Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-01-10
That Winter Night.
CHAPTER Iv-CoNrINUED.
by ROBERT BUCHANAN.

| CHAPTER lN-COSTINUED.
"They are in Rouen, mademoiselle!
They have cut the telegraph wires!
Lord deliver us!"
In these elements of alarm Blanche
did not think OF her self, nor OF the
personal peril which might soon
threaten her; all her thought and care
was for her father. She prayed for
him incessantly. While all the dis
trict was in an uproar, and the chat
eau itself like startled rookery,
with old Hubert wildly holding forth
and the female servants chattering in
terror, she remained outwardly calm,
seldom leaving the privacy of her own
apartments. But one cold, still after
noon, when the first autumnal frost
was on the ground, she left the chat
eau and walked out into the woods,
which looked beautiful in the sere and
yellow leaf. Clad in a simple dress Of
black velvet, with an ivory cross, her
fathers gift, suspended around her
neck, she seemed almost like a re-
ligeuse. Her only companion was an
old Norman deerhound, christened
"Gaston," after her father.
Aimlessly wandering, full Of her
own sad thoughts, she passed down to
the cliffs by the sea. and standing
near to the little chapel, looked down
on the village. A diligence had just
come in, and an excited group was
gathered round it before the inn door,
while people were moving to and fro
in all directions, some running. Then
glancing toward the church, she saw
Father Andre at the gate, conversing
with q man who, with excited ges-
lures. was eagerly pointing up the st.
Valery road.
The sun was sinking over the sea,
and inland the prospect was already
growing dark; yet she did not
hasten her footsteps, though she now
turned her face in the direction of
home. Before she reached the wicket
gate leading into the home woods the
full moon had arisen, mingling its
bright beams with the last faint rays
OF daylight
Suddenly she was startled by the
sound OF horses hoofs, and almost the
same moment she perceived two men
on horseback rapidly approaching
across the field. The moonlight struck
full upon them and flashed upon some
thing like glittering steel. She knew
at once that they were soldiers. for
their spurs jingled as they came, and
each OF them carried a long weapon
like spear. Quick as thought she
drew back among the bushes, and
seizing the dog CASTOR by the COLLAR,
made it lie down at her feet.
They were Uhlans!
She knew them at once by their
dress and the spears they carried; for
pictures of the wild cavalry were IA
miliar to her from the illustrated
journals. She had read and heer2f0R.
of the reckless deviltry and cruelty of
these men, who, more than any other
portion of the German army, had
awakened the superstitious horror of
the population.
Fortunately she was safely hidden,
and the strangers would have ridden
by unsuspiciously had it not been for
the conduct of the dog. In spite Of
her attempts to quiet him, CASTOR be-
gan to howl, show his teeth, and
struggle for escape; and suddenly, as
they passed the wicket-gate, he tore
himself free, and leaping from the
bushes, rushed fiercely at the horses
heels.
Utterly terrified, Blanche remained
in her hiding place, watching what
followed in trembling fascination. As
the dog darted out, showing his teeth,
one of the horsemen wheeled swift as
lightning and covered him with a
pistol. There was q flash and q re-
port and the poor animal lay dead on
the ground.
Crouching in the bushes, Blanche
felt her heart swell with mingled hate
and horror. To her simple mind the
men seemed scarcely human, re-
sembling rather the savage monsters
OF popular imagination. They spoke
together for some moments; then. to
her terror she saw the younger soldier
pointing eagerly to the place where
she lay hidden, and saying something
which was received by his companion
with an incredulous shrug OF the
shoulders. Then she heard the sharp
click of a pistol-lock, and simulta-
neously saw the elder man ride close
up to the bushes, pistol in hand.
Something clearly attracted his at
tention, for he uttered loud ex-
clamation in German, at the same
time pointing the weapon straight
toward the hiding place of the un-
lucky girl The other called to him
impatiently, as If requesting him to
leave the spot, but he was determined.
Blanche, still unseen, looked straight
into his cruel eyes, then unable to
control herself any longer, and ready
to face her fate, whatever it might be,
she rose to her feet, and. parting the
bushes, stood erect before him. For
moment her fate hung in the bal
ance; his finger was upon the trigger
and he was in act to fire. But sud-
denly his companion uttered cry OF
warning and, riding quickly to his
side, placed hand upon his arm.
Take care. Vogel!'' he said, still
in German. at is only woman"
Foes-and Friend.
Knowing now that escape was i'm
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