Gilpin observer., 1900-04-19

6Au tu0 Aah1ihC A0VO SOAAPASSSAJ
broken her down" -,
During this fearful winter. when
grim want stared the people In the
face, and all the land was swarming
with Prussian- soldiers. one Ludwig
Kosegarten, whose Lewiston was sta
toned at Rheims, became attracted
by the sweet face of Rene Dubes.
From one step to another, by grad
ual degrees, Ludwig became the one
friend and sustaining power In the
little household. The old women
great kindness, even though he was
one of the detested Prussians. He had
such a way of doing little things for
them; seeming to divine their
thoughts and needs AS his visits in
creased, they all grew more and more
attached to him. out of gratitude, and
SO in many ways he laid siege to the
heart of Rene.
But hope yet fingered within her
she only sighed and said, "Give me
time. only a few weeks more. No one
knows what day may bring forth"
Every sense was on the alert for
some message, some sign that Maui
rice was living. But summer came
and went, and another winter ap-
preached. looking in perspective more
cheerless and hopeless than the last
had been; the little household learned
to depend upon the Prussian more
than ever for their daily bread. Aft
er Ludwig would bring in some food
and place it on the table without a
word. when he had gone the mother
would say, Rene, why delay longer?
Ludwig wants you, cannot you give
him some hope? Think of it, child,
we are reduced to penury; this is the
one way out"
"Oh. mother, cease, cease" was all
she could reply.
But think Of it. Rene, this grief
does no one any good. and it does do
harm; 1t is just the same as If 1 had
gone and sat beside your fathers
grave. weeping and moaning. l felt
like doing it, but duty called me else
where. l had you, an infant, needing
all my care. l had to face the world
alone; now am in need of your care,
and you should give up this grief.
See the poor old grand mere, and ma
mere. you cannot support us ALL
But to all Rene's eyes and mind
went wandering towards Sedan, and
wringing her thin hands she wept, and
in broken words moaned:
"Oh, that l might lie in yonder
blood-drenched battlefield. Lie beside
Maurice. there to await the resurrec-
tion morn" A dry leaf fluttered to
her feet, seeing it she sighed:
"Une feuille morte, how like my
poor heart"
IF l should marry the Prussian,
and go to live with him on the Rhine,
think all the white skeletons buried
on the fields of Metz and Sedan and
those other CORY spots of earth, would
rise up in vengeance, and march by
my window, tapping their bony fin
gers against the pane, shouting in de-
rision at my faithlessness, and daring
me to be happy"
But, Rene, 1t is a question of
bread" said the mother.
Life cannot be sustained on a
dead memory. Ludwig will take us
all to his home. He has told me so
often, and save us from this bitter
struggle with poverty. Cannot you
be brought to see the right?"
But Maurice may come yet" she
said. The elder woman shook her
head.
And you, too, have given up hope"
walled the girl, sinking down.
Rene. listen to reason. He Is not
the only one who had died upon the
battlefield. Tens of thousands have
died, and their relatives and friends
have mourned as you do, but have at
last become resigned" said the
mother.
Yes, but this is not a certainty.
No one saw Maurice dead. Oh, that
/ could go now and look for him any
self"
Your grief does him no good, and
1t does do harm. See our household!
Behold ma mere and grand mere, poor
old soul, so much in need of warm
clothes and of nourishing food. You
cannot get them. And here is the
kind Prussian, Offering times out of
number to care for us all. | beg of
you to listen to reason. and let this
grief die out" She wept as she
plead, knowing how much depended
upon this strong young officer The
old are conservative. sentiment has
passed. and the daily comfort is the
main thought.
81 am doomed! They are all leagued
against mel" moaned Rene. And
that man has driven me to a point
from which see no escape. II
Maurice never comes back" At
this thought she trembled Il sup
pose Ludwig is our only refuge
But throughout that long winter
Ranp still kent I'm honn that Mnurica