The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-30

| HOpo III ueI over appr6DeuSlEe UredSl
when the young man, instead of assum-
| ing the attitude of a hbertine, began to
treat Pauline with al the delicate polite
ness of a considerate and high minded
gentleman, who might become a very
gallant and by no means unsuitable
lover. She had never yet inquired into
the antecedents of Pauline, nor had she
SO much as sought to know by what cur
rent OF destiny the unfortunate girl had
been cast so far away from her native
land; but 1t was not in the nature of
things for Pauline to keep her secret.
Indeed, Dona Hortense was at once sur
prised and dismayed when the whole
truth was poured into her ear.
''Going all alone to Mobile to marry
French soldier!" she exclaimed when
Pauline had ended her story. "Dear
/ child, do you dream what you were try
ing to do? You can have no impression
Of the misery that you have escaped by
falling into my hands instead of into the
arms Of a brutal
''Hush!" said Pauline with such COM
mand in her voice that the old woman
looked at her and started perceptibly.
"Husht Louis Doucet is not brutal. He
is the very noblest and best man in the
world. l would follow him all over the
! earth-I''-
She sank back upon her pillows pale as
a lily and trembling with the intense
emotion aroused by her thoughts.
pardon me-forgive me, dear" cried
Dona Hortense, taking Pauline in her
arms and kissing her. 81 wound not
wound you for all the world Doubtless
your lover is all that you say; but, oh!
my child, my child, it is dreadful life.
Think Of dear France and the joyous ex-
istence Of even her working peasants,
and then look at the desolation and the
despair which hover over us here!" AS
| she spoke her shriveled face was pinched
and its sallowness was touched with a
hot, flame-ike glow. eff I could go
back-if I could go back once more" she
moaned, sit would be delicious to die and
be buried beside my motherl Oh. little
Pauline-sweet child-how I wish 1
could save you, could bear you back to
France
"But 1 do not wish to go back to
France" Pauline interrupted. 81 wish
to go to Louis. do not care to live if
cannot so to him"
AS if the mere suggestion of being
taken back to France had given her sud-
den strength, resolve and courage, Paul
inc threw off the arms of her companion
ard raised herself again to sitting pos
ture.
"How far is it from here to Mobile?"
she inquired, in a voice so changed that
the poor old woman caught breath, as if
almost suffocating, and could notanswer.
at cannot be far" Pauline continued,
sand must go there. Who can take me?"
The dona clasped her hands and held
them out with a gesture of supplication.
When she could speak she said:
sit is impossible. We are at war.
Even now the commandant here is plan
ming an expedition to capture Mobile"
The girl sat for some moments gazing
thoughtfully out of the window. Pres
emily she turned quickly toward her
companion.
''PIease send word to Capt. Cortes that
should like to see him."
She uttered these words with the steadi-
ness and decision of one who has well
defined purpose in view.
The dona recoiled.
"Surelv no!' she exclaimed "You
do not mean it. 1t must not be-"
7 : toIy
''But, my child'-
close no time, but go send for Capt.
Cortes."
The old woman felt the sudden and
great change in Pauline's manner and
knew that it had deeper significance
than she could comprehend at once; but
although she more than suspected that it
might be the beginning of bitter shame
for the girl she could not refuse to grant
her request.
"Don't, don't do this!' she urged with
a piteous weakness in her voice. "YOu
are too young to have any idea of the
step you are about to take. Let me be
your mother, my dear, dear child, and
save you from the dreadful life you would
plunge into!"
Pauline answered with tender frmness,
insisting upon seeing Cortes at once.
''Well, well, it is always so" the dona
went on refectively and sadly. Il was
a girl not so very, very long ago, dear,
and I gave up all for a man, all for love,
Look at me and at the life live"
She felt that her words were without
effect on Pauline; she did not wait to
hear the reply that might have followed,
but arose and went to send a messenger
to fetch Capt. Cortes.
An hour later the young officer. evi-
IDENTIFY not little embarrassed, was shown
into Paulines presence. He stood before
her tall, respectful, handsome, his fine
head uncovered and his clear eyes fixed
inquiringly upon her.
She moved her lips with soundless
effort at speech and made a motion for
him to sit down. He took the designated
chair with the prompt manner Of one
obeyinS an order.
Looking into his face gave Pauline
courage to say what was upon her mind,
DuL even Wren TIE COOASA Ne~AA-S 40
task was an extremely difficult one. She
felt that the request she was about to
make must appear very strange, If not
impossible Of performance; still she did
not hesitate. In the diTectest and sim
plest way she told her story to the young
officer, leaving out nothing, and then IN
conclusion asked him 70 help her.
Il know you are noble, kind and good,
she said, looking at him steadily, but
with eyes whose deep and tender purity