The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-03-08
"Take care, Vogel!" he said, still
in German. at is only woman"
Foes-and a Friend .


Knowing now that escape was inn
possible, Blanche stepped out from
her hiding-place, and stood, pale as
death, but resolute, looking at the
two officers, for such they were. The
elder man, apparently little moved by
her sex and helplessness, surveyed
her from head to foot with an angry
scowl; but the other, with light
laugh, leaped from his saddle, and
leading his horse by the rein, walked
close up to her. She met his eyes
without finching. though 1t seemed
to her as if her last hour had come.
To her surprise, however, he ad-
dressed her in her native tongue
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. VIII you tell me your
name, fraulein, and where you dwellP"
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 Vhlan 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 | 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 docs
not mean what he says.
"He is 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 gazed at the dead
body through binding tears. The
man on horseback laughed again.
"Thank your stars. girl, that it was
not you killed. but the curt" he cried.
silence, Vogel" exclaimed the
other. "Do you not sec the young
lady is terrified"
81 am not terrified" said Blanche.
al am French, and | do not fear the
enemies OF my country"
Hartmann looked at her with a
quiet smile. 1t was curious; but his
eyes were quite gentlc, and his man
ner more and moro kindly.
Il 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?n
II have father, answered Blanche.
''He must be a careless father. / am
! afraid, to suffer you TO be wandering in
the woods alone at SO perilous time. y
''He is With the army OF the north, y
cried Blanche, 'Iighting 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. i should
be sorry If any evil came to you.
Over there in Germany / have dear
sister OF my own"
He leaped into the saddle, and, with
a nod am 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 unframed, the tension OF
her 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 swellcd
with hate and Indignation against his
destroyer.
"Ah" she thought, "they are in
deed infamous, those Germans!'
Then she thought of the grave, gen.
tie young man who had addressed her
so respectfully, and she recalled his
parting words.-"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
| felow-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, b" it said.
II have been searching for YOU
I through the village; for, look you.
there is terrible news. The accursed
Uhfans are upon us in swarms!"
The Uhlans!" said Blanche. Eyes,
Houzel, know, for they shot poor
/ ~