The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-03
a POOR RETURN.

France hay helpless under the heel Of the
invader, who had encamped around ST.
Cloud and Suresnes. Paris fettered, exist
ing upon black bread and horsefiesh, shiv-
cred in an Icy mantle. The black branches
Of the leafiess trees over In the Bots stood
out distinctly against the gray, stormy
sky and upon the ground snow was lying
thick,
The night was dark and moonless as to
and fro walked on sentry duty. My post
was lonely one under the strongest por-
tion Of the wall near the Porte dc la Mu-
cite.
As tramped on thought Of my home
away in the center Of the inert, trembling
city; Of my young wife, blue eyed, fair
haired, from whom ! had been torn away
ere our honeymoon was over. How, l
wondered, was she faring2 As an advo-
cate l had been distinctly successful, hay
ing been intrusted with quite number Of
causes celebres. But on the outbreak of
war my chances of fortune had been sud
denly wrecked and had been called on to
serve with the One Hundred and Sixth
regiment Of infantry, first under General
Chanzy on the Loire and afterward taking
part In the defense of Paris
Though now so near the woman loved,
saw very little of her, Indeed had not
been able to snatch an hour to run home
for the past fortnight. etwhile I trudged
on knew that one of the truest and best
women on earth was awaiting me in the
great old house In the Rue St. Sauveur.
think that for some time must have
trta 10
turning sharply my eyes suddenly detected
some indistinct object moving cautiously
in the shadow. Something prompted me
to refrain from challenging, and with rifle
ready ! quickly hurried to the spot. With
cry of surprise man In workman 3
blouse sprang forward right up to the
muzzle Of my gun.
challenged and presented my rife.
"HoldP' he gasped in French in n low,
hoarse tone. Louis Henault, don't you
know me? Have you 80 soon forgotten
your fellow student, Paul Olbrichf'
The voice and the name caused mo to
start.
"You" cried, peering into his face
and in the semidarkness discovering the
scar upon his cheek that he had received
at the fencing school at Konigswinter.
"You, Paul, my best friend! Alas, that
you are Prussian and we meet here as
enemies!"
Gas enemies, no repeated in a strange,
harsh tone. Eyes, Louis, you are right"
he added bitterly; "as enemies.
"Why ore you heref" inquired breath
lessly. why are you disguised as French
workman 1t Is my duty TO arrest you
to-
"But you will not. Remember, we were
friends beside the Rhine, and We can only
be enemies to tho outside world. Surely
you of all men will not betray mel"
"When last heard Of you, two years
ago." said, "you were a lieutenant of
dragons. Tonight you are here inside
Paris, disguised"
"To tell tho TRUTH" he replied quickly,
cit is q love eseapade. Let me get away
quickly beyond the walls and NO one will
know that you have detected me. See
over there, and he pointed to q portion Of
the wall deep in the shadow. "There is
my flancee. have dared to pass through
your lines to rescue her before the final
onslaught"
l peerSd In the direction he indicated,
and could just distinguish figure, hidden
by cloak and closely yelled.
"Quiok! |" he continued. "There is no
time for reflection"
Mufied footsteps and the clank Of arms
broke the quiet. Three officers were ap-
preaching.
"Gol May heaven protect you!"
Scarcely had they disappeared when
there were shouts, followed by shots rapid.
ly exchanged.
"Spicsl'' l heard one Of our men e1-
claim. "And, sacre, they've escaped"
At that moment the officers who had
approached ordered me to halt, and pro-
eeedsd to question me as to whom had
been speaking with. l admitted that tae
man was stranger and that I had a.
The penalty was death. The stern, gray
haired general before whom was taken
half an hour later pronounced sentence,
and without ceremony was hurried off to
execution.
But the bombardment had recommended
vigorously, and as was being led along q
shell fell close to my escort, and, bursting,
killed two Of the poor fellows and demon
allied tho rest
I saw my chance and darted away.
Three hours later.
Breathlessly mounted the long flights
of stairs that led to my home and opened
tho door with my key.
"ValerieP' I cried "Valerie, have re-
turned" There was no response. Where
was Valeriee dashed back into the salon,
"a fnl 7 oft
dressed 10 me in her familiar angular
hand. A second later felt conscious of
the presence of Some one at my elbow, and
turning found Mariette, our maid of all
work.
"Mywife2 Where is my wifeS" gasped.
MADAME has gone, IN sieur," the girl
replied in her Gascon accent. Last night
a man called for her, and she went out,
leaving note for you"
"A mani" 1 cried. Describe him.
What was he likeP"
II only caught one glimpse of him,
'sieur," Marietta replied. "He was fair
and had long red scar across his cheek. u
"A scarf" / shrieked in dismay as the
terrible truth dawnsd suddenly upon me.
Valerie, whom had first met in Cologne,
when student on the Rhine bank, had
told me that was not her first love- and
now remembered that she had long ago
been acquainted with my fellow student,
Paul Olbrich.
1t was my own wife whom I had assist
ed to elope with my enemy!
Far away in secluded valley in the
Harz, under the shadows of tho mystic
Broken, there is plain, white cross in
the village burying ground bearing the
words, valerie Hcnault, 1872"
My enemy, Paul Olbrich, year after
the war had ended succeeded to the family
title and estates, and today he is one of
the most prominent men in Europe and
acts as the diplomatic representative of
Germany at a certain court that must BIO
nameless New York journal
Newfoundland Stamps.
Newfoundland exhibits much originate
ty in its stamp designs, 1t has on various
Ia.