The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-06-21

M - " sunlight on his
enzla9=:=@| face-a fear b he
could not master
stealing over his heart. "Gone-1lcd! y he
muttcrcd. "Helven what shall do? He is
so more.l,ss. and am utterly in his powell"
Even while he stood there, heavy hand was
lad upon his shoulder, q harsh voice sounded
in his ears,
SIS this your care? You have let her es-
cape thus easilyv The Frenchman shook
with towards fear in tho grasp of his pitt
less foe.
81 could not know" he murmured extenu-
atinglY. "She said no wori-gave no sign"
He laughed aloud. "You fooll as if she
would. Your plant reed was stronger than
you deemed, my friend. And now what are
you going to dol"
Leon looked at his prosecutor in helpless
bowilderment. "Do?" he said. What can
do?"
"Find her, of course. She cannot be hard
to trace. She has not friend here, her
knowledge of the language is but slight.
Gold will buy any secret-it has thousand
eyes. Ere tomorrows sun has set l will
pIliS yOu oOAO lulOl uldtlOu, VI L ullA uuCh
mistaken"
The Frenchman gazed at him as If fascina-
ed. "Your power is wonderful" he said.
The Prussian laughed aloud. "Take you
heed how you thwart it, my friend. II it had
aot been for your confounded folly this would
mover hav3 happened. Never try and slip
your head out of the moose as your fair
laughter has done, otherwise it will be worse
ior you a.thousand times than for her."
In mean obscure part of the city. two
women were busily engaged in laundry work.
One was Il fair, plump, smiling damsel with the
mild blue eyes and fair hair of the German
peasantry; tho other old, and wrinkled, and
ugly, yet with certain good humor in the
brown, withered, old face, and CHEEKY smi-
ing lips, that bore some resemblance TO the
girl. They were mother and dauShter-they
were poor, honest, hardworking women,
gaining n livelihood by washing for the soldi-
cry, and content with their black bread and
cabbage soup and sauerkraut; harmless, in
offensive people, ,oi whom none had ever said
Il hard word, or uttered SANDER.
"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
tho city?" asked the old woman shrewdly.
CLANS Bohmer agnin?"
eyes, meine 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."
SIS he so Ill thenP"
"Il-yes; and so cruelty used too. Hans
says it makes his heart ache to SEQ how he
suffers, and never word of complaint docs
he utter, and though no is u foe one cannot
helpb pity him."
is he worse treated than the rest OF them."
eyes, so Hans says, and no one knows
why; but the Herr Commandment Niedman
seems to hato him, and Hans told mo to. day
there is some one besides Herr Niedman,
some one higher in rank, and OF great power
and influence"
'And does the commandant ofthe garrison
really Ill use this poor mann"
The girl nodded, and pursed up her rosy
lips mysteriously.
CLANS must be careful what he says" the
old woman said, lowering her voice and look
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 one save me, or harm may come of
it."
"The Fatherland would bo we'll enough if
it We're not for the police" the girl said
mutinously. sit is hard indeed to have to
keep watch over word and actionas one must
do here"
"Iush" her mother said .warningly.
'What was thatr" 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 lost
some of those very messengers of ill she had
been abusing, were ut hand, obeyed and
lifted the latch. A woman's form crouched
ut tho threshold-a pitiful pleading face
looked up, and met the questioning timid
gazc of the waiting girl.
"Wlll you let me rest, and give mo glass
of water for PHYS sake2' u voice entreated
in broken German.
''Surcly We will, Gretchen said, gently and
mpassionatcly. Come in, do not be fright
ened." The stranger rose and entered the
homcly room with her guide.
Mother" the gill said hastily, sit is n
POOR wayfarer who needs rest. She may
enter2"
"She is welcome" said tho old woman
heartily as her kind eyes turned to the lovely
shrinking face and form that followed
Gretchen. "Sit down." she said, in German
''We are just about to sup; pray join u.s."
"a glass of water is all need, thank you,"
said the sweet faint voice of tho stranger.
Gretchen gave her IL seat by the stove, and
her mother busted herself in preparing the
supper, and speedily placed before the way
farer II bowl OF steaming soup and II slice o,
black bread. She looked up gratefully at her
hostess.
"HOw kind you are" she said.
"kind? Nonsensep the woman answered
touched inexpressibly by the gentle voice and
fair lovely face; and marveling much IN her
honest heart what trouble or straits o
necessity had driven her 10 seek charity in
this wise.
81 am in great trouble" the stranger said
presently. moved to confidence by the kind.