Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-01-18
lt-coat entered. followed by ;

-
huSsar bearing some baggage.
Il am sorry to disturb you, SIR" h ,
said politely, in excellent French,
but | am told / am billeted here
The major gave me to understand that
you were an cid soldier who had seen
much service You will therefore IN
derStand that-thau-'
Perfectly, sir; and l will endeayor
to make you rs comfortable as my
poor little cottage will permit | am
entirely at your orders AS to your
horses, | regret that"
Hearing you had no stabling | have
arranged for them close by, so please
do not distress yourself. My name
is Rudolph Won Armsdorf. lieutenant
in the Seventh Kings Hussars Can
my servant place my baggage in the
room | am to Occupy?"
The distinguished courtesy of man
ner and soft voice Of the PruSsian
fuSSar at once made 4 favorable inn
preston on the captain, who proceed
ed to show the way, followed by the
sOldier-servant, ood-natllred1 looking,
stupid fellow
'0This is the best | can do sir said
Tie captain, showing him into Louise's
room. II will now go and have some
supper prepared
Pray, monsieur, Oblige me by do
ing nothing of the kind The events
Of yesterday and the occupation of to-
day must have much disturbed every
one here. [ discovered q restaurant
on my way and have had Il good
meal"
AS the captain descended the narrow
stairs he was much exercised Surely
the stories he had heard of the brutal
ity of these PrllSSians must be eX-
aggerated In his day, when a town
was taken. possession gave an almost
unbridled license-there was no QueS-
ton of civility, simply might made
right.
I He found Louise and Suzanne, very
pale and trembling, in the sitting
room, and told them his impression as
/ to their unWelcOme visitors. which
went far to tranquillize their fears.
/ While conversing the heavy tread of
descending footsteps was heard, and
Rudolph Won ArmSdorf, in the red
uniform of the kings hussars, enter
ed the room Exceedingly handsome
he lOokpd-tall, fair and manly. with
Il clear, blue eye and sweet express
sion. AS he bowed there was an as
tOnished look upon his face.
My daughter Louise, Monsieur
Lieutenant"
Won ArmsdOrf. At your service,
mademOiselle" Then turning to the
captain he said: ''Sir, I fear you have
deprived mademOisplle of her room.
I must insist that YOU permit me to
bivOuac here on this couch, and to-
morrow / will make other arrange
ments, leaving my name on your door
as a protection"
Louise looked up shyly. Surely she
had never seen so handsome Il man; he
could even compare with her brother
Henri
/ My servant desires to know if he
can be of service in the Kitchen Per
haps your maid will make him under
stand, although he speaks only Il few
words of French"
The matter being explained to SUI
zanne, she suddenly lost her fears,
and presently there was much laugh
ter heard from the kitchen.
Rudolph fell asleep, dreaming of
Louise, and Louise could not sleep for
thinking of him.
| And so the days went by: these two
young people being constantly in one
another'S society, until at last liking
| fell into loving. What could they do.
two hn1 T11o in 40
hands OF the god of love? And so it
fell out that they plighted their troth
with the consent of the captain, who
was as much delighted as any was
over they were to be married. Ger
tainlv no officer in the First Army was
SO happy as Rudolph Won AIrmsdOrf,
and certainly no girl in the depart
ment of the SOmme so joyous rs
Louise de MonceauX. Perhaps it was
the terrorS of war and the uncertainty
of daily events which drew these two
young hearts closer together-her wild
fears for his safety when he went on
duty to the front. his anxiety foir her
welfare until his return.
The New Year had scarcely COM
menced when intelligence was re-
ceived that Faidherbe. with every
available man, had occupied Bapaume,
about twelve miles from Amiens. and
that his advance posts were at Quer-
rieuX. some two miles nearer That
morning early Rudolph had been
decorated with the Iron Cross, the
proudest distinction that a German
soldier can earn, and it was in high
spirits and with beating heart that
galloped back to Louise to eXhib-
it that much-sought-for decoration.
While the little party were seated in
the parlor specializing as to how long
France would continue to wage
seemingly useless war they were dis
turbed by an orderly galloping up to
the little garden gate.
"Orders, I suppose, said Rudolph,
rising and going out. He did not re-
turn for some minutes, then the order
ly galloped away. When he entered
the little room his face had a strange
look. which the eyes of love at once
perceived. The story was soon told.
Fairherbe was advancing on Amiens,
there was to be a reconnaissance that
afternoon and the kings husSars were
to lead it. Louise was inconSolable and
was at last carried upstairs by her
lover in a Swoon. There was no time