Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-06-18
HER ENEMY.
BY JENNY WREN.

4 NOUlO swear SuO hoh w W.
changed in her cradle. Wait "
little whIla TIL we teach th ir
arrogant pretrnSiOn how France
resents it; and then such women
will lament the treachery they
dare call love-
80 spoke Pierre Duval in hot
breath, just before the siege OF
Paris had begun-breath klndled
by the news brought him by the
fair girl shrinking before his anger
the news that one of her school
mates, the daughter OF an old
ne1ghbor, had been married, The
day previous, to a young Pruslan
officer, bearing active arms against
the country OF his newly made
wife; and he had LETT her side
twenty fouI hours after the CON-
pletion of the ceremony, to reJoln
his regiment,
All through the day, old Pierre
kept muttering to himself; at night
fall, he called his little Marie to
him.
Women are strange beings he
began, as if to relieve his mind OF
load which was weighing upon
It; 'aad perhaps i've no right to
believe you of different stuff from
the rest. These are uncertain
times we're in, too. The Prusslans
are proving stronger than we.
thonght, and it behOoves every
man who can carry mnsket to
stand ready. But, Marie, girl, If
your old father marches after the
drum and fife with the rest-and
no young legs of them all will
march more wlllingly-I want you
TO make me a sOleman promise;
nay, mOre,, to kueel beside me and
make me a solemn oath. Kneel,
nv girl-kneelp
Pale aud terrified, the girl
knelt.
you frighten me, papa she
said.
It's naugbt to trighten you,' he
answered; but it's one thing to
march out to the field and another
to march back. T 'ey may leave
me cold and stiff behind them on
their return-the gallant sJns OF
France; but III rest easier IN my
grave, though that grave be a
trench filled with the bones of my
comrades. if know my child never
will dishonOr her race. Now raise
our hand, Marie. and swear that
you will never marry a man who
cannot boast French blood IN his
yeinsp
Solemnly the girl swOre.
The old man smiled triumphant
| " as he bent and kissed the long,
flaxen braid wound about the little
head.
Pm ready now he said.
Within a week the siege OF Paris
had begun. Within a month Pierre
DuvaPs daughter was orphaned.
A Prusslan bullet had s;llIed for
ever the heart so loyal to France.
For a time Marie was stunned
! No one found OppOr tunity to
sympathize with her grief, for
around and about her every one
was nursing some misery OF their
own. Every house bore some badge
of mourning. Every heart carried
it's own burden.
But sorrIer days we're in store
tor Paris-days when the Prus'
,ians marched untroubled through
lts streets, and spoke their hated
language In loud, triumphal &C
cents.
On a party of these Marie stum
bled one evening as she hasten
Ell home. Her pretty face, from
which she had thrown back hel
heavy veil of crepe, attracted
them.
Instantly.two of them approach
! ed her, addressing her IN her OWL
ton que.
! She hastily drew down her veil
but one bOlder than the rest raiseC
! his hand to again uplifC it. Scarce
. ly had he done so than 1t wa
struck down by a sharp qulcl
blow from behind.
Marie turned to see the French
man who had befriended her; bat
10! a young officer, IN full Prus
sian uniform. stood before her, re
specially touching his hat.
A few swift words OF command
4. al. "A