The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-06-28

quei ed foe!'
There was nm instant's silence. Tho faces
OF the judges grew sterner and paler. Some
thing in the noble bearing tho calm, heroic
face of the prisoner touched them with COM
passion. Yet they know his doom was
sealed. Military justice is stern in its ey e.
action, undertaking in its DEGREES. With the
close OF that day sentence was pronounced.
He must die.
He who had 80 long prayed for death as
the sweetest boon man could bestow, trem-
bled as lie heard his doom. Then his eyes
turned on his foo and met his malicious ex-
ulting glance with the calmness OF despair.
''You have your triumph" he said. so low
that scarce any ono heard him. Thnn he
was led back to his coll, thore to await the
end OF his martyrdom.
Faint and weak with long Illness. Ninotte
lay in hor close, narrow room. The conflne-
ment, the absence OF air, the loathing OF lile,
all combined to weaken the vigor OF Il frame
used to the freedom Of fields, the freshness
OF cool, sweet winds, the width of meadow
and forest, and whose eyes yearned for the
sight of far-stretching skies, unbounded by
city's myriad roofs.
All the inborn instincts Of her free, glad
pleasant life returned. Sho thought only Of
her old sweet Norman home, where the
peace OF the sient country reigned, and the
sun fell golden on tho waving fields of COLA
and Of corn. She thought Of the millstream
song-of the foam-bells dashing on the great
brown timbers Of tho turning wheei-ot the
radiance Of summer flowers-of the rich
scents OF the roses round the porch-of the
gleam Of the snow-white lilies, in whose cups
the butterflies loved to hover and rest-of
the coo OF tho brisht-p -p!umagcd pigeons as
they flew 10 and fro from their little arched
homes-of the vesper chimes from the viii
iage church nestled in those quiet fields.
All these thoughts and momorios cume back
to her as sho lay there alone, with tho ban
and curse OF u cruel fate upon her young,
desolate heart, and an utter hopelessness
and despair in her soul.
Through the silence around her, q voice
suddenly pierced-a voice that made her
start and tremble us she heard it, nnd forced
from her lips u cry OF intense fear. Another
instant, and amidst the shrill clamor of the
old womau's cries, and the sturdy resistance
OF Gretchen tho door was thrown violently
open, and Leon Monprat stood before her
"Father" burst from the girls Inlo lips.
He threw himself before her, and caught the
Iolds of her dress in his hands.
"Oh. NineLte! can you ever forgive me2"
"What is it?" she gasped in terror; sis he
with your"
"He? No. Coward, villain, traitor that he
is. He has betrayed me. fly now for my
life."
"How have you discovered me?" she asked.
"By u strange chance-a soldier of tho gar
rison is suspected OF planning the escape of
prisoner. Won Brandstein had him
watched hore he told mo that it was his be-
lief that you were concealed in The place
with tomorrow he will himself be here. l
learnt his treachery and resolved TO warn
you in time. Ninette, have dono you n cruel
injustice all my life-let me atone for it now.
Fly with mel have passports-all is ready.
hal friend who aidod nc for the sake of
services long past l havo II plan-I will
seek the king himsolf--he is close to Berlin
tomorrow he enters. Come, child. for
Gods sake-time is precious. Oh. Ninette!
do not refuse mo now?"
She drew herself calmly. proudly away.
Father, you deceived me onco. can
never trust you again."
do not say that" he impiored. 81 know
you fear that will lead you to him. swear
will not every word 1 utter is truo to tho
letter. Oh. Ninctte, be merciful to yourself.
4 not to ne. How can leuve you in this
ruffian's power2"
SIS it not rather late In tho day to think OF
that?"
"Child, you torture me. Will nothing move
you? Even il tell you your husbands sal-
vatlon depends on your acting as counsel?"
"My husband - Pierro2 What do you
mean2"
"Hs Is condemned to die. At daybreak
tomorrow. the sentence will be executed.
They hurry 1t for fear the king may roprleve
him."
$40 dle-he3 What is his crImeP"
"Von Brandstein discovered the plan for
his escape. 10 insulted him, and Pierre
struck him."
"Oh my Godl my hand again deals him
his fate," moaned the wretched girl, us she
sank on her narrow bed and gaz-d at her
fathers tace with blank unseeiug eyes.
evil you not Gomez" he urged again. She
started as III blow had struck her.
"Come?" she cried wildly. "Flee like n
coward and leave him to die2 Oh Heaven
what dc you think ann"
"You might see the king, you might inter-
eede." he pleaded, with Il pitiful weakness
that reused all her corn.
go you and seek the kingl she cried
with sudden passion, "and look you, II he
die l count you his murdererl" Then she
turned and seized her cloak, and flew fleet
as an antelope from the house and on
through the dark and silent streets, with IL
resistless speed that made all pursuit use
less.
He fingered there moment, then went
forth and confronted the pale and fright
ened women in the adjoining room.
"She is my daughter" he said, with the
strange, dazed eyes OF man half asleep
'und her husband dies tomorrow in the gar
rison yonder at sunrise"
They heaId him in silence, too terrified
for any words. Then lie too drew his cloak
closely around him and went out on his er-
rand OF danger, knowing each stop, each
movement now WAS fraught with deadly
peril and beset by watchiul foes.
She meanwhile hurried on, quivering as
one under physical torture her strained eyes
fastened on the empty air, her heart throb-
bing rs though it would burst. Sho had
scarce sense or knowledge Of what sho did.
She had but ono thought-to roe his jul ses.
I,n.. ,I, tla IA.