Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-09-13

caIIy. Bending over the dead body OF the
dog, she tried to discover any signs OF life;
but there were none; it had been killed
mstanJaneously. Her heart sWeiled with
hate indignation against his de-
stroyers
It was growing dark, Tor black clouds
were drifting rapidly up from 6hs sea. Size
remembered the strange officers warning
and, after one last look at the dead dog,
she prepared to hurry back to the chateau
when the sound Of voice arrested her.
All! 1t is you, mademOlselle. Thank
God, have found you, it said. Il have
been searching for you through the vii
lage, for, look you, there is terrible news.
The aceursed Uhlans are upon Us in
sWarmsl"
aThe UhIans!" said Blanche. ayes,
Houzel, know, for they shot poor Gas
ton.
She turned as she spoke and pointed to
the dead hound which lay at the new
cOmsr's feet.
The man looked at the animal. Then
he turned to his mistress with sinister
smile.
Al saw them, j" he said. @I was crouching
in the bushes yonder and saw them pass. It
is well for them, Nile. Blanche, that you
were here, otherwise one Of them would be
lying where CASTOR lies now. had my
gun ready. pointing at the monsters heart,
and I did not fire because I thought of you.
q
be avenged"
The girl shuddered.
Thank God was here, she said. at
would have been too terrible!"
What is terrible, mademOiselIs-to sIay
the enemies of my country? The Cheya-
iier, my master, has gone to do 1t; why
should not I?
aAh! but that is different, Houzel. My
father is fighting in fair and open battle;
he would not STAY an enemy from behind
q tree"
The man bIushed sbeepishly and looked
down. He could not say what was in his
mind, or he would have said, I care for
my country, but I care more for you.
These men have made you shed tears, they
have filed your heart with sorrow; and
for that 7 would shoot them like dogs"
Although he was still a young man, he
was the girls senior by several years, and
all his life had been spent in the forests
OF Grandpre. His father and grandfather
before him had been keepers Of the forest,
and in the service of the De GavrOlles.
For the rest, he was handsome fellow,
and endowed with all the manlinsss which
comes to the occupation of forester. He
could have had his pick of the village
beauties, but his heart was entirely de-
voted to his mistress.
If he had been a wise man, and had
taken thought for the future, he would
! assuredly have nipped in the bud this un-
wise passion, which could certainly bring
him naught but pain; but he was not a
wise man at heart SO far as Blanche was
concerned, and ne preferred not to think
of the future. It was quite enough for
him to know that he could stand beneath
the window Of the chateau and listen
4 while Blanche played to her father of an
evening; or that he could stroll down to
the chateau of a morning and watch for
her appearance, certain of receiving a smile
/ and pleasant word.
For Blanche, quite ignorant Of the flame
she was tanning, was particularly amiabIe
to the young forester, and accepted his de-
votiOn very graciously, but quite in the
/ spirit as a young princess receiving the
! homage of q subject.
Have you been into the village, HOu-
zel?" said Blanche, creeping nearer to his
side.
Al passed through the village in search
/ of you, mademOiselle. When I heard you
/ had left the chateau, I was in terror lest
! the Germans should mRlest you. And now,
my dear young mistress, hasten, ne
! added. Let us get into the shelter of the
/ house. Do not fear; L will see that you
are safe"
Blanche looked at the dog.
And poor Gaston?" she said; she can
not be left here, HoUzel. I should like
/ him to be carried home and buried in the
garden, close to the sun-dial."
The forester nodded.
Il will see you safe first, mademOiseIle;
1 then will return for the hound and do as
you wish. COme!"
He shouldered his gun and held forth
his arm. Blanche laid her hand on it, and
the two walked away together.
! They soon reached the chateau. Their
arrival was oppOrtune, for the servants,
alarmed at the protracted absence Of their
| mistress, had armed themselves with
torches, and, headed by old Hubert, who
was trembling with fear, were preparing
to set out In search Of Blanche. With a
/ low bow to his mistress and a contemptu-
| GUS look at the quaking figure OF the old
butler, HOuZel turned from the chateau to
retrace his steps through the Forest when
the voice of his mistress arrested him.
"Houzel, she said, very gently, you
are very rash and headstTong Promise
me that you will not rush heedlessly into
danger"
But I must go and bury your dog, made
moiselle.
@Be it SO; but come to me when you re-
turn, that may know you are safe.
Flushed and elated, HouZel retraced his
steps along the road which he and Blanche
/ had trodden. All was quiet now and the
moon was shining brightly. The hound
lay where he had fallen; and HOuzel saw
now, what he had not noticed before, g
white hlmy substance lying near to the
hound.
Trembling with emotion, he kissed the
precious token and thrust it into his
breast; then, lifting the dog he made his
way again to the chateau. He reached il
unmolested. But instead Of entering, he
carried his burden straight to the garden
and buried it near the sun-dial as Blanche
had directed. Then he went to the house.
and was shown straight to the drawing
room, where Blanche was sitting.
@Ah! I EN- glad you have returned,
said RiaOeha 4Did Won hear snythInC
more?"
Nothing, mademoiseIIe; ali is quiet
now. I have buried CASTOR, and, he
added, beneath his breath, e should like
to put a bullet through the heart Of The
man who killed hint"