Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-02-28
That Winter Night.
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER XV-CoNrINUED.

CHAPTER XV-CoNTINUED.
The other two Germans listened IN
no little surprise to this conversation,
which of course they were at q loss to
understand. Then the officer broke in:
for you? You seem in snug quarters
here; SO that it is unnecessary to think
of removing you, suppose?"
pardon me-" interrupted Huet;
..the sooner he is removed from this
house the better"
"Quite right" said Hartmann, sad
ly. II have no right here, where my
very presence is an outrage. Take
me away as soon as possible"
Without asking any further ques-
tions, the officers promised to send an
ambulance cart that very afternoon,
and in the meantime to tell of cou-
pie of soldiers to keep guard over the
patient and attend to his wants. After
another warm handshake, the Ger
mans left the chamber and descended
to the door.
In the afternoon the ambulance cart
arrived, and Hartmann was assisted
down. It was an open vehicle with a
canvass awning, rudely extemporized
for the purpose, and strewn thickly
with straw, on which the invalid was
able to lie almost at full length. Ly-
ing thus. with his head propped up by
pillows, he could see the wintry scene
around-the trees laden with snow,
the drift upon the ground, the gray,
still heaven above the woods.
Huet stood on the steps Of the
chateau watching his departure.
Hartman beckoned to him.
Monsieur" he said, al am going
away with heavy heart. All my thought
and care nowis for Mademoiselle de
Gavrolles. Should she ever speak of me
should she ever bear to think of
one SO unworthy-tell her that shall
never forget her, never cease to pray
for her and to bless her. May God
comfort her, monsieur, and watch
over her, now and forever!"
Huet made no reply. The cart
moved slowly away, driven by a
soldier in undress, and with a mounted
soldier in uniform on either side.
They had Travelled some distance
through the woods, and could see the
open country close at hand, when the
driver came to full stop. Blocking
the narrow road was travelling car
riage, one of the wheels of which had
loosened, and was lying deeply en-
bedded in the snow. The driver was
on foot. now examining the carriage,
now gesticulating wildly to the soldiers
as they approached.
Seated in the carriage, with his face
turned away from Hartmann, was a
tall gentleman in military undress,
carrying his arm in sling. With
angry exclamations in their native
tongue, the German soldiers rode up
to the driver and seemed commanding
him to clear the way. He answered
them with volley in French, not q
word of which they understood, and
pointed TO the wheel.
"What is the matterp" asked Hart
mann, addressing the driver Of his own
vehicle.
"An accident, Herr Captain" re-
piled the man, saluting. 1.-The car.
riage has broken down."
At this moment the strange gentle.
man, leaning on q stick or crutch,
alighted from the carriage. The light
fell full upon his pale face and close
cropped hair. Hartmann started and
raised himself upon his pillow. Some
thing in the face seemed familiar.
He looked and looked again. Saints
Of heaven! Could it be possible
Trembling violently, he called to the
driver of the ambulance:
"Quick! go to that gentleman! De-
mand his name and whittier he Is go
ing!"
The man leaped down, and, joining
the group at the side OF the carriage
addressed the stranger. Then he
came back to Hartmann, and said
saluting,
"His name, Herr Captain. is the
Chevalier de Gavrolles, and he is re.
turning invalided to his home yonder
at the chateau"
Had an angel from heaven alighted
upon his path, bringing some happy
message from another world, Hart.
mann could not have felt wilder
rapture or a more wondering awe. A
cry broke from his lips; his eyes swan
with sudden tears. Oh, the goodness
of God! the great mercy and marvel
Of his ways! The world frightened
as If with morning sunshine. Earth
and heaven seemed radiant with some
holy light.
..Ask him to come this way. En-
treat him; I must speak to him.
Quick, for heavens sake!'
The man obeyed, and again walked
over to the carriage, where the coach
man, assisted by the soldiers, was
busily attempting to mend the wheel
Then, after a minute, the gentleman,
leaning on his crutch, and partly sup
ported by the soldier in undress, made
his way laboriously to the side of the
ambulance.
Hartmann leaned over with trem-
bling, outstretched hands, while the
other looked up at him in surprise.
''Monsieur, do you not know me?'
cried the German. "Ah. heaven, do
you not remember? / left you for
dead. You gave me that last message
tho medallion?"