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

Her eyes shine fearful as they glance:
who shall give back my slaughtered
Sons?"
Bind up" she saith, my wounded
! ones"
alas, France!"
A time there is for change and chance,
A time for drinking of the cup.
And One abides who can yet bind up
Broken France.
Christina Rossetti.
To Esperance each days events
seemed to make it more and more
probable that Gaspard would be
obliged to enlist The evil seemed to
be creeping almost imperceptibly
nearer and nearer home; yet when
in August preparations were made in
Paris for an expected siege, she was
beyond measure shocked and sur
prised.
M. de MabiIlon was sorely perplexed
unable to make UP his mind to leave
Paris himself, and yet anxious that
| Esperance should be in safety. Esper-
ance was not long in discovering the
cause of his anxiety, it was impossible
! for her father to hide anything from
her; but she was indignant at the
, very idea of being sent away.
eff it is your duty to stay, papa il
, must be mine, too; and indeed! in
j deed! I could not live without you
TO be far away from you without even
the chance Of letters! No, no, it is
! impossib1e!"
But I am afraid wen if you stay
here, we shall see little Of each other,
said M. de Mabillon, "for I must joir
the National Guard. now that there Is
really a call for service
"And Gaspard also?" faltered Els
perance ooh. papa!''
Her tears fell fast; and NJ de Ma
billion, caressing her, again urged hel
going away.
"You and Javotte could return t.
Mabillon; I am sure the cure would
take care Of you, and you would like
to see the old place again. Is it no
so, dear!"
me stay and I will not be amy trouble
Javotte and l an make charIGe, ant
tear bandages all day long, and tina
will be serving the country. Promis,
me, dear papa, that 1 shall be will
you"
She asked 50 beseeehingIy that NJ
de Mabillon could aot find 1t in hi
heart to refuse.
Very well, my child" he answered
1T shall be as you wish; you shall
stay here and show your patriotism
after all, it may be best to keep to
gether, and for aught we know, Ma
billion may not be safer from tn
enemy than Paris
In spite OF ali the troubles which sh,
knew must be in store, Esperanc
felt as happy and ight-hearted afte
this promise had been given as il
her most cloudless country days
Moreover, there was a &C. tain excite
ment in the atmosphere which coult
not fail to please the little Frencl
girl.
From the windows might be seer
much that was novel and amusing
Gay uniforms -awkward-lCok;ng vol
uIteers- and, above all, a perpetua
ST. cam Of peas2ntry focking int
: Paris for protection. all their world.
goods piled up on carts in wild array
beds, clocks, useless old armoires
sacks of potatoes, strings of onions
and not unfrequently aged parents o
tired children were all mingled pro
: miscuously. Esperance chose to Sc
the laughable side of the picture; he
: father, with more insight, saw tn
ruin of which this motley procession
was the witness; while Gaspard, witt
the selfishness of a citizen, inveighet
against the extra mouths
) By degrees, however, such little ex
, elements ceased to please Esperance
She spent the long monotonous day
, nf4Yy IN, T