Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-01-19
BLOOD.
DT NJ. II. BRADDox.
CHAPTER TX. -coNTrNUED.

All through tndL nlgnJ OF nOTTOI I'nlllp
Durand watched by the bedside of his wife
and her newborn infant In the Rue Git le
Ceur. The little street was safe in its OBJ
security, safe from the malice of the incendl-
aries, who had bigger game for their sport;
but the conhagration was terribly near. All
the sky was lurid with reflected fire, and the
thunder of the cannonade and the rush and
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, an
other wall falling.
The atmosphere was poisoned by the doors
of petroleum, and the thick rank smoke
from the Granaries of Abundance, where
the stores of wine, OIL and dried fish fed the
fierceness of the flames and intensified the
stencil OF burning. Everywhere the work
of destruction wac being hurried on. The
Commune was at the last gasp; these ex-
posiOns and burnings were the dcath-rattlc.
The little courtyard below Durand's win
dows was alive with people, going out and
coming in, restless anxious, alarmed, talk
ing to each other in doorways or at open
windows, bringing in the last news, which
was likely to be false as true.
Durand opened window Of the little
salon softly, while Rose slept, and looked
out.
"They are burning Notre Dame" SAID a
man in the court, seeing him at the window,
and eager to impart his information. They
have piled barrels of petroleum all the
length of the nave, halfway to the root, and
they are going TO set IL on fire. The grand
old roof will fly into the air presently, Ike
pack of cards. 1t will be n sight worth
seeing," he added, hurryiny out as if TO
play.
''St. Eustache is on fire." said another
man, "and they are going to burn the Pre-
lecture Of Police. Rgault and his chums
have been having great supper there-seas
of wine, mountains of provision-and now
they know their day is over, and they are
going to blow up the building"
Durand shut the window. a palace more
or less, a church more or less! What did IL
matter amidst this universal ruin?-.h e
Pussans at the door; the government
weak, vaclllating, the sport of circum-
stances; France in tatters, unable 10 save
her bishops, her generals, her couns ,llors,
her soldiers; given over as Prey to a
sanguinary populace.
THIS strong clear-headed man sat down
crushed by the weight Of his country's desc
lation. He whose brain was usually quick
to plan, cool TO execute his plans, now felt
p0werlcss to look beyond the horror Of the
hour; bat the ruin which overwhelmed him
was not the destruction that rejgncd with
out his dwelling. 1t was the blank within,
that empty home upstairs, which ii cid him
with horror, which was ever in his mind as
haunting fear.
1t was three days since Castor had disap-
peared, and now Kathleen was gone. She
had slipped out unseen by the porter or by
any Of the neighborS. She had vanished
like ghost at break Of day. When he went
US to her rooms this morning TO carry her
the last news Of her sister, to cheer and
comfort her, and buoy up her sinking hopes
as he had done all through the two previous
days of her trouble, he found the nest de-
serted.
There was no doubt as TO her flight, or its
purpose. The inner room was locked, and
the key taken away; the outer room WAS
neatly swept and garnished; everything
was in its place. GastOn's Bureau was lock-
ed the glazed cabinet in VIII ch he kept his
cherished collection of boOks--not large
but so carefully chosen: chosen as poverty
chooses its treasures, one by one del Der
ately, anxiously-this, too, was locked, and
every book on its shelf; and on the table
lay letter addressed to Durard
Dear Philip, dear Brother,--I am going
to look for my husband. Have no fear iOr
me. Heaven will pity and protect my
wretchedneSs. | shall be aDost all day and
every day seSkinC for my beloved; but /
shall come back hero at night for shelter
and rest If possible. If do not come beck
after dark you may know that my wander
ings have taken me too far afeld. But YOU
need have no fear. OF ono thing You may
Ia
destroy myself. will bs true To the teach
ing of my childhood, and God will give ire
grace TO bear my troubles.
"Do not let one thought of me distract
you from your duty II protecting Rose and
her baby. If she asks about me, tell her
that l am safe, in good hands, well cared
for and lIrDtected. Is not that the truth,
when | am in the keeping of the Holy Moth
er and her blessed angels?-Evsr lovingly,
your sister, KATHLEEN"
1t was midnight; the long dreary day was
over, and she had not returned. Philip had
crept upstairs and looked into the empty
room several times in the course OF the day /;
but there had been no sign of Kathleen's re-
turn. He had questioned the landlord, who
kept the hall-door locked and bolted in this
time of panic; but the man had seen moth
ing Of Kathleen.
1t had been altogether trying day. Rose
was weak ana SOnlSWndJ IeNeIlSIl, anu III
quired anxiously every hour about Kath-
leen. Why did not her sister come to see
her? Where was Castor? Philipwas sore
ly perplexed how to reply. CASTOR was at
the newspaper Office. he faltered on one oc-
casion.
But the newspaper was suppressed six
weeks ago." said Rose.
Eyes, but they IRE beginning again, now
that times are better; and the government
will be restored That's what makes Gas
ton so busy"
'But Kathleen-why does she desert me?"
'She is not very we'll, dear. 1t is only a
cold; but 1t is better for her to keep her
roaR."
"Yes, yes, let her nurse herself. o, wish
that were well, ard could go 10 her" said
Rose with a troubled look.
She was devoured by anxiety about Kath-
leen; and in spite of her husbands tender
ness, in spite of fusF Maman Schuberts
kindness, In spite even of that new and
wonderful love, the maternal instinct,
awakened in her mind by the infant that
nestled at her side, like bird under the
parent wing, she could not overcome that