The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-05

This was poor old Pere Delorme, who has
been for years one of the familiar figures
about the streets of Paris Few persons
knew his history, for ne rarely spoke to
any one.
He was. however, well known to the pool
quarter of Paris, where he resided entirely
alone in modest apartment. The old man
| had a modest annuity, which enabled him
| to live in comparative comfort, but he was
so benevolent that he frequently gave the
last few sous he possessed to the poor and
| distressed who asked him for aid, and he
would then have to borrow few francs
| from the shopkeepers until he received the
next installment.
Although it was generally known in the
district that the old man mourned an only
| son who had been killed by the Prussians
| during the war, but few knew the details
of a story from real life which would
| eclipse many romance.
| In the quiet little cemetery of Ste Gene
| We've des Bots you will find two graves side
by side. A headstone at the top of one
| bears the name Andre Delorme, and a sem
| tence in French intimating that he died for
his country. That marks the spot where
| lie the remains of the only son of poor Pere
Delorme.
AT the time of the declaration of the
Franco-German war the old man, Alphonse
Delorme, was living quietly with his only
son Andre upon their little farm, situate
between Ste. Genevieve and Fleury. The
youth was but nineteen years of age, and
his mother having died in his infancy the
whole of the poor old mans affection was
conferred il the boy When the dread war
cloud burst over France young Delorme,
who was a youth of ardent, adventurous
spirit, determined to enter the army to de-
fend his country against the Prussians
These were stirring times, and the corps
which young Andre joined was ordered to
the front, and the lad went away TO the
frontier after bidding an affectionate adieu
to his father.
PARTING OF THE LOVERS.
Andre had a sweetheart, a beautiful
young girl of seventeen, who lived some
three miles from the house of his father,
and ne was allowed by special permission
of his colonel to go and bid her farewell
ere his regiment marched for the theater
of the war. The parting between the young
lovers was most affecting one, and An
dre's fancee with her own hands placed
rose, as a tribute of her love, inside his
KEPT, as he gave her final embrace before
starting off on starry midnight TO rejoin
his regiment, which was under orders to
march at daybreak.
1t would be making the tale too long to
follow the fortunes of young Andre dur
ing the war, but suffice it TO say that be
behaved with conspicuous bravery ia sew
eral engagements. Victory, however. rest
ed with the arms of the German troops,
and young Andre was mortally wounded
in a fierce engagement near Cboisy while |
saving the life of wounded officer of his |
regiment who had been attacked by half a
dozen Germans. He knew that his condi- !
ton was hopeless-the regimental surgeon |
told him so-and he determined to make |
his way to the house of bis fiancee, and to /
bid her farewell before be died. The I'M |
dertaking was a dangerous one, for the 4
country was overrun with Germans who |
had entered Montlery and established /
camp near the residence of his sweetheart, 1
between Ste. Genevieve and Fleurv
Young Deiorme knew the country well,
and by the exercise of great caution map
aged TO elude his foes. He painfully
dragged himself through the woods and |
by paths known only to natives Of that
part Of France, and thus was able TO reach
the home Of his beloved unperceived. The
young girl, Jeanne Bernier, lived IN a
pretty white farmhouse surrounded With
with p spacious yard ia front.
a MELANCHOLY TRAGEDY
On the eve Of a hot autumn osy the dy-
ing soldier arrived AT the gate with his
uniform blood stained. torn and covered
with dust, and his wan features rigid with
pain. Poor Andre knew be had not many
hours TO live, for the blood was again be-
ginning To flow from the wound where the
toemaD's bullet had pierced his breast lie
could not open the door so be broke the
glass IN one Of the Window and raising IL
quietly, entered the house and made his
way 70 the room where be knew he would
ind his Iancee. On opening the door,
what was his horror 20 find Jaenne strug-
Cling, terrified, in the arms Of Prussian
1I1cer. Andre, madGened with rage,
oraced himself up and fired bis loaded 70
Tolver at the cowardly assailant OF the
Toung girl, who rolled over dead OF tie
door with bullet in his heart
The young lovers had barely & me 70 en-
brace each ether when body OF Pruxgizn
-oldiers, who had heard the report cf ire
firearms. burst Into the house and entered
he room When they saw the Frruch
inform and their dead Officer lying on the
ioor, they dragged the dying soldier from
he arms % she almost fzinting g1ri, and
aking him outside placed him roughly
ISalnst the WAL .Sr instant ezecutsaa- I,
vas IA vain that Jeanne pleaded wf.h
Andres esptoFs 70 .et h1rn de in peace
De soldiers pushed her aside AID aie Of
sSe-nea were drawn mp VITO leveisd TIER
-2ns 8: the figure os the dying solder
7aose Ifs blood wss yelling forth oser
IL tFaye4 stained Uniform aid dripping
n TIE groubG
=" IA 1prefne eecrt TIE yor:h strzig
ned RS back AGAINST the val and css,s-..-
? facing lbs foes exclaimed. 81 die Tor ruy
oHntry and Ear hs1eees~ ghfse the r,ea
ere making ready TO FIRE JsAune er~r.
loser and closer. and when sic sav he
p OF the Inza n charge ot tie frlnz
AFfs Abo1i 20 eve tes fatal o.1er. as
i-stse<s n VITA ootstretchod srrns ss # TO
1Aes0 beg lover. sEd shs- tee szroxs 3
'e'@rsz4 away tfsTs sere sso corr~ss on TIA
rossEa- each pierced villa sevsrzI bulless. I
Re lovers were buysoc SIDE By ss1e IA
&c graves u sss Est{e cern~tery 90 Sse
'sneFsess dss Boa, vita . tonzhssoE- a.
- Bead o. szca.--PAEss Cor. Caacsazass
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