The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-02


street to the other side Of the garden,
climbed the wall and then dropped
down among the rosebushes. His hope
was that when Nine. Primeau thought
that he was out of the way she would
allow her niece to go out into the garden
for breath of air after being impris-
oned for two or three days.
The young man waited, his eyes fixed
eagerly on tho house door, dreading
every instant that the servant would
appear and close it for the night. But
at last the young girl appeared As soon
as she had passed his hiding place and
was nearly at the end of the path he
came out and followed her.
When she turned in order to retrace
her steps, she saw him and uttered cry
of surprise. He advanced to meet her,
his cap in his hand, and then, when he
was once face to face with her, he told
her all, hurriedly, eagerly, mixing
everything up together and yet fixing
her attention in spite Of his inooherenoy
Of all he said by the passionate look in
his eyes and by the tender infexion Of
his voice, in which his whole soul vi
brated.
She listened to him in establishment.
Her face was paler than ever with emo
ton, hut sbo could not find word to
say to him-her ideas seemed to be hope
lessly scattered. Her hands were clasped
together, and she shuddered perceptibly.
1t was as though invisible wings were
lowering around her in the still blue Of
the summer evening.
Just like some vision she retreated
slowly and then faded from his sight in
the gathering darkness amid the trees.
AS she was going, though, he said hur.
riedly: II understand y it has been
SO sudden you cannot answer
me y y. Do not tell me now, but at
daybreak, when our detachment passes
in front of the house n y be there II =
make some sign *** smile *#* or, at
any rate let me see you open the win
dow even *** nothing else but just
that 80 and I shall know that you
are not angry with me, that I may come
and see you again"
When once the young girl was back
in the siokroom, she took up her usual
place on low sofa near the bed.
The invalid was breathing more regu-
larly and seemed to be sleeping.
Now that she was calmer and could
think it all over deliberately she felt
deeply touched as she remembered all
he had said, and presently feeling Of
pride came over her. She was proud to
have won the love Of such man, and
great tears Of happiness gathered in her
eyes and rolled slowly down her pale
cheeks.
Suddenly, at daybreak, Louise was
awakened by bugle blast, bold, clear,
victorious, rousing from slumber the ST.
lent folds and the whole country round.
The young girl started up, and she
saw faint, rosy light penetrating
through the closed venetian blinds.
In the distance she could hear the
confused murmur of mems voices.
An invincible desire took possession
of her to break away from her monot-
onous existence, to live and breathe
and to answer the appeal to her love
which had so bewildered her yesterday.
She went quickly to the window and
stretched her two hands up eagerly to
open it, fearing to be too late-when a
cry of distress stopped her short.
The sick woman, livid and shivering,
was sitting up in bed, and seeing what
her niece was just going to do she cried
out i'll q hoarse, desperate voice:
"You arc opening the window, Lou
Use. r. n Whatever possesses you? 1 am
2old-oh, SO cold! *** Come here to
me. x** Don't leave me. *** Oh,
what pain am in am terrified. ***
Child ~ l am dying-I know
am" $50
Just at that moment Louise could
hear the measured tread of the soldiers;
but, nevertheless, she went to her aunt.
As soon as she reached the bedside the
sick woman seized her in her arms and
kissed her over and over again. But for
he first time Louise was impatient and
;ried to disengage herself from her
.unt's embrace. 1t was as though sho
we're attracted toward the window by
omo hitherto unknown force, powerful
md almost unearthly.
Tho sick woman took the girls hand
md placed it on her own heart, which
vas beating wildly. 1t was enough.
y y A deep, an infinite, pity overcamo
he young girl. She resisted no
onger, but quietly and submissively
at down on the bed, and, taking the
Invalid in her arms, she kissed the poor,
yrinkled face and soothingly promised
lever-never to leave her. The two
women remained thus, with the blinds
till down, while with measured tread
+ heavy boots on the pavement and a
hanging Of steel the soldiers marched
n, and on, and on until finally
.ouise heard nothing more but the beat
ng of her own heart.
In front Of the old gray house, hold
ng his sword loosely, Maurice Tournier
ad felt terrible pang as he gazed up
t those closed blinds. When the detach-
nent had passed, be had stopped short,
nd then, walking back under pretense
f inspecting his men, he had gazed and
azed at that window.
When at last the thick screen of pop
ar trees hid from him, first, the house,
hen the square, and last Of all the lit
le church, he clinched his teeth tightly
ogether, for he felt sobs rising in his
lroat, as though they would choke him.
Suddenly, ashamed of his weakness,
ardening himself by tremendous ef-
ort of his will against his grief and
motion, be tried to feel anger instead,
nd he kept repeating to himself:
ut is all her pride and vanity!'
And two lives that might have bless
each other were divided forever
trand.