Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-04-07

deeply. Almost unconsciously she had
ieanee upon the good old servant;
and now that her father was dead
and Gaspard scarcely ever at home
she felt very lonely, and often in need
OF advice and help, which 40 one
could give. Nine. Lemercier, good
and kind as she was, could not fill
The vacant place; hers was a good
natuged, but weak character, wholly
unfit for any sort o. guidance, and
Esperance needed a much stronge
support
The days passed slowly and pain
fully. Once only, a ray of comfort
came, and for a time the sinking
spirits of the Parisians were raj ed
News was brought from the provinces
by carrier-pigeon, that Faidherbe
had driven back the enemy in tn
Pas-deCalais; that an unknown
general at Nuts. with 10000 mep.
had beaten the Prussians with $4,000:
and that Garibaldi was at Dion gath
ering recruits
NJ Lemercier was much elated at
such an unexpected turn of fortune;
and even Gaspard who Of late had
been respondent, grew more cheerful
and his spirits were a better gauge
than NJ. Lemel cier's, for he was ex-
posed 10 far more danger and hard
ship.
Three months of real experience as
National Guard Of the marching
battalions, had taught Gaspard more
about life than his whole previous
education. The discipline had been
severe the hardship great, the failure
and disappointmnt very trying, but
they had all done their work, and
under their influence Gaspard was
greatly changed,
Esperance soon found this out,
even in the short visits he paid her.
and felt that he was growing far MOI e
like their father than she had ever
yentuyed to hope. This knowledge
however. sweet as it was, served to
make their partings far more painful,
and she looked forward with dread to
the next sortie, which all knew must
, soon be attempted.
One last effort was to be made; if
/ that failed there would be no hope
left for Paris Even Esperance in
bearable oo1itirn-1eih7o
her grief, was reused 20 more
patriotic feeling than she had hither-
to shown, ard this helped to make
the parting, on the night OF the 18Th
2 Of January, rather more bearable for
was not this the porte du deses-
poir? There was something grand
t inspiring, in the very name.
: The time passed by YEARLY to the
/. anxious Parisians. Esperanto thought
70 day IL the whole siege had beer
quite 50 long and oppressive. Nj
4 Lemercier, comit g in about noon, re
y ported that the movements of the
troops had been much hindered by a
e fog. but that the battle was now a
:, its height, the attempt being 10 force
the Prussian lines between Montre
{, tout and La Marche.
r With this news they Wee obliged
o to content themselves for some time
1t was not till dark that NJ. Lemer
d cier returned; and then to Esper
l ances joy, he was not alone. In Thu
lin light she could just discern the
q uniform of a National Guard, ant
S with an eager exclamation she hur
K ried forward but suddenly checket
l. herself, unable to conceal her dis
6 appointment, for its was not Gas
d pard,
. M. Lemercier FASTENED to introduc
the stranger, and Esperance, witt
truly French politeness, recovere'
herself at once.
. Pardon, monsieur, l was expect
ing my brother Do you bring u
news?" turning to NJ. Lemercler.
Yes, mon annie, news of Gasparc
but / trust not altogether bad news
Courage! Do not tremble SO. Mon
sieur Ambrosn, who is a comrade Q
your brother. tells us that he
j. wounded, but | hope not seriously
Mon Dieu! when did he fal
= Where did you leave him, monsieur
= Surely, surely he is not still ca tn
fieId?" She looked at M. Ambrosir
4 her eyes fun Of agonized entreaty
IL Il hope not; but mademoiselle Wi
understand that, in the midst
/ lighting | can really hardly tell wha
" happened We had taken Montretou
for some time our men held IL ga
lantly. hut later in the day we wor
+ forced TO evacuate It. In the re
= treat | was beside monsieur you
II brother. when ball struck him, an
he fell. / think he was only stunned
+, hut mademoise1Ie knows that there
no pause in a retreat. There wer
Il ambulances near 1t is very pos
4 sible that he is at this moment In tn
+. CITY. being carefully attended to.
If Espclanre shuddered. That "beel
e possible" was positive torture to he
was II not also very possible that !