The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-05-31

t8048 10 pAlm06, 6GalKoQ G0Iou8Q The
crowd with naughty step, like Q bar
bario prince at Roman festival, vail
ing his hatred or jealousy Of the superb
/ or raoo beneath mask Of naughty In
difference.
Squaws were there with bead-worked
moccasins, baskets Or wampum for sale;
soma with babes strapped on boards
| upon their backs. Unlike their lords
| they were merry and observant, and
! although uRattractive in form and feat
ure. yet sweet-voiced and woman-lke.
a young and handsome Lieutenant OF
/ 9renadiers, with his arm in sling and
face into which the roses of health
were slowly returning, paused to OBJ
servo band Of Indians performing a
! war-dance, when q finger was laid on
| his shoulder and sweet, low-toned
| voice said:
sCaptain Barzac, J am so glad to see
| you almost restored to health"
The young man bowed low; ha even
| plump hand, although the owner was
| past the meridian of life. ..
''Ah, madam, how good you are" he
| said; ''to your kindness am indebted
| for restoration to life. You and your
| charming sisterhood Of our Lady OF
| Mercy, what do we not owe you've
poor soldiers of France!'
tsAnd what would France do without
her soldiers?" asked the lady, smiling.
'Ah, my friend, If we women did not
! make ourselves useful to our protectors,
we would lose the object of our dearest
| ambttion!"
ambition! you are not ambitious"
ooh, yes, and you will learn some day
! that woman's am bition, like your own,
is toconquer, to subdue, but not with the
same weapons. All, pardon me; am
talking like woman who has a hobby,
as tho English say-how coarse they are!
To mako amends, let me introduce you
to my niece, Ninon Destain.''
The young soldier bowed; the lady
courtesied in the formal manner of the
time, although her eyes betrayed a
certain interest in the wounded hero,
while he, after timid glance at her
face, decided that she was the most
beautiful woman he had ever seen.
In truth his observati ons of female
beauty had been confined to the mar
row circle of the garr ison; wives ana
daughters of officers, sisters of rellg-
ious order who served in the hospitals,
and the Indian women who had few
pretensions to beauty of any kind. The
cadet Of a noble, though impoverished
family, he had spent ten years in the
colonies, marching and fighting, when
not on garrison duty, undisturbed by
any other sensations than those con-
aected with military life until now, at
the age of twenty seven, he beheld a
face and form which recalled the CIV
ilization he had almost forgotten. But
Mile. Destain was not beauty. She
was type. OF the ancient noblesse, tall
Of form with dark expressive eyes, firm
mouth and abundant brown hair. She
had the air of a princess whom untoward
fate had driven from a throne to wan
Ter amid barbarous scenes and uncon-
renial associates, yot whose innate gen.
erosity compelled to hide her disdain
under mask of gracious condescension.
De Barzac was waiting to hear the
sound Of her voice, but her atten ton
was already wandering to the band OF
warriors in war paint and feathers.
ssThey are our allies" he said, follow
Ing her glance, ''and they are preparing
Tor an expedition across the border"
s'These the allies Of France!'
The words were spoken in tone OF
mingled surprise and scorn, yet the
voice had magnetic tone which thrilled
The soul Of the listener.
':If we did not enlist their services
the English would not fail to turn them
against u.s."
stThere can be but little glory in such
warfare where the prize is wilderness,
and the honors Of victory must be shared
with savages."
"And yet even here" said De Barzac,
;'the leg1ons of France have won re-
.enown. It is for us us to fight, per-
chance to die; the pages OF history will
record our deeds" u,@
'<Of generals Like Dieskan and Mont
calm, but -
A slight flush rose to his cheek as he
said in lower tone, Given the humble
name Of De Barzac is inscribed on that
tOlA Oil ACi4OIs OAO |uA1CoAAAo ~ oAAS ~"~AAA
mander-in-Chie The dark eyes flashed
upon him for moment, Pardon me, !"
she said, softly. II am sure that France
will not forget her heroes.
BY this time three or four officers had
Joined the group. one of whom, a man
Of large proportions, whose bronzed
face Indicated the habit of command,
but not Of self-control, and whose eyes
had that furtive look which we asso-
ciate with moral obliqnity, Interrupted
the conversation with ford compli-
nents to the ladies. He was Colonel
Lernourier, commander of scouts and
irregular troops, and distinguished not
only as an Indian fighter but duelist,
dead shot, and an invincible swords
man.
s:He is her fancee, y whispered the
elder lady, Madame Chevreul to De Bar
FAC. ''The match was arranged by their
families in France, and as he could not
get leave of absence she was sent out to
me, and the marriage will take place
when he returns from the campaign
which is now preparin g."
Doubtless the kiud-hearted lady had