Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-01-10

which he spoke quite fuently and with
the slightest possible accent.
pardon me, fraulein, but it is a
abroad. My friend here is impetuous
and you have had narrow escape
with life. Will you tell me your
name, fraulein, and where you dwell?"
His manner gave her courage; and /,
still keeping her eyes upon his face,
she drew herself up proudly, as she
replied: "My name is Blanche de
Gavrolles, and dwell at the chateau
of Grandpre."
The other Uhlan greeted her speech
with a coarse laugh, and cried in
French, which he spoke with thick
Teutonic accent:
1.-The devil! She has courage, the
little she fox! Lift the baggage up
on my saddle, Hartmann, and l will
carry her back to camp"
Hartmann, as his companion called
him, answered with an angry look,
and again addressing Blanche, said
| quietly:
"Do not alarm yourself. fraulein.
| My friend is an ugly fellow, but does
not mean what he says"
"He is q coward, answered Blanche
! firmly, "or he would not have killed
my poor Gaston!"
"Do you mean the dog? Then it
was yours?"
YES" was the reply; and as she
gave it, Blanche gtzed at the dead
body through blinling tears. The
man on horseback laughed again.
THANK your stars, girl, that it was
not you killed, but the curl" he cried.
"Silence, Vogel!" exclaimed the
other. "Do you not see the young
lady is terrified"
"I am not terrified" said Blanche.
II am French, and l do not fear the
enemies of my country"
Hartmann looked at her with a
quiet smile. 1t was curious; but his
eyes were quite gentle, and his man
ner more and more kindly.
II am sorry that this has happened,
fraulein. We Germans, assure you,
do not make war on women or chill
dren, or dumb animals? Have you
parents, little oneP"
"Ihave father" +" answered Blanche.
"He must be careless father, am
afraid, to suffer you to be wandering in
the woods alone at SO perilous time" !"
'.He is with the army OF the north, :"
cried Blanche, "fghting for the faith
erland."
"Come Hartmann" cried the mount
ed Uhlan Impatiently moving away.
Hartmann prepared to remount his
horse; then, hesitating, he again
looked at Blanche.
Take my advice and hasten home;
more of our people are about, and
there may be fresh danger. should
be sorry if any evil came to you.
Over there in Germany l have dear
sister Of my own"
He leaped into the saddle, and, with
nod and q smile, rode away after his
companion.
For some minutes Blanche remained
stupefed. All had occurred so sud-
denly, that as yet she could scarcely
realize the situation; but as the truth
dawned upon her, and she found her.
self safe and unharmed, the tension of
her strung-up nerves gave way, and
she began to sob hysterically. Bend
ing over the dead body of the dog, she
tried to discover any signs Of life, but
there were none; it had been killed
instantaneously. Her heart swelled
with hate and Indignation against his
destroyer.
"Ahr' she thought, "they are in
deed infamous, those Germans!''
Then she thought of the grave, gen.
tie young man who had addressed her
bso respectfully, and she recalled his
parting words. s.-"Over there in Ger
many have dear sister OF my own, !"
and this reminded her of what her own
father had said to her before they
parted-that even the enemy were
fellow-creatures, and had dear ones to
love them living, and to mourn them
when they died.
1t was growing dark. for black
clouds were drifting rapidly up from
the sea- She remembered the strange
officers warning, and, after one last
look at the dead dog. she prepared to
hurry back to the chateau, when the
sound of voice arrested her.
.'Ah! it is you, mademolselle.
Thank God, have found you, it said.
81 have been searching for you
through the village; for, look you,
thCio 10 tOktioio HOW'D AhO hSSulo oOo
Uhlaas are upon US in swarms!''
1.-The Uhlans!" said Blanche. "Yes,
Houzel, know, for they shot poor
Gaston."
She turned as she spoke, and
pointed to the dead hound which lay
at the newcomers feet. The man
looked at the animal; then he turned
to his mistress with sinister smile.
II saw them," he said. II was
crouching in the bushes yonder and
saw them pass. It is well for them,
Mademoiselle Blanche, that you
were here, otherwise one Of them
would be lying where CASTOR
les now. 1 had my gun ready. point
i ing at the monsters heart, and 1 did
not fire because I thought of you. But
/ shall remember them, and you shall
be avenged"
The girl shuddered.
Thank God / was here" she said.
at would have been too terrible!"
what is terrible, mademoiselle-
to slay the enemies of our country?
The chevalier, my master, has gone
to do it; why should not I?"