Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-29

| seriousness he berated his friend soundly for i'm
periling his life in that way.
THE next time" added Boulanger, ..rcmem-
Der Bosc-Mesnil and don't take any chances.
There ID no one waiting for me; that's the ad-
vantage have over your
But in spite of this frivolous speech. Andre
| was deeply touched by the devotion of his
friend, and he quietly resolved that il il ever
came to test he would lay his life down to
keep shadow from resting on the fair fields of
BOsc-Mesnil
whole year had now elapsed since Guillot
had shifted the fragrance of the towering
| shrubs and blossoming fruit trees of Bose Mes
nh. Madeleines letters had reached him with
pleasing regularity. But now the intervals be-
tween them became noticeably heightened and
the warmth OF their tone, too was perceptibly
| lowered. Guillot was distressed andit REQUIRED
al OF Bouianger's hopefulness to keep him from
breaking down completely
One morning the bugle call and long ro,, NJ
the drums announced that the enemy was
| abont to attack. In deep silence the long lines
OF french troops took up their position, while
from the hills Of Lang-Song the hoarse-toned
IuIpets OF the Chinese beloved forth dis
hazily away in the clear morning air. Now
then battery belched forth its shot and shell.
and they went whistling over the heads of the
French with weird, musical ring.
suddenly stan oircer refined in his horse
within hearing of Lieut. Guillot and called out
to the colonel:
"A courier has arrived from France. colonel,
and there a letter for Lieut. Guillot.''
"A letter Tor me? involuntarily queried the
young officer; where is it,"
the officer. A'p'''N
~, Guiliot raised his eyes to his coloners face.
in them.
Go and get it. lieutenant" cried the colonel
IN cneery tone OF voice, and as GuillOt hur-
liz 0nvv
II Chinese sharpshOoter should single him
o9t ne would at least have had tho consolation
OF having heard from home before DYING
bouianger had seen his comrade hurry away
20 tne rear, and immediately guessed the object
OF his errand. The Partisan could feel the cold
perspiration beading on his brow as he waited
1or Grlliot to return. At length the young
omeer came in sight and took up his place
spread his face
B'0ulanger made haste to accost him:
wen. well, what news. my bOy?''
You mean the letter" answered GuiIlot. with
q vacant stare IN his eyes. "Oh, I've not opened
1t yet have it here. It's not from Made
ie1ne. l don't know the handwriting"
noulangers heart rose into his throat, but he
managed to pull himself together
Come, come, Armand" he cried cut in as
cheery a tone as possible. Courage, comrade /!
Wny, IL may bring you the very best of news.
open u and read it, for things are going to be
pretty lively in a half hour or so.''
HuIIot drew the letter forth and. with trem-
s Unms So hanas broke the seal. pitifu express
sion OF suffering came over his face as he read
tne letter His lips moved, but the storm of
battle had already burst upon the French lines
ana no one heard what he said Before Bou-
LANCER could get word from him the bugles
sounded an advance and the comrades were
separated. As Boulauger took up his position
ne canSht one more glance of Guillot's face. It
mad changed its expression completely A de-
monlac look was upon it. The lips auivered
and the eyes were fixed upon the enemy's ad-
vancing lines. All the world seemed dead to
the young officer, and he faced the furious fire
OF the celestials as if it depended upon him
alone to stem that wild onset
linen the smoke OF the French batteries which
now opened fire swirled up between the two
friends, and not until his ca plain had called out
his name did Boulanger face about and mani
fest the old-time eagerness to lead his men into
the fray. ''' '''''
although the celestials withstood the furious
onslaught of the French troops with admirable
steadiness, yet they We're gradually forced back
within the lines Of their Notifications, and it
was NOT until late in the afternoon that the re-
serves We're ordered up and the command given
10 carry the fort at the point of the bayonet
Eere ~ was that BOulanger after long search
found his unfortunate friend Guillot stretched
upon bed OF straw, tenderly watched over by
several OF his men. 1t did not call for the
tally wounded. but his mind was perfectly clear
and he welcomed his comrade with a s,aile
saying, as with great effort he held out his
hand to him:
Al. All, Andre, I'm glad you have come. have
something to say to you before it's all over
Those yillainous celestials. thew tboueht NV
heart wasn't heavy enough, SO they've laid an
ounce or so Of cold lead very near it,"
Boulanger, who had thrown himself upon his
knees and was holding his comrades chilly hand
ciasped between both Of his. turned his face
away to hide the tears which, in spite of his
EFFORTS to appear calm, were trickling down his
cheeks. A1
Never mind. Andre" whispered Guillot. at
mas happened Just as l wanted it. 1t is nv
own dolngs., had nothing to live for
What, has Madeleine proved false to
youl" gasped Boulanger. "Oh, the vile
NO, no, Andre" replied Guillot, "don't oh.
don't say that; don't breathe a word against
Madeleine; cannot believe that she was false
to me. They have deceived her. Dumontier.
Dumontier has done it all. Read-read-what
they write to me-" And the young officer drew
the fatal letter from his breast and handed il To
his eomrade. For en- instant, as his gaze fell
upon the crimson stains which in one place
seemed 10 nave set a seal OF blood at the end of
the letter and in another with merciful intent
to have blotted out the beloved name of Made
lelne, Boulanger could not read n word. His
tears blinded him and his hand trembled as il
smitten with palsy. But gradually he got the
mastery OF his feelings and read tie message
from Bosc-Mesnil which had wrought such dire
effect. The letter purported to come from
Maltre Zephyre and contained these words:
10 the Lieut.. Armand Guillot How shall
express to you fathers indignation at the out
rageous farce into which your miserable vanity
moved you to drag my daughters name. To
think that 30 honest face should only be a
mask to hide the nefarious workings OF a de-
PRAYED heart! Your letter to Monsieur Dumon-
tier has been read to me, wherein you con-
graduate yourself upon having proved yourself
a more accomplished deceiver Of women than
ne and wherein you inform him that YOU have
no further use for the peasants daughter You
thought, fOrsooth, that the daughter of a hum
BILE peasant deserved no better usage at YOUR
hands. All, could you have but witnessed the
keenness with which she felt my humiliation at
thought OF my daughters name banded from
lip to lip by gOssips and scandal -mongers mem
toned only to be sneered at, l believe that
even your cruel heart would have been
touched. But the noble son of nv devoted
friend Dumontier will make her his wife mex
week. As for you, sir, rejoice that your par
ents not alive to be witnesses of your Shame
full conduct.
From an indignant father.
. "MAIrRE ZKPHYRE"
"Oh, that wretch. Dumontier." cried Bonlan.
ger. beating his forehead with his clenched fist.
that infamous wretch has done all this"
You are right, Andre" said Guillot family.
And to think, too, that he should 30 soon hay
forgotten his sacred compact with me! All.
why was 80 hasty, Andre? Why have thrown
my life away like this? Why did not bide my
time till the end Of the war and first slay this
miserable wretch who has so UNANIMOUSLY be.
trayed me? Oh, what a mailman 1 have been ~
Listen, my dear Armand" said RonIonoar