Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-01-03
CHAPTER III.
Blanche,

could realize the full significance Of
her fathers words; and even when
she did SO, she did not weep and wall
in the manner OF hysterical damsels.
Her father had not mise stimated her
character; she possessed both courage
and self-control. Yet 1t would have
been seen, had the sunlight been shin
ing upon her, that the life-blooi had
fed from her cheeks. leaving them
white and cold as marble, and that in
her eyes there was fixed expression
Of utter horror md pain. Trembling
violently, she c.uly to her father, as
II she already felt the iron hand
which was about to snatch him from
her.
Father, you will not go! France
has thousands upon thousands Of
soldiers, and I have only you! Promise
me you will stay promise. and l
know you will keep your word"
"My word is already given" re-
piled the chevalier, gently; land it
pledges me to accept service in the
defense of my country. My darling,
have hesitated a long time in my
great love and care for you; but the
events of the last few days have de-
cided me. and If 1 now delayed, l
should feel myself littlo better than q
miserable coward"
mo one would think you that!" ex-
claimed Blanche. ..All the world
knows you are brave"
II should be coward at least in
my own estimation. Blanche, there
are moments in the lives OF nations,
as there are moments In the lives Of
men, when life hangs lowering In the
balance, when the slightest thing may
decide the sufferers fate for good
or evil. One Of these moments
has now come to France. Yes
terday she was sinner.
justly punished; to-day she Is q
martyr. barbarously outraged. Would
you have your father stop here, use-
less and despised, while other men,
his countrymen, are sacrificing life
and fortune for their country's sake.
and when the sword of every true
Frenchman is needed to repulse the
invader and secure an honorable
peacep"
As he spoke he clasped her In his
ARMS, and kissed her tenderly again
and again. Both were strongly moved;
both seemed to feel the shadow of an
eternal separation But with strong
effort the noble girl conquered her
agony before 1t could conquer her,
and sought with all her power to
tighten the burden Of her fathers sor-
row. Almost for the first time the
chevalier realized the full strength
and intensity Of that tender nature.
The next morning when they met she
was calm and resigned, though very
pale. She had spent the greater part
OF the night in prayer, and sacred
strength had come to her from the
divine source Of all our smiles and
tears. Two days later came letters
from the administration accepting his
voluntary services, and bidding him to
repair at once to headquarters.
Quietly, almost calmly, Blanche saw
to the preparations for his departure; !;
but on the last night before the separ-
alton the anguish became too much
for her, and she fairly broke down, and
sobbed upon his breast. Then taking
from her bosom small golden medal
lion attached to slender golden chain,
she placed it in his hands. saying:
"Father, see! It contains my
mothers portrait and mine. You will
wear it, will you notp Perhaps-God
knows!-it will be a charm to keep
you safe, to bring you back to me.
Oh, father, father!" she added, wildly,
"what shall do when you are gone
away?"
Trust in God, my darling" he an
swered. Then raising the medallion
to his lips, "Place it round my neck
with your own hands. So long as l
am spared it will rest where you have
placed it; and If l fall--''
.Ah, do not speak OF it! God will
bring you safe back to me. All, yes,
dear father, I have faith. He will not
part those who love each other so
much"
He drew her softly to him, smooth
ing her hair with his hand and looking
into her eyes.
blanche, my child" he said, '.do
not let us be selfish in our sorrow; do
not let us forget that ours is COM
mon misery, shared by thousands upon
thousands, not only here in France,
but yonder in Germany, beyond the
Rhine. 1t is the curse OF war that
spares no man, and is cruelest to the
helpless and innocent. Even our ene-
mics have children who live and pray
for rthem-remember that"
She looked at him in wonder, vague
ly understanding, yet scarcely realiz-
ing, the largeness Of his noble COM
passion.
"Ah, my father, you are good. Even
in your great sorrow you feel for
others more than for yourself. But
all the world knows = even Father
Andre has said 1t in the pulpit-our
enemies are monsters without pity and
without love-"
MAY, Blanche" he answered gen.
tly. "they are only unfortunate men
like ourselves, speaking q different
tongue, but capable OF the same holy
affections. They are not to blame,
but the evil rulers who urge them on.
It is with a sad heart. my child, that
l draw the sword against any fellow
creature; but tho peril of France is
my justification, and whatever blow
l strike will b. blow OF sol:-lcfense."
CHAPTER III.
An Adventure.
When it became known that the