in a voice of such suppressed
agony that it rent the soldiers heart.
L trust not, fraulein; but he is at the
seat of war.
All, yes; he is at the war; but / pray
TO God night and day to send him safely
back to me.
And l pray that your prayer may be
granted. Your father Is very dear to you,
IS he not?'
lie is all have in the world"
For a time the two walked on in silence;
then they paused, with their faxes tuned
toward tine sea- and the soldier spoke
again:
You have never experienced a great
sorrow, fraulein?" he said
Never, until my father left me to go to
the war, monsieur. We have always lived
together at the chateau, and led very
peaceful life. until the war began, and he
was taken from me.
And then you we're left alone? You
have heard from him. of course?"
At first, almost daily; hut for several
weeks now | have not heard one word
lud latterly, she said, Il have had terri
bile dreams.
She paused, glanced hesitatingly at
hum; then, treasured by the look on his
fl e, she continued:
For several nights now / had dreamed
that my father was with me-not here at
the chateau, but IN some lonely plain
and each time We have been together he
has placed his hand on my head and muir
uurod: God bless you my poor Blancher
And. losing for a moment her habitual
5elf-possessIon. she covered her face with
her bands and sobbed bitterly.
he soldier waited until the violence of
he grief had passed away, Then he
said
You have more cause than 1 thought to
hate me and mine. l have abused your
cha 1t by remaining SO long. | Will send
word It once TO your soldiers to remove
me to Fecamp.
Drying her eyes quickly, Blanche turned
toward him
You are not strong enough to so, mon
sieur
Il have no right to linger; I have
brought desolation to your home"
4 ~ nj tall A III
had desolated your home since your sis
ter has lost brother, your mother a SON
Il Is tie war-this terrible war which l
pray nay soon end. Since YOU are in
trouble. YOU are no longer my enemy
Unless, indeed, your hand had been
raised against my dear father and
then"
And then, fraulein-even then YOU
would minister to me, as you did when /
lay at your mercy?1 he asked. eagerly.
With a startled cry she drew back and
gazed half-fearfully into his eyes. Then,
Is he made a movement TO approach her
she waved him back.
You should not speak so TO me, " she