St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-02-18

time. In the last days of the siege got
desperately wounded in a cavalry combat
near St. Cloud-my head was laid open
by sabre stroke at the very moment a
bullet went through my body.
"The doctors said that must die,
that nothing could save me. One alone
refused to regard my case as hopeless,
and to him I am indebted for my life.
His name is Victor Bart.
II did not know it then, for lay
many days unconscious, but knew Of
terward that he treated me with consum-
mate skill, and watched over me day and
night. So YOU see it cost him much
more trouble to save my life than it cost
me to save his. And then, when | was
getting better, another came and helped
me to get we'll A nurse she was, oh !
such sweet nursc--the sweetest you
ever did see. She had soft, dark eyes, u
low, sweet voice, and face so lovely
that words are too weak to describe it.
At first, being still weak, Ireally thought
she was visitant from heaven; and one
day told Victor that an angel had been
smoothing my pillow and giving me to
drink.
"Victor laughed heartily.
''That is my sister Lucie," he said.
"a false report reached Geneva that !
had been hurt, and she came to nurse
me, but as did not need nurse, set
her to nurse you"
II felt glad she was not an angel from
heaven, for had already fallen in love
with her, and one fine May morning,
when | could move about little, as we
were walking under the chestnut trees,
| told her what was in my mind. be-
gan by saying that did notknow which
to be the more thankful for-the wound
on my head or the bullet through anybody.
Thankful for hurts that nearly killed
you, Baron!n she exclaimed. "You are
surely joking OPP
{" am neither joking nor delirious,
Mademoiselle Bart. I was never more
serious in my life. If I had not been
wounded, you would not have been ny
nurse, and should have missed the hap
piest time I have ever known Your
good brother has saved my life. Will
you share it with me, Lucie2 For love
you SO dearly that | would rather lose it
than live unloved by the angel of my
dreams
II cannot tell you how Lucie an
swcred, er whether she answered at all in
words; but I read her answer in her eyes,
and we were both very happy.
''And then l told Victor, and he was
very glad, and he proposed-the war be-
ing over and myself convalescent-tha |
should travel home by way of Geneva
and make the acquaintance of his people.
"This offer gladly accepted, and
wrote to tell my people, who lived at
Nuremberg, of all that had come to pass;
and my mother and my sister, Natalie,
met US at Geneva, and we stayed there
several weeks.
"Natalie was beautiful blonde, with
blue eyes and rosy checks, and it was al
most q matter of course that Victor and
she should fall in love with each other;
and the day on which Lucie and |
learned that her brother aAd my sister
were betrothed was the sec md happicst
of our lives. We were all married at the
same time; and every other year Victor
and Natalie visit US at Nuremberg, and
every other year we visit them at Geneva
THAT is the end of the story, and
when have smoked one more pipe we
will join the ladies in the saloon, and !
shall have the pleasure Of Introducing
YOU to Madame Victor Bart and the
Baroness Won Hohenstcin. Afterward |
we vii! 60 to the Jardin Anglais and |
listen to the music. will also introduce
YOU to my sister, Ilclenchen, so there
viii be lady for each of u.s.