The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-06-16


through Paris unmolested. You hate
me as your foe, but you must let me
guard you to your home, even though
you hate me the more"
'"There is no need" she replied. 'I
go every day to the hospital, and every
day at this hour, OF very little earlier,
L must return"
A shadow, and then light, swept
over the young mans face.
81 am stationed so near here that,
if you will permit me, every night /
will be your escort" he said.
''I would rather die than accept a
kindness from your hands, or those of
any of your blood" she answered hot
ly-"you, who are my dear old fathers
murderersl'
And as she spoke the last words she
paused before a gate, which the con-
cierge hastily opened for her admis-
sion, and which instantly swung to be-
hind her.
But alone in her room, Marie paused.
Singularly enough, she could recall
every feature of the young officers
face-a face which seemed to her to re-
alize some dream of manly beauty; the
echo of his voice fingered in her ear
voice low, and rich, and musical
musical even when he had sternly ad-
dressed the soldiers in his own gutter
al tongue.
Her heart was beating high with fear
and excitement, and indignant anger,
but mingled with it was a strange
thrill of Joy.
'It is because proved my hate, Z"
she murmured to herself ''Yet he
was kind to me. But for him"
She would not continue her thought
to the end. Resolutely she put it from
her.
All the next day she was busy again
among her wounded. Since her faith
er's death she had gone into the hos
pitfalls.
Sitting, with folded hands, in the
midst of all the misery about her, with
her own wretchedness for mental food,
she had felt herself upon the verge of
madness, and so had offered her SER
vices, which only too gladly were ac-
cepted, though there had been some
little demur about her youth.
When evening fell she fastened
homeward, but with new dread, new
sinking, until, looking behind her, as
she turned the corner of street, she
saw, following her, her protector of
the night before.
Until the gate again closed behind
her, he let but that little distance in
teryene between them.
Hot blood mounted to her face, and
yet an instructive sense of care and
protection mingled with what she
named his presumption.
Every night afterward it was the
same. Earlier or later, as she might
chance to be, he was near her, nor left
her till safe within her own home.
One night he approached her.
''There will be fighting tomorrow"
he said. i cannot be here to aid you.
You must not go out alone. Promise
me that you will not ="
For moment she was almost tempted
into forgetfulness that he was Prus-
sian. For a moment she was almost
tempted to answer, 81 promisel" then
she recovered herself, and turned hotly
and Indignantly upon him.
Pass my word to your she said
'to you, my enemy-the enemy whom
1 hatew
'And you, my enemy, are the enemy
love!" he replied. "Why should /
love a woman to whom l have spoken
scarce twenty words in my life, and
who has answered me with scorn and
contempt always? L know not. Some
strange freak of fate, perhaps; but so
it is. may go out tomorrow to meet
my death. If 1 should, doubtless You
will never know that thus France has
avenged herself; but l should like to
feel you sometimes gave me one kindly
thought, even as my last thought, liv-
ing or dying, will be of the one woman
who gave me stone for the heart
offered her. But, for Gods sake,
promise me you will not go alone to-
morrow on the street, Do not let me
have the added torture that you are in
peril.
They had reached the gate ere this.
Her hand was on the bell. She opened
her lips, meaning to scathingly utter
his deserved rebuke, but, lo instead
the two simple wo DIS, 81 promise"
alone issued from them in a low and
whisper.
Before she had OWNED his inten-
lion, he had caught in his the little,
yloved fingers and raised them to his
Ups The next moment the gate
swung TO between them, and Marie,
Tying to her own room, had flung her
self in burst of bitter sobbing on the
bed.