Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-08-08

curiosity was the privilege even of--a
conquerorw
"Mein Gott!" shouted the officer
furiously. "Dare you be insolentl
Know you not have full power here,
and could sweep such vermin as you
off the face of the earth in two sec
ondsg"
81 do not doubt monsieur's power
or will-to do it..
Come, come" laughed the colonel,
ashamed of his momentary loss of
temper. Don't let US fall to carte
and fierce in this fashion. | wish TO
be your friend. have heard some
thing OF you that interests me-"
Monsieur Is pleased to jest. l have
neither friend nor acquaintance who
should have mentioned my name to
him." was the calm response.
"Perhaps you are more fortunate
than you imagine. 1t was a womaL
who spoke of you.'
Despite his Efforts at self-control,
Pierre could not keep the hot flush
from his face-could not still these
heavy, sufTocating throbs OF his heart
at these words.
Il am right, see." resumed the
colonel. 1.-The cause that sent you to
the wars. my friend, is not hard to
guess. A woman had a hand in that,
or am much mistaken"
al am at a loss to surmise how my
private affairs can possibly interest
monsieur" His quostioner frowned
angrily.
doubtless you are. But there is
romance in most lives. have mine,
/ would fain hear yours"
1.-The leaf is folded down to be open
ed at no mans bidding"
Nor woman's either?" his tormen-
tor persisted.
Il have told monsieur that though
obedience is soldiers duty, his pri-
vate affairs are not subiect for an OIL
GERS inquisitive fancy to pry into"
"And | say they are, If it suits the
officer to make them so. Listen, fell
low! You are here a pr.S3ner, alone
and friendless, at the mercy of your
foes. You arc but unit among
many. Your fate none will know, un-
less we choose"
"Is it brave to taunt me with my
powerlessness, or cor! rast it with your
privilege of tyranny, monsieur" asked
the cold calm voice of the listening
prisoner.
"Gott in Himme! This makes me
angry, and ashamed all in one" NUT
tered the colonel wrathtully. "N..l
nothing make him speakp"
Listen" he resumed presently.
alt is not we'll for you to use your
tongue thus freely. Remember l have
! it in my power to make you pay dear
ly for your insolence. Do
you know that the woman you
love is here, in this city
that sie and / are we'll ac-
quainted-that it is for her sake /
have sought you out-that to please
her would do you a service? Do you
know thisP"
Every drop OF blood seemed to leave
the bronzed and patient face. He
leant with sudden dizzy faintness
against the wooden pillar beside him.
ASOOpOAG NOll SlhllON Sol 'tho-
tically. Il have touched youat last"
he said
The man drew himself up with a
soldiers instinct-a brave mans self
control. II should be sorry to doubt
monsieur's word" he said, in a voice
cold, stern and passionless. "But any
interest either of man or woman in my
fate or fortune is alike unsought and
undesired by me-"
"Your desire is very singular"
1T may be-"
"Are you content to wait for the is
sue OF the war? Have you friends
who would ransom you?"
Il have no friends"
"a wife. mo her, sister, perhaps?"
A sudden SILVER ran through the
strong, well-knit frame.
Il had Il mother-she is dead"
"And you feel no desire to know
who is interested in your welfare
here?'
That she is so Interested, and
could speak Of it to you, is in itself an
insult he flashed out with sudden
fury. The colonel smiled, we'll pleas
ed that he had at least aroused some
warmth OF feeling beneath that pas
| sionless repose.
chow has she offended youp" he
| asked. The man was silent.
''Ah, we'll, it matters not" Won
Brandstein said, with covert insolence.
"What you do not choose 10 tell she
will. Now 60"
Without word or glance, Pierre
raised his hand, gave the salute, and
| departed.
For a few moments the colonel
paced restlessly up and down the
guard room, then summoned to his
presence the officer 10 whom the i'm
mediate superintendent and charge
ofthe French prisoners had been given.
"Niedmann, "he said carelessly, .'there
Is fellow among the crew there
Pierre Leroux by name-who is both
i1solen' and foolhardy. Keep strict
watch sn him, and give him double
work and half rations, He is danger
ous-just the sort OF a man to plot and
\