The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-06-20

49, WIS oto5Co upOh iIhVSpASdDlC t1OouS,
the shame of undeserved defeat-sufferings
for which their sole recompense had been
injury and insult. And these, who had fired
the most glorious monuments of France, as
saSsinated her bravest and best, what had
they done during the war? They had drunk
and staggered, and held forth In wine
shops; they had strengthened the hands Of
the foe by their squahbles and r%evolts, and
had garnered their strength for the work Of
bloodshed and universal destruction.
The soldiers, who had been accused of
cowardice, who had been hooted as ''capitu-
lards," felt that striking a terrible blow they
were not only obeying the law, but aveng-
ing their country. The revolt had been pitt
less; the punishment was u~ntempered by
mercy. The sanguinary laws which the
Commune had promulgated recoiled upon
herself. She, who had murdered her priests
and soldiers, her justices and senators, per-
ished in her turn by slaughter as merciless
as her own.
All through that night of horror Philip
Durand watched by the bedside of his wife
and her newborn infant in the Rue Git le
Cnur. The little street was safe in its OBJ
security, safe from the malice of the incendi-
aries, who had bigger game for their sport;
but the conflagration was terribly near. All
the sky was lurid with reflected fire, and the
thunder of the cannonade and the rush and
roar of the flames were heard in every gust
of vino which blew this way, while every
aow and then came the sharp sudden sound
al an explosion--another roof blown up. all.
other wall falling.
The atmosphere was poisoned by the odors
of petroleum, and the thick rank smoke
from the Granaries of Abundance, where
the stores of wine, oil, and dried fish fed the
fierceness of the flames and intensified the
stencil of burning. Everywhere the work
of destruction was being hurried on. Tho
Commune was at the last gasp; these OK.
plosions and burnings were the death-rattle,
The little courtyard below Durand's VIM
dows was alive with people, going out and
coming in, restless, anxious, alarmed, talk
ing to each other in doorways or at open
windows, bringing in the last news, which
was likely to be false as true.
Durand opened a window of the little
salon softly, while Rose slept, and looked
out.
They are burning Notre Dame" said a
man In the court, seeing him at the window,
and eager to impart his information. ''They
have piled barrels of petroleum all the
length of the nave, halfway to the roof, and
they are going to set it on fire. The grand
Old roof will fly into the air presently, like
n pack of cards. 1t will be q sight worth
SEEING he added, hurrying out as if to a
play.
st. Eustache is on fire." said another
man, and they are going to burn the Pre-
lecture of Police. RIgault and his chums
have been having a great supper there-seas
OF wine, mountains of provision-and now
they know their day is over, and they are
going to blow up the building"
Durand shut tie window. A palace moro
or less, a churcl: more or lessl What did it
matter amidst this universal ruinP-the
Prussians at the door; the government
weak, vacillating, the sport of circum-
stances; France in ~tatters, unable to save
her bishops, her generals, her counsellors,
her soldiers; given over as a prey to q
sanguinary populace.
This strong cloar-headed man sat down
crushed by the weight of his country's desc
latlon. He whose brain was usually quick
to plan, cool to execute his plans, now felt
powerless to look beyond the horror of the
hour: but the ruin which overwhelmed him
was not the destruction that reigned with
out his dwelling. 1t was the blank within,
that empty home upstairs, which field him
I WIZ lloklos, nlItClI w dS eNtI III HIS Ilillu dS
n haunting fear.
1t was three days since CASTOR had disap-
peared, and now Kathleen was gone. She
had slipped out unseen by the porter or by
any of the neighbors. She had vanished
ilkc n ghost at break of day. When he went
up to hei rooms this morning to carry her
the last news of her sister, to cheer and
comfort her, and buoy up her sinking hopes,
| DC 1a hoI ,fn,,n u1l tl,ro"~l ia .,.
days of her trouble, he found the nest de-
serted.
There was no doubt rs to her flight. or its
purpose. The inner room was locked, and
the key taken away; the outer room was
neatly swept and garnished; everything
was in its place. Gaston's bureau was lock-
ed; the glazed cabinet in which he kept his
cherished collection of books-not large.
but so carefully chosen: chosen as poverty
chooses its treasures, one by one, deliber-
ately, anxiously-this, too, was locked, and
every book on its shelf; and on the table
lay a letter addressed to Durand:
Dear Philip, dear Brother,-I am going
to look for my husband. Have no fear for
me. Heaven will pity and protect nv
wretchedness. | shall be about all day and
every day seekin. for my beloved; but |
shall come back here at night for shelter
and rest, if possible. If | do not come back
after dark you may know that my wander
ings have taken me too far atield. But YOU
need have no fear. OF one thing you may
pc slre-whlle my reason remains will not
ing of my childhood, and God will give me
grace to bear my troubles
'Do not let one thought of me distract
you from your duty of protecting Rose and
her baby. Ii she asks about me, tell her
tliatl an safe. in good hands, well cared
for and protected. Is not that the truth,
when | am in the keeping of the Holy Moth
er and her blessed aDgels?-Ever lovingly,
your sister, KATHLEEN"
1t was midnight; the long dreary day was
over, and she had not returned. Philip had
crtpt upstairs, and looked into the empty
room several times in the course of the day:
but there had been no sign of Kathleen's re-
turn. He had questioned the landlord. who
kept the hall-door locked and bolted in this
time of panic; but the man had seen moth
ing of Kathleen.
1t had been altogether a trying day. Rose
was weak and somewhat feyelisl. and in
CURED anxiously every hour about Katl-
lean. Why did not her sister come to see
her? Where was Castor? Philin was sore
ly perplexed how to reply. CASTOR was at
the newspaper Office. he faltercd on IL oc-
casior.
But the newspaper was suppressed six
weeks ago" said Rose.
Yes, but they IRE beginning again, now
that times are better: and the government
will be restored. That's what makes Gas
ton so busy"
But Kathleen-why does she desert me??"
"She is not very well, dear. 1t is only a
cold; but it is better for her to keep her
ROOM"
Yes, yes, let her nurse herself. O, l wish
that | were well. and could 20 to her. said
hose with a troubled look.
She was devoured by anxiety about Kath-
lecn; and in spite of her husbands tender
ness, in spite of fussy Maman Schubert's
Kindness, in spite even of that new and
wonderful love, the maternal instinct,
awakened in her mind by the infant that
nestled at her side. like a bird under the
parent wing, she cou'd not overcome that
feeling of fear and restlessness caused by
her sisters absence.
Are you sure that she is not seriously
HIP she asked Philip, locking at him with
f-yer-bright eyes. ut is so unlike katl,-
leen to make much Of a slight illness. And
she must know thar l am pining for her.