Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-03-31
Won by w aiting.
EDNA LYALL.


. tNEtiIult l4ldL BIC DS5"A " ~ "N'i'
fcrted, and TO look on the bright side
Of things, even whca later they heard
that serious fighting was going on,
and that the ambulance was filling
fast
Esperance had spent the whole day
with Nine Lemercier; it was dusk
and she had just returned to her own
room. when her quick ear detected
the sound Of footsteps it might be
NJ Lemercier, with fresh news She
darted to the head Of the stairs Slowly
the steps drew nearer, and, straining
her eyes into the darkness, she gave
a little cry OF Joy.
"Gaspard Gaspard Is It. really
your"
Myself, and no other, cherie." re
piled the well-known voice; then, as
she would have embraced him Take
care, this right arm Of mine is dam
aged
you are wounded" cried Esper-
ance greatly shocked.
"A more trilie only flesh wound.
have just had the bullet extracted"
Don't speak Of IL, it makes me
shudder," said Esperance, lighting one
Of the few remaining candles that she
might feast her eyes with the sight of
her wounded hero He looked pale
and exhausted but seemed to enjoy
talking about the days events
il seemed that nothing had been
gained the losses had been about
equal on both sides, and the battle
had stu been raging when he left
the field.
Ana papa?' asked Espcrance
Quite well when ! left, and very
glad that / could take back the news
to YOU"
Then there Is GO chance Of his
coming home tonight"
Not the slightest, unless he fol-
lows my example Tomorrow we viii
go up 10 the Notifications ana see
how affairs are prospecting"
This was an exciting prospect and
Esperance had great longing to be
near her father; he thought In her
ignorance, that II would be easier to
boar the suspense II she were within
sight Of the battle Gaspard was
much refreshed by nights rest,
and the brother and sister set out on
their expedition eagerly and hope
fully The day was warm and bright,
there was n holiday feeling In the air,
which proved irresistible to many
Esperance was startled on reaching
the ramparts TO nud the spectators
laughing, chatting. smoking, utterly
regardless of the great tragedy that
was going on.
II was the first time she had seen
any fighting, and even from a distance
the scene was sufficiently terrible to
be forever impriOted on her memory
Gas.ord explained to her the positions
of tho different divisions. and she
tried 10 understand the plan Of the
attack but her attention was soon
drawn away 20 the long file Of ambu-
lances which was constantly passing
into the city by one OF the gates close
by
Terrible havoc was being made
among the French around the gate
was crowd VI anxious relatives.
watching the ambulauces eagerly as
.h,, passed guw and then there was
"a recognition. which made Esperance
shycr.
'Irt US come and watch too" she
said at length; and Gaspard consent
ing, they took mp their position among
the anxious little group.
They had waited long. and Esper-
anoe had begun to feel faint with
fatigue and from the loag train of
terrible sights passing before her. She
closed her eyes for minute. when a
hali-smothwcd ejaculation from Gas
pard reused her looking up she saw
y inter being borne past. on II a
National Guard, hts uniform covered
with blood. Her heart throbbel wildly
her head swan, but with kind OF
desperation she forced herself to look
at tho face was indeed that OF her
father.
\ great mist came before her eyes
she felt Gasplrd put his left arm
round her. and was conscious Of 70
lief lie spoke 20 her. She caught
the words "Ambu'ance Amerlcaine "
understood that they were 10 follow
ana moved mechanically through the
crowd
AZ length they reached the Ayenpe
dc Temperatures and applied for ad
ml'ianoc az the Ambulance. they had
70 waH long however. and rsner.
hnrrs tears were hy this time flowing
IAs. \ youor American adv
touched Ny the SIGHT tried to ,omfort
her
You aro waiting for news Of n
sr.cnls"
or MY father" sabtea sne. naa,
when wl} thcy ton uss
As soon as Is possible. eyervtslrr
is dome 500 quickly row. See mere
comes a mosseager
.IrH. ..,..,....4