The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-14
CHAPTER XIV.
THE GERMANS.

10 the near presence OF tue Vlctorlous
Germans. A little experience, however,
showed the country people that the feroci-
ty of the enemy was, to say the least, e1-
aggerated. Etretat was quietly occupied.
Grave foreign officers in spectacles we're
found strolling on the seashore. There
was no more fighting, as all the French
troops, only handful at the most, had
! retired along the coast in the direction OF
Dieppe.
Two days after the wounded officer OF
Uhlans had been carried into the Chateau
Of Grandpre O small company OF cavalry,
headed by an officer, rode up the avenue
toward the chateau and halted on the
lawn beneath the terrace. The cfier, dis
mounting, walked up the steps to the door
and knocked. After a delay of some
minutes the door was opened by old HUI
bert.
What may monsieur please to want?"
asked the old man, quaking in every limb.
You have one of our officers lying here
wish to see him."
Certainly, monsieur" answered HUI
bert. Will you be good enough to enter?
And will you please to step softly, as my
poor young mistress is very ill.,"
He is alive, of course?" muttered the
officer, hating on the threshold.
1Yes, monsieur.
On receiving this reply the officer beck
oned and another G German, also in uniform,
leaped from the saddle and ran up to his
side.
"Yes, he is here. Come with me, Borg
feldt; you may be wanted.
With obsequious timidity Hubert led
the way up stairs into the sick mans room.
He was lying in bed, propped up with pill
lows, and readinga book. One glance al
the book showed it's religious character.
1t was the Douay edition of, the New
Testament.
Hartmann, old fellow!" cried the off.
Ger, with outstretched hands, 4this is,
indeed, fortunate. We had given you up
for dead"
Hartmann smiled sadly, returning the
kindly pressure.
God has been good to me, as you see,
he replied Il survive. while better men
are in their graves. All, DR.. Borgfeldt, is
that your"
What was it," asked Borgfeldt, who
was tall, clean-shaven man in specta-
cles. a bullet wound?"
Hartmann pointed to his heart, and the
German doctor, stopping down, made
hasty examination.
1T was an ugly wound" he muttured;
@the ball lodged close to the pleura, only
just missing the left lung. Who ex-
tracted it?"
"A clever French doctor. All! he lie
here. Let me introduce him--Dr. Huet.
Huet, who had entered the room, bowed
stif1y.
How is mademoiselle, your patient?'
asked Hartmann, eagerly. Better, 1 pray
God?"
"Better--and worse" replied Huet,
coldly. "The fever is leaving her, but
from time to time are signs that she is be-
ginning to remember. / dread the com.
plete return Of her faculties, for then
Yes, yes; I understand" cried Hart.
mann. Would to Heaven that I could
comfort her! but, alas! it is too late fol
that. May God forgive me-"
The other two Germans listened in nc
little surprise to this conversation, which,
of course, they were at loss to under.
stand. Then the officer broke in:
Well, Hartmann, what Can We do foi
you? You seem in snug quarters here, sc
that it is unnecessary to think of removing
you, supPose! -
Pardon me-" interrupted Huet, 4the
sooner he is removed from this house the
better"
Quite right, said Hartmann, sadly. u
have no right here, where my very pres
ence is an outrage. Take me away as soon
as possible"
Without asking any further questions
The officar promised to ssnd an ambulance
cart that very afternoon, and In the mean
time to tell off couple of soldiers to keep
guard over the patient and attend to his
wants.
In the afternoon the ambulance arrived
and Hartmann was assisted down. It was
an open vehicle with o canvas awning,
r,dely extemporized for the purpose and
stlewn thickly with straw, on which the
invalid was abse to lie almost at full
length. Lying thus, with his head propped
up by pillows, he could see the wintry
scene around-the trees laden with snow.
the DRIFT upon the ground, the gray, still
heaven above the woods.
Huet stood on. the steps of the chateau
watching his departure. Hartmann beck
oned to him.
Monsieur" he said, Il au going away
with heavy heart. All my thought and
care row is for Mile. de Gavrolles.
Should she ever speak of me-should she
ever bear to think of one so unworthy-
tell her that shall never forget her, never
cease to pray for her and to bless her.
May God comfort her, monsieur, and
watch over her, now and forever"
Huet made no reply. The cart moved
slowly away, driven BY soldier in IN
dress, and with mounted soldier in uui-
form on either side. Down the long
bleak avenue, through the wintry woods,
went the little procession. Here and
there the snow was SO deep that progress
was difficult, and it was necessary for the
soldiers to alicht and free the wheels.
Hartmann lay looking on the desolats
scene, his heart full of kindled desola-
tion. His thoughts we're wandering back
ward to the sick-room where the mar.
tyred girl was lying.
Tney had travelled some distance
through the woods, and could see the
open country close at hand, when the
driver came to full stop. Blocking the
narrow road was travelling carriage, one
OF the wheels of which had loosened and
was lying deeply imbedded in the snow.
The driver was on foot, now examining
the clrriage, now gesticulatiug wildly to
the soldiers RS they approached.
Seated in the carriage, with his face
turned away from Hartmann, was a tall
gentlemen III military undress, carrying
his arm in sling.
With angry exclamations in their native
tongue, the German soldiers rode up to
the driver and seemed commanding him
to clear the way. He answered them with
a vo!ley in French, not woru o. which
IL 4 os,,ko -. al
What is the matter" asked Hartmann.
IL l.; op .,ln