The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-01-20

the Child and held her out to him.
'You haven't even kissed baby, she
exclnmed, reproachfully.
| Malo wavered.
''Thcy will think I am coward. ="
be groaned. staggering against the bed
in spite of himself and leaning upon it
for support
jean you are wounded, / knew it.
Come into the cellar and let me take
care OF you she entreated. "The
enemy might search for you, and you
must live for me-for Yvonnette.
"No, ! must co." he insisted, brac-
ing himself with an effort; but his
strength gave out ns he said it, and he
reeled into her arms. She supported
him into the obscure cellar and laid
him among the bundles of straw.
Then she returned to the dwelling
room. Now that he was no longer
there she could act. She took the
flag, broke the staff ovor her knee and
threw the pieces into the fire. Next
she hid the gun under n pile OF fag-
gots in the corner. Then pouring
some vinegar and water in bowl,
she told the child to be good and not
make noise and went to attend to
her wounded husband.
Yvonnette continued to play with
her doll, but her attention was at-
tracted to strip of the hag which the
flames had respected. 1t was piece
of white silk with Aeur de lys en-
bossed in gold upon il. She drew it
ont of the embers with cry of de-
light, and setting her doll upon her
knee was engaged in pinning the silk
upon it in the shape OF dress when
the door opened and big, fierce,
white moustached soldier in a blue
tunic. white breeches and high gal.
ters entered. He was sergeant of
erenadiers of the Republic.
He glanced around the room and ut
once noticed that tho gun rack was
empty.
Zone of those wolves who have
been peppering us from ambush evil
IDENTIFY lives here" he muttered.
There's n gun missing. A thousand
thunders! II we catch any of the ras-
calls they will get short shrift and no
ceremony.
He tore aside the curtains of
the bed, peered around and sud-
denly caught sight of Yvonnette,
who, not in tho least concerned went
on dressing her doll.
The savage expression OF his face
soitened into tender smile aud he
went towards her.
"Whst q shame to lenve her all
alone in that house at such time rs
this" he muttered. He bent, took
her in his arms and kissed her.
whats your name, little dear9" he
/ asked.
"Yvonnette." replied tho child.
why. Two got little Yvonnettc.
too, just like you, and three little
boys rs well," he said, and the -ecol.
lection OF his little brood in Paris
brought the tears into the soldiers
eyes.
At that instant he noticed the silk
on the doll and tho hard, fierce OK
preston returned to his face again.
"Where did you get that?" he ex-
claimed harshly, dropping the child
and seizing the stuff
"There," said Yvonnette, half
frightened at his change of manner,
pointing to the fire.
He rushed to the hearth, drew some
of the half burnt pieces of the flag.
staff from the flames, with piece OF
scorched silk, and recognized them.
"Who do these belong to?" he
went on.
"To papa"
"Where is your papa?"
"There," said Yvonnette, pointing
| to the door.
''Tve got one of them at last"
| growled the sergeant savagelys seiziug
his gun. "And if don't fill him with
lead enough to sink him to tho bottom
of the sea inside OF two minutes, my
names not Laderoute."
He strobe to the cellar door and
shook it. 1t was bolted on the inside,
and still further enraged he raised
his r life and was about to splinter the
frail partition with the butt end Of the
weapon when he heard sound that
made him turn his head.
Without realizing the danger her