Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-06-21

the most glorious monuments OF France, as
sasslnated her brayest and bes. what had
theu 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 s~quabbles and %revolts, 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
ws1e Eot only obeying the Jaw, but aveng-
ing their country. The revolt had been pitt
less; the Punishment was mnteinpered by
mercy. The sanguinary laws which the
Commune had promulgated recoiled upon
herself. She, who had murdered her priests
and soldiers, her justices and senator's 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 lie
Ceur. The little street vas safe in its OBJ
security, safe from the malice Of the ineendi-
aries, who had bigger game for their sport;
but the eoniagratiOn was terribly near. All
the sky was lurid with reflected fire, and the
thunder Of the caDn0nade and the rush and
roar OF the flames were heard in every gust
of wind which blew this way, while every
aow and then came the sharp sudden sound
~ an explosion-another roof blown up, an
other wall falling.
The atmosphere was poisoned by the odors
OF petroleum, and the thick rank smoke
from the Granarles 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. The
Commune was at the last gasp; these ex-
p.osions and burnings we're the death-rattle-
The little courtyard below Durand's win
dows was alive with people, going out and
coming in, restless, anxious, alarmed, talk
ing tc each other In doorways or at open
windows, bringing in the last news, which
was likely 10 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 10 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 IL 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, hurrrng out as II TO a
play.
"St Eustache il on fire" said another
man, land they are going TO burn the Pre-
! lecture Of Police. Rgault and his chuus
have been iavinga great supper there-seas
Of wine, mountains Of proyision-and now
they know their day is over, and they are
going 10 blow up the building"
Durand shut the window. A palace more
or less, a church more or less! What did IL
matter amidst this universal ruln?-the
! Prussians at the door; the government
weak, yacillatlng, the sport OF circum'
stances; France In t~1tters, unable To save
her bishops, her generals, her cOunsellors
her soldiers; given over as a prey TO a
SanguinaTy populace.
THIS strong ~clear-headed man sat down
crushed by the weight Of his country desc
lation. He whose brain was usually quick
10 plan, cool TO execute his plans, now felt
pOwerless 10 look beyond the horror OF the
hour; bat the ruin which overwhelmed hin
was not the destruction that reigned with
out bis dwelling. Ii was the blank within,
that empty home upstairs, which H. eld him
with horror, which was ever in his mind as
q haunting fear.
Ii was three days since Castor had disaP
peared, and now Kathleen was gone. She
had slipped ont unseen by the porter or by
any Of the ~neighbors. She had vanished
like a ghost at break of day. When he went
mp TO her rooms this morning to carry her
the last news Of her sister, TO cheer and
comfort her, and buoy up her sinking hopes
as he had done all through the two preyiou:
days OF her trouble, he found the nest de
serted.
There was no doubt as TO her fight, or it
neatly swep: and garnished; everythin.
was in its place. Gaston's bureau was lock
Ell; the glazed cabinet in which he kept hi
cherished collection OF books-not large
but so carefully chosen: chosen as p0vert,
chooses its treasures, one by one, deliber
ately, anxiously-this, too, was locked, anC
every book on its shelf; and on the tabl,
lay a letter addressed to Durand:
Dear Philip, dear Brother Il am goin.
10 look for my husband Have no fear TO
mt. Heaven will pity and protect M
wretchedness. / shall be about all day and
every day seeking for my beloved; but
shall come back here az night for shelter
and rest. IL possible. If | do not come bach
after dark YOU may know that my wander
ings have taken me TOO far afield. But yog
need have NJ fear. OF one thing YOU may
be ~sure-while my rtason remains l will no
destroy myself. l will be true 10 the teach
ing " my childhood, and God will give me
grace 10 bear my troubles.
'sDo mo- let one thought of me distract
you from your duty Of protecting Rose and
her baby. IL she asks about me, tell hei
that l ain safe, in good hands, well cared
for and Irltected. Is not hat the truth,
when | am in the keeping of the Holy Moth
CT and her blessed angels?-Ever lovingly,
your sister, KATHLEEN"
1t wa 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 seer moth
ing of Kathleen.
Ii had been altogether q trying day. Rose
was weak and somewhat feverish, and in
quired anyiously every hour about Kath-
lesn. Why did not her sister come to see
her? Where was CASTOR? Philip was sore
the newspaper Office, he faltered on one Uc-
casion.
But the newspaper was suppressed six
weeks ago." said Rose.
"Yes, but they ere beginning again, now
that times are better; and the government
will be restored. That's what makes Gas
ton so busy"
but K~athleen-why does she desert mef'
'She is not very well, dear. 1t Is only q
cold; but Ii Is better for her to keep her
| room"
"Yes, yes, let her nurse herself. o, l wish
that 1 were well, and could go to her" said
Rose with a troubled look.
She was devoured by anxiety about Ka,h-
leen; and in spite Of her husbands tender
ness, in spite of fussy Maman Schuberts
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 could not overcome that
feeling OF fear and restlessness caused By
her sisters absence.
Are you sure that she Is not seriously
HlT' she asked Philip, looking at him with
fever-brlght eyes. 1T is so unlike Kath-
leen 10 make much Of q slight illness. And
she must know that I am mining for her."