Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-24

eier, for the sick and wounded; ia
Vote had already begun to find her
marketing a lengthy process, and
was out almost all day; while NJ. de
MabiIlon and Gaspard were constantly
at drill.
And so the time woe slo~y on:
and although there was still the
eager inquiry for news each day, al
most every one was learning that the
! official notices could not be trusted
and that all disastrous tidings were
kept back as long as possible. Gaspard
who was always hopeful, maintained
that the dearth Of all important news
was a good sign; but NJ. de Mabillon
was of very different opinion, and
when September began, felt more
! certain than ever that the luIl be-
! tokened a crisis.
! And at length it came. Late on the
evening Of the 3rd Of September. the
terrible news Of the defeat at SEDAN
became generally known. The sur
render Of MacMahon's army and of
the emperor raised a storm of indig-
nation at Paris and the Republican
spirit, latent for so long, seemed to
burst forth like wild-fre.
The De Mabiilons were Imuerfalists.
but although, OF course, they took
no active part in the next days pro-
ceedings, they were absent all day.
and Esperance and Nine Lemercier
were obliged to console each other as
best they could, both being very eager
to know what was going On.
1t was a long, weary Sunday: Esper
ance would have liked to go out, but
madame was afraid of the crowd, and
had a wholesome terror of 'les
rouges," although they were her hus-
bands party. Not till night did they
hear all that had happened on that
memorable day.
Esperance was already in bed when
she heard her father come back. Her
eager call brought him at once to her
side, and she asked what had kept
him so long.
Il should have returned before had
l not known that Madame Lemercier
would be with you, dear child What
has been done?' you ask. There has
been another Revolution, though,
thank God, a bloodless one; the en-
press has fled, and the republic is al
ready proclaimed"
''The republic! All how delighted
Monsieur Lemercier will be. But.
papa, did you expect this?"
Anything may be expected after
such news as that Of yesterday" said
M de Mabillon, sadly. "The capitula-
ton of eighty thousand men is an I'M
heard-of thing; the Parisians would
not have borne it so quietly had there
not been the excitement of setting
up this Republic to content them. But
there, my little patriot, I must not
keep you awake any 1onger-sleep, and
forget these national disasters"
But the national disasters began to
th1cken so soon that Esperance had !
not much chance Of forgetting them |
In less than fortnight two of the
German armies had taken up their
position before Paris, and the actual I
siege had begun.
Now was the time when courage was
really needed, and Esperance found
herself sorely taxed at each parting
with her two National Guards. Yet, |
after few weeks had gone by, sh7
grew almost accustomed to it,
and did her part we'll, by her brave and
unfailing cheerfulness really refresh
ing the tired men.
Once only did she break down, til
was early in October; sudden change
OF weather was affecting every one.
and the bitter cold seemed almost IN
bearable, particularly as fuel was
becoming very scarce. The prfvation
and suffering were beginning to tell
on Esperance; and when one dav M,
de Mabillon told her Of an unexpected
sortfe, in which his battalion would
probably take part, her courage gave
way, and in spite of Gaspard's indig-
nation, she expressed the most ardent
oeslre for a capituIation
To ha continued