Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-07-01
HER ENEMY.

HER ENEMY.
"If she were a daughter Of mine |
would disown her If l thought a
daughter of mine would so much as
touch hated Prussian's S hand, | would
swear she had been changed in her
cradle. Wait a little while till we
teach their arrogant pretenslon how
France resents it; and then such wo-
men will lament the treachery they
dare call love"
So spoke Pierre Duval in hot breath
Just before the siege of Paris had be-
gun-breath kindled by the news
brought him by the fair girl shrinking
before his anger-the news that one of
her schoolmates, the daughter of an
old neighbor, had been married, the
day previous, to a young Prussian Of
fcer, bearing active arms against the
country Of his newly.made wife; and
he had left her side twenty-four hours
after the completion of the ceremony,
to rejoin his regiment.
All through the day old Pierre kept
muttering to himself at nightiall he
called his little Marie to his side.
Women are strange beings" he be-
gun, as if to relieve his mind of a load
which was weighing upon it, "and per-
haps 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
thought, and it behooves every man
who can carry a musket 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 willingly-I want
you to make me solemn promise; nay,
more, to kneel beside me and make me
solemn oath. Kneel, my girl, kneelY'
Pale and terrified the girl knelt.
"You frighten me, papa" she said.
Its naught to frighten you, he
answered "but it's one thing to march
out to the field and another to march
back. They may leave me cold and
stiff behind them on their return-the
gallant sons Of France, but I'll rest
easier in my grave, although that grave
be trench filled with the bones Of my
comrades, if know my child never
will dishonor her race. Now raise
your hand, Marie, and swear that you
will never marry man who cannot
boast French blood in his veins!'
Solemnly the girl swore.
The old man smiled triumphantly
as he bent and kissed the long, faxen
braid wound about the little head.
I'm ready now," he said.
Within a week the siege of Paris
had begun. Within a month Pierre
Duval's daughter was orphaned, A
Prussian bullet had stilled forever the
heart so loyal to France.
For a time Marie was stunned. No
one found opportunity to sympathize
with her grief, for around and about
her everyone was nursing some misery
of their own. Every house bore some
badge of mourning. Every heart car
ried its own burden.
But sorrier days were in store for
Paris-days when the Prussians
marched untroubled through its streets
and spoke their hated language in
loud, triumphal accents.
On party of these Marie STUN
bled one evening as she fastened home.
Her pretty face, from which she had
thrown back her heavy crepe veil, at
tracted them.
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 bis
hand to again uplft it. Scarcely had
he done so when it was struck down
by sharp, quick blow from behind.
Marie turned to see the Frenchman
who had befriended her, but, 10 a
young officer, in full Prussian uniform,
stood before her, respectfully touching
his hat.
A few swift words of command to
the men sent them, abashed, away.
Then, with an accent almost as pure