Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-08-29
LINK BY LINK,
A THRILLING STORY OF THE
FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
CHAPTER XIV. CONTINUED
by MAURICE LEGRAND.


In mean obscure part of the city,
two women were busily engaged in
laundry work. One was fair plump,
smiling damsol, with the mild blue
eyes and fair hair of the German peas
antry; the other old, and wrinkled, and
ugly, yet with a certain good humor in
the brown, withered, old face, and
CHEEKY, smiling lips, that bore some re-
semblance TO the girl. They were
mother and daughter--they were poor,
honest, Woodworking women, gaining
livelihood by washing for the soldi-
cry, and content with their black
bread and cabbage soup and sauer-
kraut; harmless, inoffensive people, of
whom none had ever said hard word
or uttered handor.
''Haste, Gretchen said the old wom-
an presently. 1--WE are behind with
- our work tonight. You were so long
on your errands this afternoon that it
has put us back" The girl blushed
rosily. Whom met you in the city?'
asked the Old woman shrewdly.
"Hans BONNER again?'
"Yes, meme mutter. Ach, it 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"
lis he so i'll then?'
"Ill-yes; and so cruelty used too
Hans says it makes his heart ache TO
see how he suffers, and never a word
of complaint does he utter. and
though he is foe one cannot help but
pity him"
lis he worse treated than the rest
OF thempn
Eyes, so Hans says, and no one
knows why; but the Herr Commander
Niedman seems 20 hate him, and Hans
told me to-day there is some one be-
sides Herr Niedman, some one higher
in rank, and of great power and in
fuence."
s'And does the commandant OF
the garrison really ill use this poor
man."
The girl nodded, and pursed up her
rosy lips mysteriously.
"Hans must be careful what he
says" the old woman said, lowering
her voice and looking fearfully
around. "rhese are troublous times,
Gretchen. and the police are ever on
the watch. See you repeat no word
OF this to any one save me, or harm
may come of it,"
1.-The Fatherland would be well
enough if it were not for the police, !"
the girl said mutinously. ut is hard
indeed TO have to keep watch over
word and action as one must do
here?"
Hush her mother said warning
ly. ''What was that?" 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 ill she had been
abusing, were at hand, obeyed and
lifted the latch. A woman's form
crouched at the Threshold pitiful
pleading face looked up, and met the
timid questioning gaze of the waiting
girl.
will you let me rest, and give me
a glass OF water for PHYS sake?" a
voice entreated in broken German.
..Surely we will" Gretchen said,
gently and compassionately. "Come
in. do not be frightened. The strang-
er rose and entered the homely room
with her guide.
Mother" the girl said hastily, ''it
is poor wayfarer who needs rest.
She may enterg"
''She is welcome" said the old
woman heartily as her kind eyes turn
ed TO the lovely shrinking face and
form that followed Gretchen. "Sit
down." she said, in German. 1--WE
are just about TO sup; pray join"
"a glass of water is all 1 need,
thank YOU" said the sweet faint voice
of the stranger.
Gretchen gave her seat by the
stove, and her mother busted herself
in preparing the supper, and speedily
placed before the wayfarer bowl OF
steaming soup and a slice of black
bread. She looked up gratefully at her
hostess.
"How kind you are" she said.
sKind? Nonsensel" the woman an
swered, touched inexpressibly by the
gentle voice and fair lovely face; and
marveling much in her honest heart
what trouble or straits OF necessity
had driven her to seek charity in this
wise.
II am in great trouble" the strang-
er said, presently, moved to con-
fidence by the kindnes she experienced.
am utterly friendless and homeless.
In all this great city have no one to
whom can go, nor resting place for
my foot"