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

<sE4SNA III IHMN Sleep. lue olu
NUM N dame sat by his
tM@Z&S side, worn out
&6ES wit watching.
SXY4SYHEN From t j m Q to
wITS " time during the
.ANIWA night she had
<@Ee. administered the anodyne &C.
%cording to instructions of her
Nyoung mistress, and it seemed to
have had an almost miraculous
effect.
Early in the morning Dr.. Huet
appeared at the chateau and went
up to the bedside. He saw at glance
that the crisis was past, and after care
full examination and redressing of the
wound pronounced the patient out of i'm
mediate danger. During the examination
the German awoke and made sign that
he wished to speak to the doctor alone; so
the old dame was dismissed, and the two
men were left face 10 face.
you have something to communicate
to me-, said the Frenchman, seating him
self by the bed.
= ~Ah, monsieur, returned the German
officer, 1T is not of myself that I wish to
speak, but of her whom God sent to save
me in my extremity"
Mile. de Gavlolles? Yes, You are
right; you owe your life to her. !"
More than my life, monsieur cried
the other, in voice choked with tears.
-Ah! you do not know. But when have
told you, you will adore her and pity me.
Better if had died! Better if l do not
live to look again into her noble face!
Charity SO infinite is more than can
bear"
Huet looked puzzled, and began to
think that the mind of his patient was
wandering.
pray compose yourself" he said.
"Where is she, monsieur" asked the
wounded man, eagerly. "Have you seen
herr"
s'Not this morning. Dame Fevereau
tells me that the young iady watched dur
ing portion of the night, and then re-
tired to her own bedchamber."
Not before she had saved my miserable
lifel Not before she had snatched me
from death. though she knew that l, OF all
men, was the most undeserving! Mon
sieur, remember. I was sinking fast
when she interfered and succored me
me whom she should have left to per-
ish!-me whom she has cause to hate SO
much!"
-, Come, come" said the Doctor, good
humorediy; "of course we know you are
q German, one of the enemies Of France.
But q bullet, look you, absolves oil such
enmities, and We people of France do not
carry our ferocities into the hospital or the
sick-loom."
Thanks, monsieur, returned the other,
sadly. "To you, also, know owe debt
of gratitude; hut that is different. To her
] owe far more-a debt which leaves me
shame stricken and penitent before my
Godl"
His look was so full of anguish, his
tone and manner SO solemn, that the
Doctor gazed at him in wonder. Tremu-
lously, with the tears still streaming
down his cheeks, the German reached
out his hand, and placed it upon Huet's
arm.
Monsieur, listeI. Do you know
have you heard-that she has lost her
father"
INo!" cried tho Doctor, starting in
amazement. 4The Chevalier? He is not
dead?"
Woful beyond measure, in its utter
misery and self-reproach, was the look
upon the Germans face as he replied:
yes, monsieur. killed him."
Thunderstruck and horror stricken, the
Doctor shook off the others touch and
sprang to his feet.
You killed the Chevalier? Do you mean
It? Grand Dieu, it is too horrible! How?
How?
In broken accents the German told his
story-as he had told it overnight to
Blanche, but more clearly and in fuller
detail. He described the incident of the
surprise, of the cutting down of Gavrolles,
of the scene enacted afterward in the
moonngnr, wnen the dying man committed
the medallion to his enemys care. DR..
Hret, who had known the Chevalier we'll
and esteemed him above most men, lis
tened in simple horror.
1T is we'll for you" he exclaimed, when
the otbe. had finished, that did not
know this before. I reproa,h myself Low
thnt you were not suffered to die like O
dog. 1t is horrible-it is infamous! Even
yet. when the truth becomes known to the
people, I will not answer for Your life"
My life is nothing. monsieur, returned
the sick man, with I groan. Il set no
store by it, God knows, save for the sake
of those whom have left a. home. 1t
would have been better, perhaps. if had
died last night.
But DR.. Huet stayed to hear no more.
With a cry, almost an imprecaution, he
came face to face with the old dame.
-Un, monsieur, will you come to my
young mistress? have just been to her
room, and I have found her lying there
like one distracted. ! am sure she has
not slept all night, and she talks SO
strangely.
Greatly excited, Huet accompanied the
woman TO the chamber, and there,
stretched upon the bed, her face worn
with weeping. her hair dishevelled and
still moist and cold with the melted snow,
he found Blanche lying. Her eyes were
wide open, but she seemed to see nothing;
only at intervals, with strange monotony
and regularity, she gave vent to that ter
Yible moan with which she had heard the
Germans tale overnight.
cit is cerebral fever" he cried. Look,
ehe Is quite unconscious. Poor child,
Door child! It is fortunate that came
here"
Under Huet's instructions. Blanche was
undressed and put into bed by the old
dame. who wept freely at her task, fol
Blanche seemed to her almost like he1
own rhlld.
Returning to the chamber, the Doctor
found the pvor girl lying with the same
fixed look aud utteling the same weary
moan. Clad in her white l:nht-dress.
with her silken hair falling around hel
face and setting it in golden flame, she
looked strangely beautiful.
The Doctor eyes grew moist as theJ
Razed upon her.
Heavenly poversl' he wnrmured to