The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-07-04
THE RED FLAG.
NJ. +. BRADDoN.
Author OF "Lady Audlcy's Secret"
etc. etc. etc.

IhNy 1hANASy oSS1Sky
etc. etc. etc.
Some OF the street-lamps were still burn
fng-a pale and s!ckly light in the glow and
glory of the morning. The barricades were
deserted. This side of Paris was in 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 conf1agration still ragged with M
abated fury-the Rue du Bac, the Rue de
Lille, the public granaries, the Palace OF
Justice; enough material there to last for q
few good hours yet.
Halfway towards the Rue Git lie CHur,
Kathleen met a melancholy procession.
Forty Communards, men and women, pris-
oners, in chains, silent with bent heads, i'll
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 red-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 al traitors was the cryof those last
days. Rebellion, in her death-agony, was
merciless. "As good one death as another"
said the sheep, as they went to the barri-
cades; n 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 obcyed their
leaders, they suffer themselves to be led to
their doom. Not theirs the brains that
hatched rebellion; not theirs the pockets
that were filled by pillage and theft; not
theirs the prohigate orgie or the brief spell
of power; but theirs the p~ena.ty-death.
1t was MIN O'Clock when Kathleen toiled
slowly up the staircase, and knocked with
tremulons hand at her sisters door. That
last portion of her pilgrimage had been the
slowest of al. 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
cused OF drunkenness more than once by an
enraged citizen. And now, al Maman Schu-
bert opened the door, she fell into her arms,
and sank from that matronly bosom to tho
floor in q dead faint.
The door of the inner room-ltose's bed.
room-wasa jar. The good Schubert lifted
up kathieen's lifeless fern and laid it 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 loo much. Already
Rose had inquired several times for her sis
Ter. Was Kathleen better? Would size be
we'll enough to come down to sec 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 u m
mer roses.
Durand vas lying down on a mattress
spread upon the floor of the tiny kitchen.
He had taken his turn at the barricade las.
night, and had receivela bullet in the fieshy
part of his arm. lie was feverish with the
pain Of his wound, deyoured by perpetual
thirst.
"Yeu good soul, what would become OF
MS without yol"!' lie sail, rs he took a glass
of water from Maman %Schubert's hand.
How shall we ever repay YOU"
"!My friend, do you think l need any pay.
ment? What has a lonely old woman witt,
n small annuity 10 do in this world except
core for her %neighbors? And Rose and Kath-
leen are TO me as my own daughters. Did
] not sec them when! they first entered Paris,
footsore and dusty, but so gentle and Sc
pretty III their WEAKNESS? Was not the
first to welcome them to this great city,
which is now the city.Of DEATH! Heaven
help usI Lie still, and keep your mind
tranquil, my friend, and soon as l have
given baby his bath-how he loves the wa
ter, the dear innocent!J will come and pu,
q fresh dressing Oh that poor arm"
Madame Schubert was surgeon, nurse, in
termediary between the sick-rooln and the
outer worid-cverything to the Durand
household in their affection.
From his bed in the kitchen Philip heard
kathlcen's return-her feeble voice present.
~ talking in low murmurs with Madame
Schubert. She was safe; she had returned.
Through fire and smoke and carnage she
lad passed unliarmed. Here, at least, was
a blessed relief-one burden lft2d from
/. their weary hearts. But he, the husband!
What of him?
Kathleen told Madame Schubert the story
of her pilgrimage; told how she had kneli
upon the bloodstained ground where her
husbands corpse had lain. Bat the gooj
Schubert refused to be convinced, wOuldno
see any sufficient evidence of Gastoa's
death. What did 1t come to after all, this
story which Kathleen had heard in thu
Avenue dItalie? A young man, nameIess,
with dark hair aud eyes, had been killed
with the good fathers. Bat why should that
young man be CASTOR Mortemm?
There are enough young men III France,
my faith, with dark hair and eyes! ca M
mnHquc pas said Madame Schubert.
HAS my husband come homer asked
Kathleen.
The good Schubert shrugged her shoul
ders and shook her head dcspondingty.
"Alas, no."
"Then he is dead-no mater how Of
where. He is dead! DO yon think that il
he was living he would forsake lne?!' asked
Kathleen.
81 may be a prisoner"
Would to God it were so! But know,
there is something here" touching hel
breast, something stronger than myself
that tells me lie fell yesterday-on thai
spot"
Kathleen" called a voice from behind
the closed door, "Kathleen"
Rose had heard those murmurs in the mex
room, n had recognised Kathleen's voice
Madame Schubert grasped Kathleen's arm
as she was going TO answer that call.
Don't go to her yet" she said. "Yo,
will frlghten her with your CHASTITY face ant
your dust-stained gown. She was very il
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 brigh
and happy"
ut will be easy" said Kathleen, with
CHASTITY smile. Eyes, l understand"
And not o word about CASTOR or you
wanderings. We told her nothing but lie
yesterday-told her that you were in you
own bed, i'll with a cold. Don't undeceivt
her. She is SO happy, poor soul, nursin!
her first baby. Yet, even in the midst O
her new happiness, she was full OF anxiet,
about you"
II will be careful" said Kathleen. :"
think I I'm getting used to sorrow. l ough
to be able to hide it."
She obeyed Madame Schubert in ever,
particular, and came back in less than al
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 lie
knees, and talked to him, and cooed ut him
trying to awaken some faint ray of intelli
gence in the little pink face, which SCENE,