Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-10-07
THE ENEMY SHE LOVED.

If l thought daughter OF mine
would so much as touch a hated Ger
mans hand l would swear she had
been changed In her GRADER
So spoke Jules Favart in hot breath
just before the siege of Paris had be-
gun-breath kindled by the news
brought him by the girl shrinking
before his anger-the news that one
of her schoolmates and the child o.
an old neighbor had absolutely been
married the day previous to young
German officer. bearing active arms
against tho country OF his newly
made wife
All through the day old Jules kept
muttering to himself at nHhtfall he
called his little Olive TO him
Women are strange beings" he
began. as II to relieve his mind OF a
load which was weighing upon it,
and perhaps I've no right TO believe
you of different stuff from the rest
These are uncertain times we're in.
too. / want you Olive to make me
solemn promise; nay more to
kneel beside ME and make me a
kneel.
Pale and terrified. the young girl
knelt
Now raise your hand and swear
that you will never marry a man who
cannot boast French blood in his
veinsr
Solemnly The girl swore.
The old man smiled triumphantly
as he bent and kissed the long shin
ing black braids wound about the
little head.
I'm ready now" he said.
Within week the siege OF Paris
had begun. Within a month the
child OF Jules Favart who had en-
listed; was orphaned. A German
bullet had stillei forever the heart
SO loyal TO rance.
For time Olive was stunned. No
one found opportunity to sympathize
with her grief for around and about
her everyone was nursing some misery
OF their own Every house bore some
badge of mourning. Every heart
carried its own burden.
But sorrier days were in store in
Paris-days when the Germans
marched untroubed through its
streets and spoke their hated lam
guage in loud triumphal accents.
On party OF these Olive stumbled
one evening as she fastened home.
They were common soldiers and her
pretty face from which she had
thrown back her heavy veil of Grape
attracted them.
Instantly two Of them approached
her. addressing her in insulting praise
in her own tongue.
She hastily drew down her veil but
one holder than the rest raised his
hand to again uplift it. Scarcely had
he done so than il was struck down
by sharp quick blow from behind.
Olive turned to see the Frenchman
who had delivered her; but lo a
young officer in full German uniform.
stood before her. respectfully touch
ing his hat
A few swift words Of command to
the men sent them abashed away.
Then. with an accent almost as pure
as her own. he begged that she would
allow him to escort her home
Such outrages in time of war are
difficult always to prevent" he said;
''but you risk much by appearing un-
attended in the street Always your
father-your brother"
Abr she interrupted. do YOU
leave us our fathers and our brothers?
No! / have been to the hospital
caring for the poor men who may be
spared to their daughters and their
sisters AS for me- you have already
taken from me my all"
And she moved quickly away. as il
the conversation were at an end; but
tho young officer kept pace behind
her.
Pardon me" he said. but you are
too young and too pretty to pass
through Paris unmolested. You hate
me as your foe but you must let me
guard you to your home even though
you hate mo the more"
There Ia no need" she replied.
II go every day to the hospital and
every day at this hour. or very little
earlier. l must return"
A shadow. and then a light swept
over the young mons face.
Il am stationed so near hero that
II you will permit me- every night /
will be your escort"
L would rather die than accept a
kindness from your hands or those OF
any OF your blood" she answered.
hotly-'you who are my dear faith
er's murderersm
And as she spoke the last words
she paused before gate W itch tho
. concierge hastily opened for her adj
mittanee and which instantly swung
TO behind her
But alone in her room. Olive
paused singularly enough she could
recall every feature of the young Of
ficer' face--a face which seemed to
her TO realize some dream OF manly
beauty; the echo OF his voice fingered
In her cara voice low. and rich.
and musical--musical even when he
sternly addressed the soldiers In his