The state herald., 1895-01-11

body through binding tears. The
man on horseback laughed again.
"Thank your stars, girl, that 1t was
not you Killed, but the curl" he cried.
SILENCE; v6gel!,.' exclaimed tile
other. "Do you not SEQ the young
lady is terrifedp"
III am not terrified, Nsaid Blanche.
al am French, and do not fear the
enemies Of my country" !
Hartmann looked at her with q
quiet smile. 1t was curious; but his
eyes wero quite gentle. and his man
ner more and more kindly.
~ 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 one?"
"Ihave a father. !" answered Blanche.
"He must be careless father, am
afraid, to suffer you to be wandering In
the woods alone at so porilous time. !"
He Is with the army Of the north, :"
cried Blanche, ''fghting for tho faith
erland."
Come Hartmann" cried the mount
cd Uhlan lmpaticntly moving away.
Hartmann prepared to remount his
horse; then. hcsitating, he again
looked at Blanche.
Take my advice and hasten home;
more OF our people are about, and
there may BIO fresh danger. should
DO sorry II any evil came to you.
Over there In Germany have dear
sister OF my own"
He lcaped into the saddle, and with
nod and smile, rode away after his
| companion.
For some minutes Blanche remained
stupefiel. All had occurred SO sud-
denly, that as yet she could scarcely
realize the situation; but as the truth
dawned upon her, an1 she found her.
self safe and unframed, tho tension OF
hcr strung-up nerves gave way, and
she began to sob Historically. 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.
"Ah!" she thought, "they arc in
decd Infamous, those Germans!"
Then she thought of the grave, gen
tic young man who had addressed her
so respectfully, and she recalled his
parting words. 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-crcatures, and had dear ones to
love them living, and 10 mourn them
when they died.
II 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 n voice arrested her.
"Ah. II Is you, madcmoiscllc.
Thank God. have found you. II said.
al have been searching for you
through the village; for. look you.
there is terrible news. The accursed
Uhlans arc upon us in swarms!n
The Uhlans!" said Blanche. "Yes.
lIouzcl. know, for they shot poor
CASTOR"
She turned rs she spoke, md
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.
III saw thcm,n he said. 81 was
crouching In the bushes yonder and
saw them pass. II is well for them.
Madcmoiselle Blanche. that you
were here. otherwise one Of them
would be lying whore CASTOR
les now. / had my gun ready, point
Ing nj the monsters heart. and ! did
not fire because thought OF you. But
l shall remember them, and you shall
be avenged"
The girl shuddcrcd.
THANK God was here" she said.
..It would have been too tcrriblc!"
.,what is terrible. madcmoiselle-
10 slay the enemies OF our country
Tho chevalicr. my master. has gone
TO do II; why should not II"
"Ah! but that Is different. Houzel.
Ny father is fighting In fair and open
battle he would not slay an enemy
from behind tree"
The man blushod shcepishly snd
looked down. lie could not say what
was In his mind. or he would have
said. ~ care for my country. but
care more for You. These men have
made you shed tears. they have filled
your heart with sorrow; and for that !
would shoot them like dogs
Although he was stlll u young man.
no was tho girls senior by several
years. and ull his life Ind been spent
In the forests OF Grandprc. His father
and grandfather before him Ind been
keepers OF the forest, and In tho SCR
vlcc OF tho do Gavrollcs.
For tho rost. no was handsome
fellow. and endowed with nil the man
illness which comes OF tho occupation
OF forester. ilc could have his pick
Of tho village beauties. but his hcart
was entirely devoted TO his young
mistress. Almost ever since no could
remember hc had Ind the care OF her;
for whom shc was quite little girl.
and rode forth mounted on her pony's
back 10 have n gallop through the
forest. she was in'rus,cd 10 his CHARGE
for tho chcvalIor would my with u
smile. .'1'akc care Of hor llouk,l; ]
look to you TO bring her safely back
home" And during those rides and
ramblcs. when llouzcl Ind played the
guardian. blanche. with her protty.
nr,icss ways. had takon captive the
young Keepers heart, and hnd ro.
,nlned 1t, Thus. MS sho passed from