The Yale expositor., 1895-03-01
That Winter Night.
by ROBERT BUCHANAN.
CHAPTER U-CoNTINUED.

CHATTER ll--CONTINUED.
"After ALL" he said, 1.-THE country
is in no immediate want of soldiers;
and, as you say, mademoiselle your
daughter has only one natural protec-
tor. Perhaps you had better remain
at home"
.While France does not lack SOL
diers, she is in urgent need of good
officers. The war, unlike most wars,
is a righteous one, in so far as it is
war of defense only. Other noblemen
are making sacrifices, as you are
aware. 1t is now my turn to take my
place among the defenders of my coun-
try"
Unable to restrain his enthusiasm
any longer, Father Andre reached out
his hand aud grasped that of his en-
tertainer.
alt is noble deter .hination!
Mademoiselle Blanche will offer no
obstacles, | am sure.
al do not think she will, returned
the chevalier, ''when have made my
duty plain to her; for though she is
child, she has rare courage.
"Ah! has she not? Why look you,
it has often sent my heart into my
mouth to see her ride along the sea-
wall Do you remember, too, how
she swan out to sea last summer and
brought in little Pipot, the gardeners
son, when he was sinking for the last
time?h
"Mere Fevereau, the housekeeper,
is her old nurse, almost her foster
mother; she will never neglect her
charge. For the rest, you, old friend,
will look in from time TO time, to see
that all goes well. Should she be low
spirited and anxious, you will comfort
her, will you not? And should | never
RETURN Tears rose in his eyes; but
conquering his emotion, and brushing
the moisture away with his hand, he
proceeded: "Should | never return
YOU will watch over her and protect
her. Her worldly position will be Sc
cure-I have attended to all that
and she will ROMAN the mistress of the
chateau.
"Nay, nay" cried the priest, good
humoredly; 1.-THE good Go1 will bring
you safely back to mademoiselle. You
viii kill few rascally Germans, and
return like a hero when the war is
done"
"But you promise to do as have
asked you? You accept the commits
sion as a sacred trustP"
GAS sacred trust, chevalier."
Presently the priest rose to go; for
the evening was we'll advanced, and
he was an early bird. Before depart
ing, he accompanied his host to tho
drawing-room, large chamber fur
nished in the style of Louis Quatorze,
and here they found Blanche all alone,
seated at the harmonium, and singing
one OF the sweet old hymns once so
popular in Normandy. They entered
quietly and stood listening. When
the hymn was finished, the chevalier
bent over her and kissed her fondly.
IL shall tell her tonight" he whis-
pered to Father Andre, as they parted
at the porch.
He returned slowly in the drawing
room, and found that his daughter
had drawn back the heavy window
curtains, and was gazing out upon the
garden, flooded by the rays of the
full moon. The moonlight crept in,
shone softly upon her face, and chung
round her tall, slight form like robe
of magnetic brightness. Quietly and
silently the chevalier joined her in the
recess of the oriel-window, and they
gazed out upon the night together.
"Hubert says--he has just heard e
at the farm-that there has been
another great battle. As / was look
ing out / was thinking-But what i:
the matter, dear fatherP Are you
cold?"
mo, my child; go on. You were
thinking"
II was thinking how the battle
field must look, with the peaceful
moonlight shining down upon it,
and lighting the faces of the dead
Ahl how grateful should those be who
dwell in peace at home, and never
look upon such sights as that! AND
how grateful should / be that have
my own dear father always with me
while so many daughters weep ant
mournm
The chevalier shivered again as i
with cold. He tried to speak, bu
could not find words. At last ht
could bear the suspense no longer
Not withdrawing his hands, he looked
down upon the face of his daughter
and said. in a low voice:
blanche. have something to sa,
TO you--something, my child, tina
may cause you some surprise. and per
haps little pain. In few days, m,
darling must leave you, and go upor
journey"
Father. what Is Mp Something ha
happened. Going upon a journey