Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-04-14

terms, while her sons still live, We
will compel Vinoy TO lead US forward
once more; We will show Trochu
that his signature is of no avail IL the
children of France do not approved"
Gaspard paused, out of breath and
exhausted by his excitement; for. de-
spite his lofty project of future resist
ance and another sortie, his wound
was by no means recovered.
NJ. Lemercier seized the opportunity
| for lamenting his pet grievance.
And you have imprisoned the only
man who has any spirit--any public
feeling II Feurens were-Bien!
what would you, Antoinette?"
Do you not see how you are ex-
citing our conyalescent? Go then,
and find us some fresh news, and
wait another week before you try to
make Monsieur Gaspard Commun-
list. Now tranquilize yourself, mon
sieur, or your face will be permanent
ly disfgured"
NJ. Lemercier obediently left the
| room, and Gaspard followed his
nurses directions, though, perhaps,
not for the all-sufficient reason she
had given Esperance wondered why
| he looked so utterly miserable; she
said nothing, however. until trifling
incident solved the mystery. Some
one passed the window singing the
"Marseillaise; the complete mockery
of the words could not but strife
| nd
| less passenger sung
LIE jour de gloire est arrive
she saw the tears of grief and humili-
alton had escaped Gaspard. He hid
| his face with bitter grOan, and Es-
perance realized for the first time
how great was his love for Francs,
The siege was virtually at an end,
| but it was not till nearly the middle
of February that food became cheap
| er, and still the Prussians were en-
camped round Paris, their presence
| CALLING the Inundated people.
| Every one felt that the troubles of
| France were by no means at an end,
and NJ. Lemercier grew daily more
hopeful for his Commune. Esperance
was sorely disappointed she had
hoped for a speedy deliverance from
all privaton and distress; but instead
OF this, the aspect of affairs grew
blacker each day, and Gaspard, who,
even in the worst days of the siege
had been bright and hopeful, was
now given up either to indignant MUIR
muring or to settled melancholy.
Esperance tried obediently to grow
patriotic. and succeeded in hating the
Prussians very cordially taking great
pleasure in hanging a black flaci
from the window to greet them
when, on the list of March they en-
tered to take possession of Paris
Still she could not but look forward
to the time when they could leave
France and find safe, quiet refuge
in England. AS the weary day!
passed on. and NJ. Lemercier talked
of the Commune, she longed for i
more and more, and made up hel
mind to ask Gaspard about it the very
next opportunity.
Now that his wound was healed
she saw very little of him; he was
out all day. and often far into the
night and for the last few days Els
perance had fanced him changed
grown more hopeful, yet at the same
! time restless and excited
Ii was now the 18th of March, seven
weeks from the actual capitation.
There was no longer any difficulty in
leaving the city. and as Esperance
sat in the lonely salon waiting Gas
pard's return. she could not help
thinking OF her fathers last charge,
that they should leave Paris as soon
as possible. Had Gaspard forgotten
she wondered. At any rate she would
remind him of It, and that very even
ing, too.
AS II to favor her design he came
in alone, and apparently in good spir-
its.
$50 you are alone, cherie; it is we'll
| returned. Where is madame"
Gone to visit a friend am so
glad you are come back. for I wanted
to speak to you, Gaspard I never
seem to see you now"
'Tis true, dear: but what can you
expect In such days as these? The
whole city Is in agitation. the mob is
growing furious; we may expect
second Revolution any day, and this
time I think we Communists shall
succeed The country must stand
first, you know; It is not that love
you less"
Esperance's heart sunk. So this
was Gaspard's view of the subject.
Was it possible that he had really
become Communist? that his patrl-
otism had degenerated to this?
For the first time she felt that II
was impossible to agree with him.
and there was a keenly panied tone
in her voice as she asked:
Then you have adopted Monsieur
Lemercier's views? What would my
father have thought of such a
change"
Gaspard looked a little surprised.