Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-07-05
THE RED FLAG.
M. E.
Author OF "Lady Audiey's Secret"
etc. etc. etc.

COulc Va tnc SIctt-lhlnpb were sui Dufn-
ing-a pale and sickly light In the glow and
glory of the morning. The barbados were
deserted. This side of Paris was I'm posses
sion of the regular army, and a comparative
quiet reigned-the quiet Of death and DESC
lation. But mighty masses OF flames and
smoke yonder, as Of a burning volcano, told
that the conflagration still ragged with un-
abated fury-the Rue du Bac, the Rue de
Lille, the public granaries, the Palace OF
Justice, enough material there TO last for a
few good hours yet
Halfway towards the Rue Git lie Cnur,
Kathleen met a melancholy procession.
Forty Communards, men and women, pr!s-
oners, IN chains, silent with bent heads, In
the midst of the soldiers who are leading
them TO the place where they are TO be shot.
No trlal-no formula of any kind. They
have been taken r~ed-handed among the
ruins they have made, In bitches, behind
heaps of stones. They have been forced to
fight, no doubt. The Commune would take
no excuse. Her children must give her their
hearts blood. To refuse was treason; and
death TO all traitors was the cry of those last
days. Rebellion, In her death-agODy, was
merciless. "As good one death as another"
said the sheep, as they went to the barri-
cades; and they worked and drank-they
were passing liberal with their strong drinks,
these Communard leaders-and they fought
with the desperate courage OF men who
knew that death was certain either way.
And now, meekly as they obeyed their
leaders, they suffer themselves to be led to
their doom. Not theirs the brains that
Matched rebellion; not theirs the pockets
that were filled by pillage and theft; not
theirs the profigate orgle or the brief spell
of power; but theirs the pe~nalty-death.
IL wa nine o'clock when Kathleen toiled
slowly up the staircase, and knocked with
tremulous hand at her sisters door. That
last portion of her pilgrimage had been the
slowest of all. She had crawled along, half
asleep, hardly knowing where she was or
what she was doing. She had stumbled
against the passers-by, and had been &C
eused Of drunkenness more thar once by an
enraged citizen. And now, as Maman Schu-
bert opened the door, she fell into her arms,
and sank from that matronly bosom to the
floor In q dead faint.
The door OF the inner room-Rose's bed
room-was ajar. The good Schubert lifted
up Kathleen's lifeless form and laid II on
the sofa. She ministered to her with the
skilfulness Of an experienced nurse, and
then ran to close the door of communication,
lest Rose should hear too much. Already
Rose had inquired several times for her sis
ter. Was Kathleen better? Would she be
well enough 10 come down TO see Rose and
the baby? The mother had an idea that
Kathleen would find the little one grown.
lie seemed TO develop SO quickly. He was
all perfume and bloom, like an opening
flower. His breath was sweeter than sum.
mer roses.
Durand was lying down on q mattress
spread upon the floor of the tiny kitchen.
He had taken his turn at the barricade last
night, and had received a bullet In the fleshy
part OF his arm. lie was feverish with the
pain of his wound, deyoured by perpetual
thirst.
''You good soul, what would become OF
us without you?r he said, as he took o glass
of water from Maman S~chubert's hand.
"How shall We ever repay your"
"My friend, do you think | need any pay
ment? What has a lonely old woman with
a small annuity to do in this world except
care for her ~neighbors? And Rose and Kath-
leen are to me as my Owl daughters. Did
/ not see them when they first entered Paris,
footsoTe and dusty, but so gentle and SO
pretty in their WEAKNESS? Was / not the
first TO welcome them TO this great city,
which Is now the city OF death? Heaven
help usl Lie still, and keep your mind
TRANQUIL, my friend, and soon as / have
given baby his bath-how he loves the wa.
ter. the dear innocentl-I will come and put
a fresh dressing on that poor arm"
Madame Schubert was surgeon, nurse, in
forrnaIiarx hatutaa,, tha cial-rn0pn auA thu
cuter world-everything to the Durand
household In their affiiction.
From his bed in the kitchen Philip heard
Kathleen's return-her feeble voice present
ly talking in low murmurs with Madame
Schubert. She was safe; she had returned.
Through fire and smoke and carnage she
had passed unframed. Here, at least, was
n blessed relief-one burden lifted from
their weary heart. But he, the husbandY
What of him?
Kathleen told Madame Schubert the story
of her pilgrimage; told how she had knelt
upon the bloodstained ground where her
husbands corpse had lain. But the good
Schubert refused to be convinced, would not
zee any sufficient evidence of Gaston's
death. What did it come to after all, this
story which Kathleen had heard In the
Avenue d'Italie? A young man, nameless,
with dark hair and eyes, had been killed
with the good fathers. But why should that
young man be CASTOR Mortemar?
There are enough young men In France,
my faith, with dark hair and eyes! Ca nc
mdnqae pas" said Madame Schubert.
HAS my husband come homer asked
Kathleen.
The good Schubert shrugged her shoul.
ders and shook her head dcspondingly.
"Alas, no."
Then he Is dead-no matter how OF
where. He is dead! DO you think that IL
he was living he would forsake me?' asked
Kathleen.
He may be a prisoner"
would to God 1t were SO! But / know
there Is something here" touching heI
breast something stronger than myself
that tells me he fell yesterday-on tina
spot"
Kathleen called q voice from behind
the closed door, 'Kathleenp'
Rose had heard those murmur In the mex
Madame Schubert grasped Kathleen's arm
as she was going to answer that call.
Don't 20 to her yet" she said. "Yor
Will IIlSutcu ntI Will youI Suostfy inSc ans
your dust-stained gown. She was very III
yesterday, weak and feverish. She Is veal
to-day, but the fever Is better. She mus
not be agitated in any way. Go to you
room, and wash and change your clothes
and come down presently looking bright
and happy"
ut will be easy" said Kathleen, with .
CHASTITY smile. 'sYes, I understand"
'.And not q word about CASTOR or your
wanderings. We told her nothing but lie
yesterday-told her that you were In you
own bed, III with a cold. Don't undeceiv'
her. She Is so happy, poor soul, nursing
her first baby. Yet, even In the midst o
her new happiness, she was full OF anxies,
about you.n !.
II win be CAREFUL said Kathleen. |"
think I am getting used to sorrow. l oughI
TO be able TO hide it."
She obeyed Madame Schubert In ever,
particular, and came back In less than a
hour, fresh and bright In her clean cottol
gown and black silk apron, her lovely hal
brushed to silky ~softness, and coiled In
smooth chignon at the back OF her head
She smiled as she kissed Rose. She sat be
side the bed and rocked the baby on he
knees, and talked to him. and cooed at him
irving 70 awaken some faint ray Of intelh
gcnco In the little pink face, which scenes