Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-03-24

Yes, minute ago, papa came in to
tell US, and Gaspard is almost fran
tic with delight.
Monsieur himself came in with the
news said madame. He was pant
ing, he was breathless, he had hur-
ried from a distance, for a moment
was afraid he was Ill; 'Victor!' | ex-
claimed, but he interrupted me. and
told me with triumph that war was
declared. Then, before | had breath
to speak or exclaim, he was telling
me the causes, she insults, a thousand
things which | could not understand
and in a minute he was away again
leaving me bewildered-ast onished-
excited"
"And yet, madame, it Is very ter
rible," said Esperance, with shud
| der.
1T is true, my child; you think Of
the suffering, the death, the destruc-
| tion. All, yes, that indeed Is terrible
Through the open window there
hoated the sound of broken chorus
Mourn pour la Patrie.
Esperance was silent till 1t died
away in the distance; hoarse and un-
musical as were the voices, there was
nevertheless a strange pathos in the
song, and there were tears in her eyes
as she said, Our men are brave, they
do not think of themselves, but, dear
madame, can not love la patrie
so well as papa or Gaspard.
DO not cry, my child! OF course
you can not-they do not intend to
volunteer, trust?'
NO; Gaspard wished to do so, but
papa will not let him at present; by
and by perhaps, he may be more
wanted, but on. | do hope not.
Monsieur Lemercier does not go?"
mo, no; he will serve his country
by contributing accounts of its success
to the journals. Monsieur is u true
patriot, he would gladly handle the
sword, but without a doubt the pen
is his best weapon."
Esperance had heard her father
speak OF NJ Lemercier as a hot-headed
enthusiast, full of Republican ideas,
and rather questioned his true pa
triotism" She kept her thoughts to
herself, however, ead asked if mon
sieur was as confident of success as
Gaspard was.
lie says there is not the smallest
doubt Of our success" said Nine.
Lemercier with emphasis. Figure to
yourself our brave soldiers encounter
ing the sausage-eating Germans All!
the victory will be ours"
Papa says the Germans are very
brave, and that their army is well
organized" said Esperance, doubt
fully.
Ma chere" said Nine. Lemercier,
excitedly. Monsieur de- Mabillon is
wise without doubt, he is brave, he is
a man of honor, but he is not SAN
guine. Witness your very name of
honor--feeling that he lacked the
virtue he named you 'Esperance
"Ah! poor papa" said Esperance,
che christened me when he was full
of trouble. For this once, then, Z
hope he may be wrong; it would be
terrible, indeed, if we did not con-
quer."
DO not mention IT, my child-eX-
cept indeed, upon your knees; the
very idea makes me tremble. But 1t
is impossible, quite impossible!"
Nine Lemercier was expressing a
confidence which was very generally
felt. NJ de Mabillon was among the
very few who thought failure posi-
bility; and even he was little sur
prised when the news Of the first de-
feat reached Paris. Gaspard made as
much of the victory at Saarbruce as
was possible, and believed that the
subsequent defeats were exaggerated;
but as time went on it became useless
to disguise the truth. that the Ger
mans were slowly but surely adyanc-
ing,