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


There is tremendous excitement,
: replied NJ. de Mabillon, with more We
: hemence than Esperance had ever
{ seen in him before "The whole city
is in tumult;7 they say that Monsieur
: Benedict has been insulted by the
: King of Prussia, and war has been
, declared
War! with Prussia!'' exclaimed
Gaspard, in delighted excitement;
while Esperance, startled and be-
wildered, echoed the words in a very
different tone.
She listened to the eager talk be-
tween her father and brother, still
scarcely taking in this strangely sud-
den intelligence.
Papa, do tell me about it. Who is
Monsieur Benedict, and why are we
going to war. I don't understand"
Monsieur Benedict is our embassa-
dor at Berlin" said NJ. de MabiIlon:
and as to the reason Of the war, #
have told you the preteyt given; but
privately I think that both nations
were anxious to provoke a quarrel, and
fight it out"
How can people ever wish for
war;" sighed Esperance, in such a sad
tone that her father drew hes toward
him caressing her in the way she liked
! best.
II hope this war, at least, will not
harm you, my child. AS to the innate
love of war, it is such a mixture of
patriotism policy, and personal van
ity, that neither you nor I will trouble
about it."
Women never can understand, !"
said Gaspard, a little scornfully. "Es-
perance does not seem to care for the
honor of the country. Father, you
will let me enlist as a volunteer. will
you not?"
Esperaf1ce turned pale and chung
. more closely to her father, waiting in
anxiety for his answer. This seemed
to bring the war much nearer home.
M. de Mabillon had been fully ex-
pectlng such proposal, yet he hest
tated for a moment before replying
OF course, you naturally wish to
go, Gaspard," he said, at length; "but
/ there are many reasons against it,
our present circumstances for in
stance, and many other things, be-
sides, if the war be Of long duration
! there will be all the more need for
! volunteers to come forward later OH. !"
This was evidently a grevious disap-
pointment; and Esperance, in her
! relief, was sympathetic.
Poor Gaspard? He has given up
two professions in one day. Never
mind; perhaps after all you will be
wanted later on. Dame! how curious
it would be to see you in uniform!"
! Not much chance, | fear, of that
said Gaspard, a little sullenly. eve
Shall be sure to beat the Germans in
no time; perhaps in month we shall
have taken Berlin; who knows?"
He spoke with suvh confidence that
/ Esperance looked up in surprise.
rs it so, indeed, papa?"
My dear little girl, I don't think
it is possible to tell yet. Every one
seems very confident of success: but
it is perfectly well known that the
German army is very we'll organized. 8"
But we have the sold,e OF Jena?''
said Gaspard, triumphantly. II shall
/ go and see what is being done"
He went out, promising to bring
back the latest tidings, but NJ. de
Maballon did not put much faith in
this, thinking it far more probable
that he would only join the crowd on
the boulevards to shout give la
guerre!" and give vent to his en-
thusasm.
Esperance, still much excited. how
cred about unable to settle to any
thing, until, seeing that her father
was engrossed i1 his newspaper, she
ran downstairs to discuss the great
topic with Nine. Lemercier.
The Lemerciers were the occupants
of the troisieme etage, and had al
ready proved themselves pleasant
ne1ghbors to the De Mabillons
Monsieur was connected with the
press, and was seldom at home: but
madame, who suffered from ennui in
his absence, was delighted to have
visitors at any hour of the day, and
always made Esperance specially well
come.
This evening madame seemed even
more brisk and CHEEKY than usual
Esperance found her reading one OF
her husbands articles In Republican
paper, and trimming over with excite
. ment.
All, mon enfant," she exclaimed
with eagerness, what news we have!
You have heard?"
Yes, minute ago, papa came in tc
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 GREATNESS, he had hur.
ried from a distance, for a moment
!, was afraid he was i'll; Victor! l eX,
!, claimed, but he interrupted me, anG
told NE with triumph that war wa:
declared. Then, before l had breath
to speak Or eXclaim, he was tellins
me the causes, the insults, a thousand
things which l could not understand
and in a minute he was away again
leaving me Observation-Disclosures
excited"
: And yet, madame, it is very ter
rible," said Esperance, with a shud
der
I 1T is true, my child; you think O
the suffering, the death, the destruc