The Red Cloud chief., 1902-04-18

all I have with IL. I do not wish to
hear the story now at some other
time, perhaps. Stop. do not insist. I
may have an idea as to the truth, but
II is enough for me to know you are
innocent. | am only o happy to
trust my whole future in your hands"
What could h. say?
He sealed the compact as any bold
lover would have done, and the bar
gain made while German shells still
exploded in the streets Of Metz was
founded upon such mutual respect and
perfect faith that neither could eve
regret II.
The sturdy Briton appeared to be
especially tickled over the fact that
Karl had seen his lead and gone him
one better in the way of legerdcmain.
You came very near ending our
friend for good. | declare. the major
was so staggered his life hung by "a
thread" he laughed.
Perhaps there was a tiDge Of curios-
ity in his tone.
You heard enough TO give you an
inkiing Of the truth, gentlemen. and
now | feel in duty bound to tell all. |
am not in Metz as IA spy, though I
thought il my duty to allow even Paul
here to believe It for Il time, M my
mission was supposed to he a dead
secret. On the contrary. | have come
here at the written solicitation of Mar
shall Bazaine. who desires to discover
the best terms he could secure for his
brave army of the Rhine.
AT first he demanded that there be
some allowance made for their emf
grafton 10 Algicrs. which the Crown
Prince declined, and matters have be-
come 10 bad that the French com
mander has agreed to an unconditional
surrender. At midnight | shall go out
OF Metz bearing his acceptance. and
after that time, when this document is
in the hands Of the Crown Prince, not
another bomb will fall within these
walls. for Metz will have fallen"
Paul looked delighted, and wen the
non-partisan Briton seemed pleased to
know the era Of bloodshed in this par
ticular region was at an end.
Thank God" he said, re~verently
then peace will follow when Paris
also falls"
Yes, We have much ia be thankful
for" said Paul, glancing toward Hill
Gegarde.
As for the doctor. spying a bottle OF
,,i,,. t..,tl, tbpna ,ylagunG tpp,, a cifa
board, he poured some into the crysta'
receptacles.
Gentlemen, Join with me in thi:
toast-here's to the gallant major"
And may he escape the almost uni
versal fate of those who worship a
Aimce's shrine" added the Rhine
lander, earnestly.
And so they drank it down.
Little did they guess hat at thu
very moment Countess Aimee was be
ing carried into the hospital, a victim
of an exploding Prussian shell, ant
that if she lived through the dreadful
shock it would be as a helpless wrecl
Of her past beautiful self.
The Judgment had come at last, an,
in this hour her myriad victims wer,
avenged.
What more need be said?
Paul and Karl served until Paris fel
and peace came upon the stricken field
of France.
There is no necessity to tell hoy
they married. and what joys or sor
rows came their way, for this worl
holds its share of both for all VIII
love and who are chosen.
Paul tenderly cared for his mothe
the rest of her years, and at her re
quest finally laid her away in tn
American cemetery, where rested tn
husband who had been so fearful
wronged, yet who, with his last dyin
breath, had pardoned all in the great
ness of his love, believing that to thos
who have sinned much. IL they trul
repent, everything shall be forgiven.
THE END.