Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-12-02
THE RED FLAG.
CovwrN1-ED

u Ms WIZ anu ilaA lAt ~ by' "a tt+NfiAt'
Ia the Rue Git le Occur The little
street was safe In its Obscur.ty, safe
from the malice NJ the incendiaries
who had bigger game Tor their sport
but the cOnhagTatiOn was terribly near.
AL the sky was lurid with reflected
fire, and the thunder Of the cannOnade
aud the rush aIld roar Of the flames
were heard in every gust Of wind
which blew This way, while every
now and then came the sharp sudden
sound Of an explosion another roof
blown up, another wall falling
The atmosphere was poisoned by the
Odors Of petroleum, and the thick rank
smoke from the Granaiics Of Abuud-
8nce, where the stores Of vine, oil,
and dried fish fed the fercenass Of the
flames ana intensified the stencil Of
burning. Everywhere the work Of de-
struction was being hurried on. The
Commune was at the last gasp; these
explosions and burnings were the death
rattle
The lite courtyard below Duraud's
windows was alive with people, going
ont and coming In, restless, anxious,
alarmed, talking to each other In door
ways or at open windows bringing in
the last news, which was likely 10 be
false as true.
Durand opened window Of the little
salon softly. while Rose slept and
looked ont
"They are burning Notre Dame said
\ man I'm the court seeing him at
the window, Gn1 eager TO impart his
information "They have piled bar
rels Of pctoleum all the length Of the
nave, halfway to the roof, and they
arc going to set IL on fire, The grand
old roof will fly into the air presently,
Ike 2 pack Of cards 1t win be sight
worth seeing" he added, hurryinE out
a. II to q play.
"St Eustachp is ON fire" said another
man, "and they are going to burn the
Prefecture of Police Rlgault and his
chums have been having a great sup
per there seas Of wine, mountains Of
provision and now they know their
day Is over, and they are going to
blow ND the building
Durand shut the window palace
more or less a church more or leSsl
What did it matter amh.-t this univcr-
sal ruin? the Prussians at the door;
the government weak, yaclllating, the
sport Of circumstances; France In
tattcrs unable to save her bishops,
her generals, her rounsrllora, her sol.
diers; given over rs q prey to a san
culinary populace.
This strong clearhexlcd man sat
down crushed by the weight Of his
,Oountry's dcsoladou He whose brain
was usually quick 10 plan, cool to exc
cute his plans now felt powercss to
look beyond the horror Of the hour;
but the ruin which overwhelmed him
was not the destruction that regncd
without mis- dwelling It was the
blank within that empty home up
stairs, which filled him with horror
which was ever in his mind as haunt
in fear.
Or was three days since Castor had
disappeared. AMI now Kathleen was
gone SHE had slipped out unseen by
the porter or by any o. the ncighbors.
She had vanished like ghost at break
Of day. When he went up to her
rooms this morning to carry her the
fast news of her sister, to- cheer and
comfort her ana buoy mp her sinking
hopes, rs he had done all through
the two previous days of her trouble,
he found the nest deserted.
There was no doubt as 10 her flight,
or its purpose. The inner room was
locked, and thc key taken away; the
outer room was neatly swept ana gar
nishcd everything was In its place.
Eastou's bureau was locked; the glazed
.caldnct I'M which ne kept his cherished
collection Of books not large, but so
carefully chosen. chosen rs poverty
chooses its treasures one by one, de
}hcrately, anxiouSly- too, was
locked and every book on lbs shelf;
and on the table lay letter addressed
io Dm0nd.
Dear Philip, dear BrOthor.--I am go
ing to look for my husband. Nave
no fear for ne Heaven win pity and
protect my wrctchcduesS. shall BE-
about all day aud every day seeking
for my beloved; but ! shall come back
here at night for shelter and rest II
possible IL I 10 not come back after
dark You may know that my wander.
ines have taken mn too far nhcld But
YOU need have no fear or one thing
you may be sure wMln my reason rc
mains ! vii not destroy myself ] will
y true 10 the teachings Of my child.
hool. and God win give me grace tg