Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-01-03
That Winter Night.
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER u-CoNrINUED.

CdAf 1ct 11-CONTlNUED.
"After ALL" he said. ..the country
is in no immediate want OF soldiers;
and, as you say, mad,rnoiselle your
daughter has only one natural protec-
tor. Perhaps you had better remain
at honor"
"While France does not lack SOL
diers, she is in urgent need OF good
officers. The war, unlike most wars,
is q righteous one, in so far as it Is q
war OF defense only. Other noblemen
are making sacrifices, as you are
aware. 1t Is now my turn to take my
place among the defenders OF my coun-
try"
Unable to restrain his enthusiasm
any longer, Father Andre reached out
his hand and grasped that OF his en-
tertainer.
cit is noble discrimination!
Mademoiselle Blanche will offer no
obstacles, am sure."
II do not think she will," returned
the chevalier, when have made my
duty plain to her; for though she is q
child, she has rare courage.
"Ah! has she notP Why look you,
1t has often sent my heart into my
mouth to see her ride along the sea
wall. Do you remember, too, how
she swan out to sea last summer and
brought in little Pipot. the gardeners
son, when he was sinking for the last
timer"
"Mere Fevereau, tho housekeeper,
is her old nurse, almost her foster
mother; she will never neglect her
charge. For the rest, you, old friend.
will look in from time to time, to see
that all goes we'll. Should she be low
spirited and anxious, you will comfort
her, will you not? And should 1never
return" Tears rose in his eyes; but
conquering his emotion, and brushing
the moisture away with his hand, he
proceeded: "Should l never return
you will watch over her and protect
her. Her worldly position will be So
cure-I have attended to all that
and she will remain the mistress of the
chateau"
"Nay, nay" cried the priest, good
humoredly; "the good God will bring
you safely back to mademoiselle. You
will kill few rascally Germans, and
return like o hero when the war is
done!"
"But you promise to do as have
asked you3 You accept the commits
sion as sacred trustP"
"As a sacred trust, chevalier.
Presently the priest rose to go; for
the evening was well advanced, and
he was an early bird. Before depart
ing, he accompanied his host to the
drawing-room, largo chamber fur
nished in the style OF Louis Quatorze,
and here they found Blanche all alone.
seated at the harmonium, and singing
one Of the sweet old hymns once so
popular In Normandy. They entered
quietly and stood listening. When
the hymn was finished, the chevalier
bent over her and kissed her fondly.
II shall tell her tonight" he whis-
pered to Father Andre, as they parted
ut the porch.
He returned slowly in the drawing
room, and found that his daughter
had drawn back the heavy window
curtains, and was gazing out upon the
garden, flooded by the rays OF the
full moon. The moonlight crept in,
shone softly upon her face, and clung
round her tall, slight form like robe
OF magnetic brightness. Quietly and
silently the chevalier joined her In the
recess of the oriel-window, and they
gazed out upon the night together.
"Hubert says-he has Just heard 1t
at the farm-that there has been
another great battle. As I was look
ing out l was thinking-But what is
the matter, dear fatherp Are you
coldP"
"No, my child; go on. You were
thinking"
II was thinking how the battle
field must look, with the peaceful
moonlight shining down upon it,
and lighting the faces of the dead.
All! how grateful should those be who
dwell in peace at home, and never
look upon such sights as that! And
how grateful should l be that have
my own dear father always with me,
while so many daughters weep and
mournr'
The chevalier shivered again as il
with cold. He tried to speak, but
could not find words. AT last he
could bear the suspense no longer.
Not Withdrawing his hands, he looked
down upon the face of his daughter,
and said, in low voice:
"Blanche, I have something to say
to you-something, my child, tl.45
may cause you some surprise. and per-
haps little pain. In few days, my
darling 1 must leave you, and go upon
journey"
"Father, what is it? Something has
happened. Going upon journey?
Where are you going?"
he took her head between his two