Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-01-18

/ "Faidherbe," he continued. ''ad
vances on Amiens tomorrow, and soon
! the city will be ours, and those dogs
| Of German in full retreat
But, Henri, We have an officer
quartered here; lie may be back at any
moment. You must fy,''
! We'll, / don't want to be shot as a
/ spy, so give me something to eat and
/ I'll be off. l shall easily get back; it's
as dark as pitch Get a light and 90
outside and keep watch. Don't call
any one
/ A good meal was soon before him
and as rapidly dispatched. Then tax
/ ing a stout stick he called Louise.
/ She came in and carefully closed the
! door
| "Good-by, my little sister," he said,
| embracing her, while she put her arms
Iround his neck and kissed him. AT
this moment the door was thrown
open, and Rudolph stood at the door,
rooted to the spot
For a few seconds there was a dead
silence-Louise pale as death. her
brother naughty and erect, Rudolph
like a statue Then the door closed
and the latter strobe into the room
Never before had Louise heard that
soft voice utter such metallic tones:
the words seemed to dlop from his
lips like ice.
4 regret" he said, having disturb
ed this tender interview. You sir, are
within our lines, doubtless to obtain
information. Were / to do my duty
I should at once arrest YOU: but after
what / have seen my conscience would
revolt against such Il. proceeding.
give you five minutes to make good
your escape; if at the end of that time
you are found here, yOUl;. blood be up
on your own head''-and, without a
look at Louise, he turned and left the
house. AS the door closed Louise gave
Il piercing cry, and sank at her broth
erS feet. There was no time to lose
so, laying her gently upon the couch.
he quickly left the cottage, and was
soon lost in the darkness.
On the next day was fought the bat
tie of QuerriCuX, one of the most stub
born Of the northern conflicts. Rlt-
dOlph, who had been attached to the
generals staff as extra aid-de-camp.
was everywhere. exposing himself I'M
der the hottest fire. his brain burning
like Il volcano, and his heart feeling
like ice. 1t was 3 o'clock; neither
side had gained any advantage. The
Germans doggedly held the village of
QuerrieuX, while the French held the
opposite side of the rayine, only n
small stream dividing them. Then
the advanced line of the French was
strengthened, and they once more at
tempted to drive the Germans out
Of the village; the Fifty-seventh, who
held it, had become short Of ammuni-
ton and were sullenly retiring, firing
their last cartridges. 1t was at this
moment Rudolph dashed I'M among
them.
What is this?" he cried There is
the enemy in front. not behind yOu.'
1--WE have no more ammunition,
said an old sergeant.
.'Ammulitinn" he cried, sprin9ing
from his horse; you have yCUtr bayo-
nets" and. drawing his sword, he
cried. "FolloW mer'
The French had now CARED the bot
tom of the street and were advancing
at the double. Just then a light form
was seen to speed out from one of the
little side streets, followed by an old
man who could not keep up with her
1t was Louise. Swiftly she made heE
way to Rudolph's side.
Rudolph! my love, Rudolph! I am
here" For one moment he paused,
then the French sent in a heavy vol
1y and Rudolph, staggering back, fell
to the ground. In q moment she was
on her knees by his side, his head pill
lowed on her lap, covering his face
with kisses, while shot and shell
whistled and screamed around them.
Rudolph! Rudolph! speak to me-"
she moaned, while the blood from his
chest spurted with each labOred breath
over her My God! he is Gying-will
no one help mew Then the CLASSY
eyes opened and a strange light came
into them as they met those Of Louise.
Then she bent down and kissed his
lips, whispering, ut was my brother
you saw, Rudolph" A bright smile
passed across the face of the dying
soldier and with the name of his be-
loved on his lips he expired in her
arms. Then came a cruel volley, the
bullets hurting UP the narrow street.
There was a wild scream and Louise.
shot through the heart, fell forward
on her lovers body. Their marriage
was in heaveni
1t was a beautiful summers eve.
The glow of a rosy sunset stlreaks the
western heaven, lighting up the tomb
stones in the chrrchyard of Amiens.
The war is over. France, torn and
trampled on, is reviving. but the dirge
of the dead is still heard in the land.
An old man, tottering end stoopin>s,
leaning on the arm Of a bronzed sol
der wearing the uniform of the Line.
is picking his way among the crowded
tombstones. Presently they ! arrive
Mt a simple marble cross. On it is
engraved
:. ...........,..,..."
Jan. Is,
| do