Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-01-21

paragon. And now that my strength
has returned. and something Of my
own spirits. assure you shall be OF
better service than you imagine"
Nay. dear Jules. have all possible
confidence In you. and 80 has my un-
Gle. He told me about your generous
and heroic interference for the poor
old priest In Paris. have been sad
because could not throw of the de-
preston the lack Of his cheerful en-
ccuragement was likely enough to In
duce, and l have been haunted with
fear Of some danger Detailing him. He
is SO thoroughly acquainted with the
forest, and so accurately informed OF
the revolutionary movements. his loss
to us would be certain destruction"
"It would indeed be irreparable. /
am overwhelmed with gratitude and
admiration for him. What a wonder
full man he is! No king could seem
half SO grand to me-"
"And you know not the half. only
wonder that he has ever been one OF
the revolutionists."
NAY, that is the least of my won
derment. With his talents. his varied
Information, his heroic nature and
great heart, l cannot blame him for
rising up against the oppression. for
the laws of France were horribly grind
ing upon the under classes; and that
such as he should be insulted and down
trodden by titled ignoramus would
indeed be shameful"
"Yet / am sure he is troubled and
remorseful for the part he has taken"
Yes, his sensitive nature is shock
ed by the bloody issue of events. Had
such heroic. magnanimous natures as
his held entire control. We should have
seen quite another form Of revolution.
There is General Lafayette. know
that he believed in the overthrow of
the throne, and the establishment OF
republic, similar to that of his favorite
United States. He is woefully made
aware that he who touched the straw
with fire cannot hope to control the
fame
And your sympathies. Jules, you
have not told me which way they
turn?" asked the girl.
Indeed, both ways, may say. do
not blame the people for declaring In
favor of equality. l cannot bear to see
the nobility massacred. At present
because of this last sentiment l am
hunted down like n wolf. and grievous-
ly hated by the peoples party. l sup
pose therefore might be called an ar
istocrat.",
You do not seem like one Of the
people," observed Felicie, thoughtfully.
"I may reiterate the remark con-
corning you, Chlotilde. I never saw
duchess or marchioness more thorough
ly aristocratic in appearance"
She blushed and answered hastily:
my associates have all been nobly
born people"
81 should know 1t. It is the same
with your uncle. It all goes to prove
the much vaunted arlstocracy OF blood
is all moonshine. Educate one OF the
common people into the retinements of
wealth, and they are far nobler than
nobility, take them at aheir best"
Felicie recalled some similar remark
of her mothers and a sorrowful ex-
preston came over her face. and she
sat a long time in silence her head
dropping on her arm.
Jules, perceiving it. hastened to find
an interesting book, and read aloud.
After which he playfully proposed he
should serve her to lunch, and to
divert her mind, assumed the manners
of an Arab host, and actually brought
n merry smile to her lips by his quaint
language. as he brought forward some
fos lota hn CTR
Emile had taken from the chateau.
So passed the time. each endeavoring
to add to the others cheerfulness and
divert the approach of melancholy.
Every evening they went up to the
higher room, carefully examined the vi
cinity, and then in utter silence
stepped out to breathe the delicious
freshness of the outer air. But as the
days wore on into weeks, apprehension
and anxiety seized either mind. though
each endeavored to conceal 1t from the
other.
They still practiced their little inno-
cent arts for diversion and entertain
ment. but the blank smile, the absent
look, revealed that their cheerfulness
was all pretense.
They discovered. too, the watch in
the forest had been more closely en-
forced, for Jules had taken Emiles
place in the upper room and several
times heard the conversation of the
men.
He came down one night and found
Felicie weeping bitterly.
Dear, dear Chlotilde, take heart,
beseech you" cried he; do not despair;
all will yet be we'll"
She tried vainly to repress her grief,
and then burst forth piteously.
Emile is gone; they have killed
him! my noble, generous friend is lost.
Oh, 1 am all alone-all alone in this
cruel, pitiless world"
Jules knelt down before her. and
drew the dropping head to his breast.
''Chlotilde, dearest, that is ungener-
Gus. Here is one who is ready to sac
rifice everything, even life itself, in
your defense. You force from me the
secret 1 meant to declare to your un-
Gle before | breathed it in your ear
that I love you, dearest one, with a
love purer and truer and more fervent
than 1 had dared to hope should bright
en- my des1lated life; that I would
choose you, though l were a king in
the land, before the proudest lady, the