Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-31

of the guns, the classmates shaking, the Bit
ter cold, the darkness, and she always by
his bed-her every touch, her every breath,
telling him Of a love so pure, so infinite,
that his dark heart, heavy with the bitter
ness of self-accusation, sank subdued under
the strength of such a passion.
He thought of the long nights. the pain.
the fever, the piercing chill, the hunger, all
borne in silence lest he should grieve for
her. He remembered all this as he lay
there, his eyes closed, his temples pressing
the soft curls Of the girl who had done all
for him-who now was to be his wife.
Are you still unhappy? she whispered.
Think of tomorrow. Sins are forgiven; it
is my faith"
In mine; you are my faith" he said.
There is nothing but you, Hilde-nothing
in heaven or earth but you and God who
sent you"
THE crutches are here; shall l get them?'
asked Hide, smiling through her tears.
He took them gravely, praislng the leather
armpleces. the lance shafts, the rubber fer
rules. She was contented. The splints on
his broken limb CALLED him; she aided him
to sit up to relive the numbness, and he
lay back, his head resting on ner breast.
1.-THE Prussians sent a white flag this
Aio ih6 JIG Soiu'
Then it is true" he asked, 1.-THE news
from Parls?"
Eyes. Paris has surrendered"
He was silent; she bent her head forward,
signing.
at was a good fight" he said. "Hunger
is the victor; the Prussians are Incidents
"The garrison leaves tomorrow" she said
"the Prussians enter the forts at sunset.
Our soldiers will take you in the ambulance;
we go by the Porte Rouge. Perhaps Yolette''
= She broke down and wept bitterly. He
comforted her, saying that Bourke was the
wisest and best man on earth, and that
Yolette was safer than IL she had been in
Nanterre fort. After a little she dried her
eyes and reproached herself for causing him
anxiety. Then beside his bed she said her
prayers for the night, kissed him peacefully
turned out the lamp and went into the
nurses ward to sleep, finging herself on the
iron cot, dressed as she was. AS for him
he lay awake, staring into the darkness
The beauty OF this young girls soul, the
sacredness of her passion, overwhelmed him
Who was he that he should share hel
thoughts, her sacrifices, her ideals, her in
nocence? Her face was always before hin
in all its loveliness- exquisite, spiritual. II
her eyes ne read the secret of that chastt
unselhshness that had given all and sur,
rendered nothing. Sleep came and wen
like a brief dream. 1t was morning; tn,
drums were already beating in the dawn
the parade resounded with the hum OF de
parture.
Hide knocked and entered, family smil
ing her morning welcome. The alteration il
his face dimmed her sweet eyes a little, sh,
leaned above his pillow, her lips rested OF
his, That morning he was to try hi
!, crutches. When he was ready she helped
him to the window-he was scarcely stronl
enough 10 Standard he laughed and ad
justed the crutches, as she steadied him Il
the door where the foot artillery were pass
ing down the winding street to the mono
tonous tap. tap, of a drum.
After them came the mobiles, bugle
sounding stridently in the sharp, crisp air
He wished TO go to the ramparts; shl
dreaded the bits OF ice and snow; but h
had his way, and she guided him across tn
parade and up the sanded incline TO III
parapets above.
The sun hung over the distant city, gilt
, tering on a million windows, gliding dom
and spire and frosty river, reddening tn
long gray palaces, flooding qhays and roof
and bridges with a haZy radiance tina
: turned the streets to streaks OF rose ant
, pearl, A mist OF amethyst yelled tn
|, heights OF Chatillon. Behind it the Ger
3 man cannon lay, stretching from Clamar
I northward, then east and south and west
in one enormous iron circle, back TO Fon
: tenay aux Roses. Across the river iron
Z the fort. between Chatou and Croissy, tn
Prussian cavalry were plainly visible, NOV
5 ing at a gallop over a wasted meadow
Beyond them rose the smoke OF camphres
marking the long line of trenches eastwarl
to Houilles.
. I'm Paris there is little smoke" sal