Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31

more exquisite. A maid Is always a child
until knowledge of sorrow comes to make
her a woman.
A sparrow, the first they had seen for
many a month, alighted in the snow under
the muzzle of a big gun.
Hide, do you remember when we freed
your birds?" he asked.
Eyes, Jim"
After a pause he said wistfully: GLOW
young we were-in those days.
Yes" she said, 1--WE were very young"
Her serious, sweet eyes met his: her hand
stole across the parapet and nestled In his,
Some soldiers came through the snow, bear
ing a dead man on a stretcher. As they
passed the cannon, the sparrow f~uttered up,
high overhead, flying across the gulf to
Paris.
Tonight we will follow it" she
murmured. 30, Jim. 1 am so tired Of the
snow! I am so tired of winter and white
ness and death"
"You shall see the spring come In the
Breton forests" he said. "You shall see
miles of primroses and pinkthorn; you shall
see shaded glades purple with ~violets, and
everywhere young leaves, young blossoms
a young world, Hide, and all for u.s."
"A young world" she sighed, that is
what l love-green leaves, sunlight and
youth-everywhere youth. 1t is kinder"
youth Is kinder" he repeated.
The clock in the citadel struck heavily;
the flag on the iron pole futtered to the
ground.
1.-THE garrison is going,'' said Hide. do
you think they will remember us? They
promised me two places in an ambulance"
"Look at the highroad below" said
Hardwood; 'see the carriages and wagons
coming out from Paris. That Is the
Nanterre road. 1t leads to the gates of the
north"
They leaned over together. watching the
sunshine flashing on the polished equipages,
on wheels and lamps and harness trappings.
The road from Paris was full of them; il
was like a winter day in the Bots de
Boulogne, save that the horses moved with
out spirit, and there were many shabby
carts and wagons intermingled with the
carriages.
As the procession OF vehicles approached
the base of the hill the coachmen and driy
ers, swathed in furs, became visible; ant
after a while Hide could hear, far below
the fortress walls, the tinkle of chain ant
hoof and wheel.
Parents coming to the fort to look TO
their sons" said Hardwood soberly.
"Sweethearts, perhaps, for their lovers,
said Hide.
On they came, rich and poor, the banke
from his home in the Pare Monceau, tn
butcher from the long closed HalIes, tn
mother from the noble Faubourg, the mothe
from the "Faubourg Infect" patrician an
plebeian, sister and brother-and some VIII
were childless and did not know it, an,
some who were widows and wore, as yet
no Grape.
"They are coming" said Hide. IT hea
carriages on the gun road below. They vii
drive to the parade. o, Jim, Jim, think G
the mothers who are coming only to tax
back their dead sons! And those who ar
buried outside the glacis! What will tn
) mothers and fathers do-and their childre
dead down there under that ice and snow?
The parade was filling now with vehicle
2 OF every description; coachmen were lear
E ing to the ground, old men and feeble
white-haired women stepped out into tn
snow. An old gentleman came toward Hare
wood, lifting his hat with an anxious smile
II am looking for my son." he sale
|, Gould monsieur inform me where the bar
, racks are?"
The barracks are in ruins" said Hare
wood; "the troops muster in the casematel
: monsieur, where, / trust, you will find tina
all is Well"
t Others came to seek information; an an
cient dame, h~obbling on two canes. aske
for her son, Jean Bornic, ms belle dame c
! the Breton marine artillery. and 80 tall an
> handsome, my son. madame"
Hide answered gTavely in the Breton Ian
guage: the old DANES withered cheek
f, flushed family.
| From Carhaix. my sweet lady she sal
with a little curtesy.
II Hide told her to 70 to the citadel. an