The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-16

nlzed him IN moment.
He was the German officer who hao
spoken to her so gently few nights be-
fore.
CHAPTER vi.
N THE CHATEAU.
As she bent over him his eyes opened,
and with faint smile he recognized her.
AS she drew back nervously, the crowd
surrounding her uttered an angry murmur,
fists we're clenched, arms brandished, and
angry looks leveled at the wounded man.
Houzel, the gamekeeper, who was among
their number, looked down with savage
scowl into the Germans face. 1T is the
butchering rogue who killed your dog,
Mile. Blanche!" he said, between his set
teeth. 60 back to the house. and leave
him to u.s."
"No, mol" cried Blanche. 1T was not
he; it was the other. DR.. Huet, will you
protect him?"
Stand back, all Of you!" said the Doc.
tor, in tone Of command. The lady
is right; he is prisoner of war and shall
be protected" Then, turning to Blanche,
he added THE fellow must take his
chance. There is fighting down yonder,
and we are wanted"
As he spoke the sharp sound of firing
was repeated from the ndiacent woods.
is he much hurt?" asked Blanche,
anxiously.
His arm is broken and he has some
flesh wounds. I have done all 1 can,
Houzel, I leave him to you. Get him into
one of the out-houses; it is bad for him tc
be out here in the cold air."
The sun was now sinking, and its Grim.
son beams, shooting through the open
boughs of the adjoining glade, fell full
upon the wounded soldiers face. All heI
horror of his race died away in sympathy
and pity as she stood and gazed upon him.
60 away" said DR.. Hunt, taking hei
hand Il told you that it was no sight fol
YOU"
HE is one Of the two officers saw the
other night, and he spoke to me very kind.
ly. am so sorry for him. Doyou thinb
that he will die?"
Die? Of course not. These Uhlans
take deal of killing. Besides, one does
not die of shot in the arm, and his
aesh-wounds are slight. With watching
and little careful nursing he would be
right enough. But, corbleu! in times like
these he must take his chance. After all,
it 10 the fortune of war.
Hers the rapid roll of drum was heard
in the distance. The young officer came uI
quickly.
aDo YOU hear that, Huet? Something
is going on down yonder. We must has
ten."
.Very we'll" said Huet. Il will see this
fellow placed in some sort of shelter,
and then will follow you.
The young officer saluted Blanche, and
then gave the word of command to his
men, who ran off after him with theil
rifes in readiness. The countrymen looked
startled, and inclined to depart also; but
at another sign from Huet they uplifted
the wounded man.
Where shall we take him?" asked one
OF them. sullenly enough.
-On to the farrG-any place with q roo1
will do," replied the Doctor.
Meantime Blanche had been undergo
ing strong internal struggle. Divided
between her rity for the wounded man
and her 4'ead of him as one of the in.
vaders of her country, she knew not what
to say or do. Then she remembered hei
fathers gentle warning. so full Of Chris
tian charity and sympathy, and illustrated
so tcnderly by the very words of the man
who lay wounded before her: Il should
be sorry if any evil came to you; over
there in Germany have dear sister OF
my own" ,
With full heart and dim eyes she looked
again at the unfortunate officer. He lay
in the same position, with his eyes fixed
on her. All, God! if it had been her own
dear father who was lying thus, sur.
rounded by strangers! Such thing might
have been-might still be-and then
She turned to the men who were NOV
ing past her with their burden.
aCarry him into the chateau" she
cried.
ITO the chateau, mademoiselle!" re-
peated Houzel, savagely.
My lady, are you mad?' said hubert,
plucking at her sleeve-Aa monstrous
German!"
-Silenos, Hubert! and help them to
bear him in. DR.. Huet, you know my
dea- father. Even now. somewhere ala,
of, he may be in trouble-wounded, per.
chance, and prisoner, with no loving
daughter to watch and tend him. For
his sake, I'll shelter this poor gentleman.
Slowly and gloomily the men carried the
prisoner along the woodland path, across
| the gardens, and up the steps OF the ter
race. The door stood wide open. with
the female servants clustering tlmidly on
the threshold. To their eager ques-
tioning Blanche made no reply, but sig
nailed the men to push on into the hall.
Here they set down the litter and waited.
Where shall they take him. mademoi'
selle:" asked. DR.. Huet.
| Bring him in. she said, in low voice
Ito my fathers chamber"
me countrymen withdrew, and the
wounded man was left alone in the bed.
chamber with the Doctor and the old
Eousek eper. Blanche waited in the adj
dining room till DR.. Hret, opening the
foldi.. G doors. signaled he- 20 enter. AD
proachlng the bedside she saw the Ger
man living, still insensible, in the bed
One arm was extended on the coverlet, tht
her hidden. The mud and blood hat
been washed from his face, leaving i
pale and distinct in all its lines; the lool
of pain had faded, and the breathing
though still labored, was softer and more
subdued.
Blanche stood looking at him for SOM
! moments in silent Iity; tLen she turned