The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-11-05

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They sat down and. listening 10 the mil
itary band, seemed 10 see "A CLEAN Of |
their lost happiness. II seemed to them
as if nothing had changed and as if they
might hear behind them at any moment
the colonel's voice saying: Good after
noon, ladies. Today the One Hundred
and Twenty fourth is giving the con-
cert. Its music does not equal ours. y
But the shouts of children playing on
the grass near by were the only sound
they heard. The mother, with a sigh.
tried TO read the paper through glasses
dimmed by tears, while the daughter
cast a longing glance toward her former
admirers, who scarcely knew her now.
She was nearly %, but her face, refined
by sorrow, was more beautiful than
ever. She was like flower refreshed
and purified by storm. She had lost
ell that had made her so capricious and
disquieting. Grave and sweet, she
seemed TO be doing penance for her past.
One day she saw a new face among
the officers who promenaded past, smok-
ing, chatting and laughing. In mo-
ment she was transported to the gen.
erals ballroom and she saw again her
timid lover motionless in a corner, de-
vouring her with his eyes
mamma, there is the lieutenantV
he saw her, too, for he grew pale and
with kept in hand came up to her. The
widow hastily folded her paper and,
pointing to vacant chair, said with
kindly smile:
"Ah, is that you, lieutenant? What
long time since we have met! We are
truly glad to see You. But pardon me; l
called you lieutenant, but / see You
have third stripe ON your sleeve"
Then, blushing, he related how at the
end of a six months campaign he had
been promoted to a captaincy after the
| affair of Nam Dimh. After that he had
been shut up in Tuyen- Guam with his
| commander. This terrible siege lasted
| five weeks and they had to constantly
beat back the furious Chinese. whose
| living waves dashed against the walls
| Of the ruined fortress He had been
| wounded the last day III a supreme eff
| fort; then from afar above the clamor
| of the yellow hordes he had heard the
bugler Of the French sounding deliv-
erance. Oh, the joy of that moment!
He saw the enemy fee, the tricolor APP
pear; then he sank down without regret
His condition appeared so serious that
he was sent back decorated with the
cross. During the voyage he had rapidly
recovered, and on his arrival he found
that he had been recommended for pro-
motion to the rank of major. The ladies
listened in silence. The mother, with
her knowledge of the profession, knew
that he was ten years in advance of his
former comrades. The daughter looked
closely at the young officer and found
him scarcely recognizable; his pallor
gave him a decidedly distinguished air.
Was it possible they had ever disdained
this brave soldier who, paying for his
honors with his blood, had returned tC
an assured future?
He, too, looked critically mt the girl.
Could the serious, reflective woman be
fore him be the frivolous, capricious
! girl he had once known? She was Q
thousand times more attractive to him
in her new guise. She was all he haC
| ever dreamed of and he was filled with
wild delight Their eyes met, and his
were filled with such alteration that the
girls lids dropped in embarrassment
When evening came, the women arose
and the officer accompanied them tt
their home. They met regularly in the
park on the days that followed. The
mother read the papers and the young
people talked. As autumn advanced ant
the yellow leaves covered the walks i
was too chilly to sit, so they promenadet
up and down the deserted park, happy il
each others company.
December passed in an intimacy daily
growing more tender. Still at times the
captain seemed to be nervous and wor
ried. One day, losing his usual self con
troll, he pressed the girls arm which
was passed through his, and the expires
sion of his eyes made her believe tina
he was about to declare his love. HI
was silent, however, and fell into 1
gloomy meditation.
His agitation increased as the new
year approached. He made frequsn
trips to Paris and neglected the ladies
They feared they had been deceived a
to his intentions, and could not accoun
for his behavior.
At 6 O'Clock on the evening Of Dec
81 the widow sat reading the paper
which contained list Of the promotion
in the army. Suddenly she exclaimed:
"Here is his name. He has been pro
motedv'
At the same moment hurried foot
steps were heard in the hall. The doc
was thrown open and the one so lon,
expected entered the room. He smiled
flushed with pleasure. He paused befor
the two women. The widow said. ex
tending her hand:
my dear boyl So this was what wor
ried you So"
He replied with loving pride;
"Mademoiselle, have future nov
TO offer you. love you Will you b
my wife?"
She grew pale at the remembrance o
her first refusal; then, thinking of al
this brave boy had done to deserve hap
piness, she went close to him, laid he
head on his shoulder, and with her lip
pressed against the rough galloon s.
valiantly earned she wept for joy
From the French For Short Stories.
Astronomical Photography.
In astronomical photography the mos
startling figures confront us. Stai
....L l.