Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-04-23
LINK BY LINK,
4 THRILLING STORY OF THE
FRANOO-PRUSsIAN WAR.
CHAPTER XIV. CONTINUED.
by MAURICE LEGRAND.

In mean obscure part of the city,
two women were busily engaged in
laundry work. One was fair. plump,
smiling damsol, with the mild blue
eyes and fair hair of the German peas
antry; the other old, and wrinkled, and
ugly, yet with certain good humor in
the brown, withered, old face, and
CHEEKY, smiling lips, that bore some re-
semblance to the girl. They were
mother and daughter--they were poor,
honest, Woodworking women, gaining
a livelihood by washing for the soldi-
cry, and content with their black
bread and cabbage soup and sauer-
kraut; harmless, inotfensivc people, OF
whom mono had ever said hard word
or uttered q tlandcr
'.Haste. Gretchen said the old wom-
an presently. "We are behind with
our work tonight. You were SO long
on your errands this afternoon that it
has put us back" The girl blushed
rosily. Whom met you in the city?'
asked the old woman shrewdly.
Hans BONNER again?"
"Yes, meme mutter. Ach, it was
he who was in sorrow and downcast
to-day, for his heart is heavy for that
poor French prisoner, Of whom he
told us last week. He fears he will
die"
Ills he so i'll then?'
"Ill-yes; and so cruelty used too.
Hans says it makes his heart ache 10
see how he suffers, and never a word
of complaint does he utter. and
though he is foe one cannot help but
pity him.
lis he worse treated than the rest
of them?"
"Yes, so Hans says, ana no one
knows why; but the Herr Commander
Niedman seems to hate him, and Hans
told me to-day there is some one be-
sides Herr Niedman, some one higher
in rank, and of great power and in
| fuence."
..Anl does the commandant OF
the garrison really i'll use this poor
| man?"
The girl nodded. and pursed up her
rosy lips mysteriously.
'.Hans must be careful what he
says" the old woman said, lowering
her voice and looking fearfully
around. ..These are troublous times,
Gretchen. and the police are ever on
the watch. See you repeat no word
of this to any one save me, or harm
may come of it,"
| The Fatherland would be we'll
enough if it were not for the police,
the girl said muffin ously. 1T is hard
indeed to have to keep watch over
word and action as one must dc
here?"
..Hush!' her mother said warming
ly. "What was that?" They paused
in their work and listened.
A low faint knock came at the door.
go and see, Gretchen" commanded
her mother, and the girl, her rosy
face pale with fear lest some of those
very messengers of i'll she had beer
abusing, were at hand, obeyed and
lifted the latch. A woman's form
crouched ut tho thresho.d-a pitifu
pleading face looked up, and met the
timid questioning gaze of the waiting
girl.
''Will you let me rest. and give m.
Il glass of water for PHYS sake?" +;
voice entreated in broken German.
..Surely we WILL" Gretchen said
gently and compassionately. "Com,
in. do not be frightened. The strang
er rose and entered the homely room
with her guide.
Mother" the girl said hastily, ri
is a poor wayfarer who needs rest
She may enter?"
''She is welcome" said the oil
woman heartily as her kind eyes turn
ed to the lovely shrinking face an,
form that followed Gretchen. Isl
down." she said, in German. wv
are just about to sup; pray join"
IA glass Of water is all l need
thank you." said the sweet faint voic
of the stranger.
Gretchen gave her seat by tn
stove, and her mother busted hersel
, in preparing the supper, and speedil
placed before the wayfarer a bowl q
steaming soup and a slice of blac
bread. She looked up gratefully at he
hostess.
!, "HOw kind you are," she said.
kind? Nonsense!" the woman an
swered. touched inexpressibly by tn
gentle voice and fair lovely face; an
: marveling much in her honest hear
: what trouble or straits of necessit
!, had driven her to seek charity in thi
wise.
II am in great trouble" the strane
err said. presently, moved to cor
fidcnce by the kindnes she experienced
!: am utterly friendless and homeless.
Q In all this great city have no one I
, whom can 60, nor resting place fO