Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-11

:::: ]: ::: j: ::: = :| \ W N$@ bond is broken" h H~T Startled and be. A ...& wildered he stood M thero-the winter M sunlight on his Gu-IE-- face-a fear he
 could not master stealing over his heart. "Gone-fodl F he muttered. "Heavenl what shall do? He is so merciless. and am utterly in his poweI." Even while he stood there, q heavy hand was lad upon his shoulders rharsh voice sounded in his ears.
 "Is this your care? You have let her es- cape thus easilyw Tho Frenchman shook with towards fear in the grasp of his plti- less foe.
 'I could not know" he murmureI extenu- atinglY. ''she said no wori-gave no sign." He laughed aloud. "You fooil ns if she would. Your pliant reed was stronger than you deemed, my friend. And now what are you going to dop"
 Leon looked at his persecutor In helpless bewilderment. "Do?" he sail. What can I do?"
 Find her. of course. She cannot be hard to trace. She has not a friend here, her knowledge of the language is but slight Gold will buy any secret-it has thousand eyes. Ere tomorrow's sun has set will bring you some information. or am much mistaken"
 The Frenchman gazed at him as If fascna- ted. "Your power Is wonderful" he said. The Prussian laughed aloud. "Take you heed how you thwart it, my friend. If it had not been for your confounded folly this would never have happened. Never try and slip your head out of tho moose as your fair daughter has done, otherwise it will be worse for you a,thousand times than for her."
 
 In mean obscure part of the city. two women were busily engaged in laundry work One was fair, plump. smiling damsel with tho mild blue eyes and fair hair of the German peasantry; the other old, and wrnkled, and ugly, yet with a certain good humor in the brown, withered, old face, and cheery smil-- ing lips that bore some resemblance to the girl. They were mother and dnughter-they were poor, honest, hardworking women, gaining a livelihood by washing for the soldi- cry, and content with their black bread and cabbage soup and sauerkraut; harmless, in- offensive people, of whom none had ever said a hard word, or uttered islander.
 Haste, Gretchen" said the old woman presently. We are behind with the work to- night. You were so long on your errands this afternoon that it has put it all back" The girl blushed rosily. Whom met you in the city?" asked the old woman shrewdly. "Hans Bohmer aSain?" "Yes, incline mutter. Ach, 1t was he who was in sorrow and downcast to-day, for his heart is heavy for that poor French prisoner. of whom he told us last week. He fears he will die."
 "Is he so i'll thenT'
 "Ill-yes; and so cruelty used too. Hans says it makes his heart ache to sec how he suffers, and never a word of complaint does he utter, and though he is n foe one cannot help but pity him."
 'Ts he worse treated than the rest of them." ''Yes, so Hans says, and no one knows why; but the Herr Commandment Niedman seems to hate him, and Hans told me to-d day there is some one besides Herr Niedman, some one higher in rank, and ot great power aud influence."
 l "And does tLe commandant of tho garrison really ill use this poor man2"
 The girl nodded, and pursed up her rosy 1 lips mysteriously.
 "Hans must be careful what he says," the | old woman said, lowering her voice and lock- ing fearfully around. "These are troublous times, Gretchen, and the police are ever on the watch. See you repeat no word of this to any ono save me, or harm may come of it."
 ''The Fatherland would be we'll enough if it were not for the police," the girl said mutinously. "It is hard indeed to have to keep watch over word and action as one must do here."
 "Hush!" her mother said warningly. rWhat was that3" They paused in their work and listened.
 A low faint knock came at the door. "Go and see, Gretchen" commanded her mother and the girl, her rosy face pale with fear lest some of those very messengers of i'll she had been abusing, were at hand, obeyed and lifted the latch. A woman's form crouched at tho threshold-a pitiful pleading face looked up, and met the questioning timid gaze of the waiting girl
 "Wll you let me rest, and give mo glass of water for pity's sakeT voice entreated in broken German.
 'Suroly we will. ," Gretchen said, gently anl compassionately. Como in, do not be fright oneu. Inc stranger ToSo anu enCeTeo t0t homely room with her guide.
 "Mother," the girl said hastily, ''it is poor wayfarer who needs rest She ma. enterp"
 "She is welcome," said the old woman , heartily as her kind eyes turned to the lovel, , shrinking faco and form that followet , Gretchen. "Sit down." she said, in German "We are just about to sup; pray join us." "A glass of water Is all need, thank you, said the sweet faint voice of the stranger. Gretchen gavo her seat by tho stove. an, , her mother busied herself in preparing tn , supper, and speedily placed before tho way farer bowl Of steaming soup and slice C black bread. She looked up gratefully at he : hostess.
 "How kind you are," she said.
 kind? Nonsensep p the woman answered ' touched inexpressibly by the gentle voice an fair lovely face; and marveling much in he honest heart what trouble or straits necessity had driven her to seek charity