Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-07-07
Pale slla sssrTiligd, thss girl kneit.

Pale and terrifed, thss girl kneit.
ssYou frighten me, papa, y she said.
sIt's naught to frighten youy" he
answered; ttbut it's one thing to march
ont to the field and another to march
back They may leave me cold and
stiff behind them on their returnZ-the
gallant sons Of France; but I'll rest
easier in my grave, though that grave
be q trench filed with the bones of my
comrades, if I know my child never
viii dishonor her race. Now raise
your hand, Marie, and swear that you
will never marry man who cannot
boast French blood in his veinsp'
Solemnly the girl swore
The old man smiled triumphantiy as.
he bent and kissed the long, faxea
braid wound about the little head.
I'm ready now he said.
Within week the siege of Paris
had begun. Within month Pierre
DuvsPs daughter was orphaned. A
Prussian bullet had stilled forever the
heart so loyal to France.
For q time Marie was stunned. No
one found opportunity to sympathize
with her grief, for around and about
her e'Tery one was nursing some misery
Of their own. Every house bore some
badges of mourning. Every heart
carried its own burden. u
y But 'sorrier days were in store for
Faris--days when the Prussians
mArclied untroubled sshrough its
streets, and spoke their hated language
in loud, triumphal accents.
0nta party of these Marie stumbled
one evening as she hastened home.
Her pretty face, from which she had
thrown back her heavy veil of crepe,
attracted them. i
instantly two OF them approached
her, addressing her in her own tongue.
She hastily drew down her veil, but
one bolder than the rest raised his
hand to again uplift it. Scarcely had
he done so than it was struck down by
sharp, quick blow from bohind.
MsEie turned, to see the French
man who had befriended her; but, lol
o. yorlng officer, in full Prussian uni
form, stood before her, respectfully
touching his hat.
A few swift words of command to
the men sent them, abashed, away.
Their, with an accent almost as pure as
her own, he begged that she would
alloNt him 10 escort her to, hershome.s :
sisuch uutrages In time of war are
difficult always to prevent, (" he said;
'sbui you risk mulch by appearing un-
attended III the street. Always your
fathtr-yoar brother" 40 &
"llh!' she interrupted, edo You
leaYt Us our fathers and our brothers?
No! / have been to the hospital, caring
for the poor men who may be spared
TO their daughters and their sisters.
As Tor me, you, have already taken
from me my all. ("
Ard she moved quickly away, as If
the conversation were at an end; hut
the young officer Kept pace beside her.
ssl2ardon me, :" she said, "but you
are loo young and too pretty to pass
through Paris unmolested. You hate
me s.s you. foe, but you must let me
guard you to your home, even though
you hate RE the more. 49, ~
'sThere is no need" she replied. Il
90 every day to tho hospital, and every
day at thin hour, or very little earlier,
I misbreiurn.o p - {.
A shadow, and thez light. swept
cYe1 the young mans face,
r[am stationed so near here that,
If YOU viii permit me, every night ]
will be your escort," he said.
''E wos.id rather die than accept
kindness EsroD your hands, or those q